Day 22 of 49
The Golden Rule
“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
Mt 7:12.
Jesus spent a lot of time teaching how we should relate to one another. He demonstrated mercy and grace towards most of the people he met. The gospels tell us, “He had compassion on the crowds, as sheep with no shepherd” (Mt 9:36).
He confronted the Jewish leaders who were supposed to be the shepherds, but instead they made it difficult for the people to follow the Lord.
“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in.
Mt 23:13.
In his first meetings with the Pharisees, he tried to get them to look at the Scripture and see where they fell short. But like the leaders before the exile, they refused to see their fault in leading the people.
Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Mt 9:13.
And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless.
Mt 12:7.
The Law and the Prophets spoke of God’s desire that humans treat each other well. As citizens of the Kingdom of God, we are ambassadors for that kingdom. As someone once said, “We may be the only Jesus people see”.
For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel,
and the men of Judah are his pleasant planting;
and he looked for justice, but behold, bloodshed;
for righteousness, but behold, an outcry!
Is 5:7.
For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice,
the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
Ho 6:6.
Jesus statement put a twist on a statement by the Rabbi Hillel from the first century BC. “Do not do to others what you yourself dislike.”
While the Rabbi’s statement gave a guideline for treating others well, it fell short. Not doing something bad to another can be passive, but actively doing something good for another will always take thought and effort.
How do you want others to treat you?
Do you want to be greeted every time you enter a room?
Do you want to be given the benefit of the doubt when you’ve done wrong?
Do you want others to speak well of you?
When you are in a hurry, do you want someone to let you go ahead in line?
When you are short of funds, do you want someone to lend to you?
When you are ill, do you want someone to make you a meal?
When you are lonely, do you want someone to call or write?
Do you like to get cards in the mail? Do you like to get encouraging emails?
Do you want to be invited out for lunch?
When confronted, do we want to be yelled at, or told with grace?
Do we want to be judged and condemned?
Do we want second…third…fourth…fifth chances?
Lord, forgive me for desiring from others what I am unwilling to give. Open my eyes to the opportunities to do good to others. Give me the courage to step up and do first.
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
Ga 6:9–10.
TRICIA LATHROP 