THE GOLDEN RULE

“Though We Call It Golden...Do We Treat It as Precious?”

“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” – Matthew 7:12

Here is Leon’s (Unpublished) Expanded, Amplified Version: “So in all that you do, i.e., your words, actions, and responses, consider first how you would desire to be treated in the same situation. Let this Rule guide your behavior toward others. This Golden Rule sums up and fulfills the heart of all God’s commandments and prophetic instruction, it captures the spirit of true righteousness and love.”

We call it “The Golden Rule,” but let’s be honest, it’s more often treated like decorative advice than a serious Kingdom ethic. We quote it. We teach it to kids. We frame it on walls. But do we let it shape our decisions, relationships, and discipleship?

Too often, the Golden Rule is not treated as a vital expression of Kingdom living. But do we let it shape our decisions, relationships, and discipleship? In my humble opinion, it’s quoted more than it’s practiced

After fifty years of ministry, as a preacher, Christian author, and University professor, I’ve quoted the Golden Rule more times than I can remember. It’s familiar, memorable, and rolls easily off the tongue. Yet here’s my confession: I’ve rarely taught it with the weight it deserves. Quoting or casually referencing a principle is one thing; unpacking its full meaning and demanding implications is quite another.

Despite its place as a direct summary of “the Law and the Prophets,” I’ve often treated it like a footnote, something to reference, not something to unpack. And as I scan the shelves of Christian literature, I notice something else: only a few books address the Golden Rule in any serious depth. It’s oddly absent from the center of our theology and discipleship.

That makes me wonder, have my fellow pastors and teachers done the same? Have we, as ministry leaders, consistently taught this Kingdom-defining command? Or have we unintentionally reduced it to a proverb for children, rather than a principle that governs the very culture of the Church?

This blog is my attempt to change that…

A Command, not a Courtesy

In context, Matthew 7:12 doesn’t stand alone. Jesus had just finished teaching on prayer, trust in God’s goodness, and discernment. Then comes this pivot: from inward trust to outward action.

What’s radical about Jesus’ words is that He didn’t merely say, “Don’t hurt others,” a concept already present in Jewish ethics. Instead, He turned the idea on its head: “Do good to others.” He made it proactive, not reactive. This isn’t about reciprocity or passive morality, it’s a bold call to initiate love, extend mercy, and pursue justice, whether or not it’s returned.

And Jesus doesn’t treat this as a minor note. He ties it directly to “the Law and the Prophets,”the whole ethical heart of the Old Testament. This is the summary statement. The Kingdom distilled into one sentence.

Why we Shrug at Simplicity

The problem is the Golden Rule sounds too simple. Too idealistic. In a culture obsessed with nuance and intellectual complexity, we think anything this clear must be naive. But that’s a mistake. Jesus knew exactly what He was doing. The Golden Rule slices through the noise with sharp moral clarity.

• It’s not sentiment.

• It’s not etiquette.

• It’s the ethic of the Kingdom.

It asks: What kind of person initiates goodness, even when it’s not returned? Answer: Someone shaped by the character of God.

It Costs Something

Let’s be honest, this is why we sidestep the Golden Rule. Living it out means dying to self. It requires more than politeness. It demands Spirit-empowered empathy. Ongoing self-awareness. Intentional love.

The Greek verb ποιεῖτε (poieite) is used for the word “do” in Matthew 7:12:

“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them...”

It’s in the present imperative form, which expresses continuous, ongoing action, not a one-time deed, but a way of life. Jesus wasn’t commanding a single good act; He was calling for a lifestyle of consistently and actively doing for others what you would want done for you.

Literal rendering: “Be continually doing to others what you would have them do to you.” This makes the Golden Rule a daily ethic, not a momentary gesture.

It’s More Than Reciprocity

Jesus didn’t say, “Treat others the way they treat you.” This isn’t karma. It’s grace. It’s what Paul later calls “fulfilling the law” (Romans 13:10). It’s what James calls the “Royal Law” (James 2:8). It’s how the Gospel shows up in everyday life, how the world sees Christ through us.

The Golden Rule is the Kingdom Rule

Let’s not water this down. The Golden Rule isn’t a slogan, it’s a Kingdom strategy for transforming lives, strengthening churches, and shaping culture. It stands as the foundational ethic for how disciples of Jesus are called to live every day.

Supporting Scriptures Echo the Call:

• Leviticus 19:18 – “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

• Proverbs 3:27 – “Do not withhold good.”

• Matthew 22:39 – “Love your neighbor.”

• Romans 13:10 – “Love is the fulfillment of the law.”

• Galatians 5:14 – “All the law is fulfilled in… ‘Love your neighbor.’”

So Why Isn’t it the Rule?

• Maybe because it’s costly.

• Maybe because it forces us to act, not just react.

• Maybe because it pulls us away from comfort and into cross-shaped compassion.

But if we reclaimed it, not as a cliché but as a command, we’d change more than our behavior. We’d change how the world sees Jesus.

Call to Action:

Is it possible to make this quote a way of Kingdom living? Can the Golden Rule become a true expression of our walk of faith?

• Ask: Am I living reactively. or proactively, in my relationships?

• Reflect: Do I treat people the way I wish to be treated, or the way I think they deserve?

• Live: What if this became our daily ethic?