The Golden Rule brings “to a
climax the entire central core of the sermon on the mount.”[1] It
is also the logical conclusion[2] of
the disciples’ perspective and action toward the world. “Therefore” (oun) is a conjunction of inference or conclusion. Lenski
says its consequence is that “instead of judging others falsely, we shall do to them what we
would that they should do to us.”[3] What
is this conclusion? “Whatever you want
men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets”
(7:12 NKJV). It speaks to our social responsibility as the righteous, not the
means of salvation. It is the summation of the Law, as well as Biblical ethics.
This is the very heart of the Law (Lev. 19:18), which underlies the ethical
demands of the Law and the prophets.[4] Baker
notes, “Scripture
is clear that no flesh will ever be justified by keeping the Law. The law
demanded that you do unto others what you would have them do unto you.”[5] In
essence it is a statement concerning the second greatest commandment stated by
Jesus in Matthew 22:37: “Love your
neighbor as yourself.” “Jesus’ teaching it is axiomatic that the second will never be
obeyed with the first: we will never love our neighbors in the way we would
like to be loved until we love God with hearth and soul and mind” observes Carson
The Golden Rule summarizes not only the teaching of
Jesus, but the Law and the Prophets as well. Today, in Christ the requirements
of the Law are fulfilled in the believer (Rom. Rom.
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