Many Christians have wondered, “What is the Golden Rule in the Bible?” Jesus in Matthew 7:12 commanded us to, “Do to others as you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” What does that mean in our modern world?
What is the golden rule in the Bible? The Bible calls us to treat others as we would have them do to us, but what does that mean in our daily lives? Click To Tweet
The Golden Rule is an ethical concept that is present in Jesus’ Word. It is considered the summary of the Christian’s duty to his neighbor.
Another way that Jesus summed up our duty as Christians is in Mark 12:30-31 where He says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
Jesus’ Words
Jesus presents the golden rule in this verse as well as in Luke 6:31. In both of these verses, Jesus says to do to others as you would have them do to you. This simple statement is a powerful way to say we should treat everyone with dignity and respect. The Golden Rule extends to every person that we interact with.
Matthew 7:12 is not the only place that Jesus states the principles. In Mark 12:30-31, Jesus quotes the Old Law (Leviticus 19:18). These scriptures are important to hide in your heart.
Why Is This Important?
The simplest answer to this question is because Jesus commanded it. Another more complex answer would be that following these commands teach us self-control and kindness towards others which allows us to forge more connections with other people. These connections are what make it easier to show God’s love to those around us.
Jesus himself says that loving your neighbor as yourself is one of the highest commandments that God has ever given us. The Golden Rule is the simplest way to remember how to be kind to one another.
Follow the Golden Rule
We as Christians are called to follow the Golden Rule many times throughout the Bible. This is a command we all have to practice at keeping, but it benefits our witness to do so.
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