XLII.

The Sermon on the Mount.

(a Mountain Plateau Not Far from Capernaum.)

Subdivision I.

The Golden Rule.

^A Matt. VII. 12; ^C Luke VI. 31.

^a 12 All things therefore whatsoever ye would { ^c 31 and as ye would} that men should do to { ^a unto} you, even so do ye also unto { ^c to} them likewise. ^a for this is the law and the prophets. [Jesus connects the Golden Rule with what precedes with the word “therefore.” We are to practice the Golden Rule because God's divine judgment teaches forbearance, and his goodness teaches kindness. This precept is fitly called the Golden Rule, for it embraces in its few words the underlying and governing principle of all morality. It contains all the precepts of the law with regard to man, and all the amplifications of those precepts given by the prophets. It teaches us to put ourselves in our neighbor's place, and direct our conduct accordingly. It assumes, of course, that when we put ourselves in our neighbor's place, we are wise enough not to make any foolish wishes, and good enough not to make any evil ones. The great sages Socrates, Buddha, Confucius and Hillel each 266groped after this truth, but they stated it thus: “Do not do to others what you would not have done to you;” thus making it a rule of not doing rather than of doing. But the striking difference between these teachers and Christ lies not in the statements so much as in the exemplification. Jesus lived the Golden Rule in his conduct toward men, and maintained perfect righteousness before God in addition thereto.]