TEXT [Commentary]

10. The Golden Rule (7:12; cf. Luke 6:31)

12 “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.”

NOTES

7:12 Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. Because it is connected to the preceding verses by the Gr. conjunction oun [TG3767, ZG4036] (“therefore”; not translated in NLT), this verse (cf. Luke 6:31) should be understood as a conclusion to everything said since 5:20. In one sense, 7:12 can be understood as concluding from God’s benevolent response to the wishes of his disciples that his disciples should likewise do for others whatever they would like to be done for them. But in a wider and much more profound sense, 7:12 concludes the entire body of the Sermon that began in 5:17 with Jesus’ statement of his mission. Just as he did not come to cancel but to accomplish the purpose of the law and the prophets, so his disciples must live according to Scripture.

The essence of the law and the prophets is that one should treat other humans just like one would like to be treated by them (cf. 19:19; 22:34-40). All of Jesus’ teaching since 5:21 about the greater righteousness necessary for his Kingdom (5:20) is summarized here by the “golden rule.” It may be argued that Jesus sets this “rule” in the unique context of his own words and deeds, which manifest the nearness of the Kingdom, but it is well known that similar “rules” may be found in Jewish and Greco-Roman literature of the period. See Davies and Allison (1988:686-688) for examples. The wellspring for Jesus’ teaching was, of course, the Hebrew Bible (Lev. 19:18, 34; Exod 23:4-5). Jesus brought the law and prophets to their intended goal, setting their teaching in the context of his own definitive eschatological message.

COMMENTARY [Text]

Inspired by the beneficence of their heavenly Father, disciples of the Kingdom must be like him. As their Lord had come not to abolish but to accomplish the purpose of the law and the prophets, they too should live by a transcendent ethic. These themes meet in 7:12, where doing good to others (as the heavenly Father does; cf. 5:45-48) is identified as the quintessence of biblical ethics. The general statement of 7:12 condenses the 39 books of the Hebrew Bible into 12 words in the NLT. In 5:21–7:11, Matthew has summarized the definitive teaching of Jesus on several key areas of ethical and religious life. Matthew presents this definitive teaching as climactic in nature (5:17-20)—a more profound ethical standard could not be conceived in his view. The ethic is explained in the concrete contexts of obeying the Torah (5:21-48), practicing religious duties (6:1-18), dealing with material possessions (6:19-34), relating to people (7:1-6), and praying (7:7-11).

The Father’s character and standards as incarnated in the Son’s ministry of word and deed is the basis for this sublime ethic. “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you” could be construed as a sort of “ten commandments” of Jesus:

1. You will not commit “verbal murder” (5:21-26). You will make reconciliation with fellow disciples your first religious priority.

2. You will not commit “mental adultery” (5:27-30). You will deal decisively with your sinful thoughts.

3. You will not divorce, except when infidelity has occurred (5:31-32). You will make every effort to remain with your spouse.

4. You will not make vows (5:33-37). You will always tell the truth.

5. You will not seek personal retribution (5:38-42). You will be generous even to those who injure you.

6. You will not hate your enemies (5:43-48). You will love and pray for your persecutors.

7. You will not perform religious duties to gain temporary human approval (6:1-18). You will perform religious duties only to gain eternal divine reward.

8. You will not be anxious over things (6:19-34). You will be exclusively loyal to God’s Kingdom and righteous standards.

9. You will not be judgmental or naive in your estimate of fellow humans (7:1-6). You will examine your own life before making judgments about others.

10. You will not avoid prayer because you doubt God’s goodness (7:7-11). You will believe that God is good and rest in his answers to prayer.

Conclusion. With the summarizing statement of the “golden rule” in 7:12, the Sermon’s main body has concluded. Jesus came not to abolish but to fulfill the law and the prophets (5:17), and he requires that his disciples do no less. The summation of the law as loving one’s neighbor or doing for others whatever one would like them to do to him is therefore not a higher law that replaces the Torah but the true goal of the law. (Paul’s view is similar on this point; cf. Rom 13:8-9; Gal 5:14). The Sermon will now conclude with solemn warnings on the necessity of obedience to his teaching (7:13-27).