Almost everyone knows the “Golden Rule.” But how does Jesus say that “children of the Most High” should live according to the Golden Rule?
Scripture:
Daniel, chapters 11-12; Luke, chapter 6
Luke 6:27-36 (CEB):
“But I say to you who are willing to hear: Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on the cheek, offer the other one as well. If someone takes your coat, don’t withhold your shirt either. Give to everyone who asks and don’t demand your things back from those who take them. Treat people in the same way that you want them to treat you.
If you love those who love you, why should you be commended? Even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, why should you be commended? Even sinners do that. If you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, why should you be commended? Even sinners lend to sinners expecting to be paid back in full. Instead, love your enemies, do good, and lend expecting nothing in return. If you do, you will have a great reward. You will be acting the way children of the Most High act, for he is kind to ungrateful and wicked people. Be compassionate just as your Father is compassionate.
Observations: The Golden Rule
Today’s reading from Luke 6 is Luke’s account of Jesus’ “Sermon on the Plain.” This discourse shares a great deal of content with the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), but in a condensed form. That suggests that Luke has highlighted subjects that he considers important, and tie in with his overall theme. What can we learn from this passage?
The first point that Jesus makes comes from verse 31: Treat people the same way that you want them to treat you. We recognize this as the “Golden Rule,” which is also found in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 7:12). Interestingly, in Matthew Jesus says, “This is the Law and the Prophets.” We’ve all heard the Golden Rule, probably from childhood. I think that probably hinders our ability to understand just how radical this command is. Our world operates on the principle of reciprocity: do to others as they do to you. If they treat you well, you treat them well. “You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours.”
Jesus is calling us to something completely different: we do not respond based on how people treat us, but based on how we want them to treat us. Imagine the shock of those who first heard this! “You want me to treat others well, even if they treat me badly? That doesn’t make any sense!” But when Jesus says that “This is the Law and the Prophets,” we recognize that this is not optional. It is the core of what God calls His people to be!
“Be Compassionate”
Jesus goes on in the second part of this passage to clarify, and even expand, what he is saying. “If you love those who love you, why should you be commended? Even sinners love those who love them.” Notice two things from this statement: first, Jesus calls us to love those who don’t love us. This shouldn’t surprise us; he’s already told us to love our enemies (verse 27).
The second point is a little less obvious: even sinners love those who love them, but we’re not called to be “sinners.” Why else would Jesus offer a contrast between the actions of “sinners” and his disciples? Three times in this passage (verses 32, 33, and 34) He contrasts the actions of “sinners” from those of his disciples. Even sinners love those who love them, do good to those who do good to them, and lend to those who will pay them back. If that’s all we do, Jesus asks, “Why should you be commended?”
Instead, love your enemies, do good, and lend expecting nothing in return. Jesus clearly calls His followers to a higher standard, to be different. And the reason is because of who He calls us to be: children of the Most High. When we love our enemies, do good, and lend expecting nothing in return, we are acting like children of the Most High act, for he is kind to ungrateful and wicked people. Be like your Father!
Application: The Golden Rule: Act Like Children of the Most High
Passages like this one are difficult. We all know what Scripture says. Even people who don’t follow Jesus can probably tell you what the “Golden Rule” is. But it’s not enough to know what it says; we have to do what it says. It gets even harder: not only should we do what God’s Word says, we should do it for the right reason. What’s the right reason? Because we’re acting like children of the Most High are supposed to act!
Later in chapter 6, Jesus will state very plainly that faith in Him causes our actions to be different. “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord’ and don’t do what I say?” (Luke 6:46). It’s not enough to love those who love us, or to be good to those who are good to us. That’s how the world acts. We’re called to love our enemies, to do good to those who hate us, bless those who curse us, and pray for those who mistreat us.
“That’s hard!” Of course it is! But that’s what Jesus calls us to do – and that’s the example He set for us. If we want to be children of the Most High, we need to act like it! I know that the Golden Rule means more than just “don’t be mean” – but that’s a good place to start!
Prayer:
Father, we confess that it is hard for us to love our enemies and do good to those who hate us. Thank You for reminding us that Jesus set the example for us. He wept over the city of Jerusalem as the people were preparing to crucify Him. From the cross, He asked You to forgive them. When we think that this is too hard for us to do, give us the strength to do it anyway. We are Your children; help us to act like it. Amen.
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