Pastor Terry Cheek Th.D.

www.theinspiringword.org

Thanks for returning to another publication of “The Blue Ridge Christian News” and our article “The Inspiring Word”.

This month open your Bible to Matthew 7:12 and follow along as we continue with study of “The Sermon on the Mount.”

From our March article, we were blessed with an understanding of ask, seek and knock. Jesus revealed to all of us how we should approach God and be persistent with our prayers and petitions. Our approach must be tempered though. That is where we find ourselves with this article. Notice the first word in Chapter 7 verse 12, “Therefore.” It refers to something previously stated. With this thought we understand this article gives deeper clarification to the previous passage while opening a fresh perspective to every born-again believer. With your Bibles open to Matthew Chapter 7 verse 12 we read: “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.”

This verse clearly has a theme of equity and justice, a theme which will regulate our relationships, with God and one another. The golden rule is encompassing both economies, the O.T. and N.T.: we see the O.T. law being applied through N.T. gospel. The connection between these two, then, shows that in the practice of the golden rule Christians are to consider not only how they would be dealt with by men, but by God Himself, this elevates the understanding high above the ethics of the world. I speak to Christians because that is who the Lord spoke to as He delivered the sermon on the mount. It still applies to the body of Christ because we are His elect! We have a testimony of being born-again into a new life that is eternal and abundant. We are to follow the standard set within Gods word as conviction lead’s us not obligation.

Christian how does Gods word reveal His handling of His children? Would the word merciful provide the answer? The golden rule then tells you and I to treat others the way God treats us. Remember the word “therefore” the golden rule is there for understanding what has previously been given. The lost cannot do this, they are not indwelt with the Holy Spirit. God doesn’t leave you and I alone to struggle with molding our lives into this order. He provides us with a comforter. The Holy Spirit will move us according to Gods word to be the people God has saved us to be. Therefore, we are expected to submit to obedience and humble ourselves to the work of the comforter. How can we expect God to be merciful with us if we are eaten up with selfishness? Let’s not forget the need others have of us is the same need have we of God.

This brings us to a very necessary question; how am I to determine what is good for my neighbors? Look at our verse: “all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them:” Our answer can be summarized as. Whatever you consider best for yourself were you in their place, that is what you must do for others. The understanding of verse 12 is found in these three things. (1) We must do to our neighbor what we ourselves acknowledge to be fit and reasonable, considering the discovery and understanding of the circumstances. (2) We must consider other people on the same level with ourselves, and understand we are as responsible to them as they to us. Being saved does not make us better than anyone. We are all sinners, some are saved sinners and others are unsaved sinners. We all have come short of the glory of God. (3) We can very easily find ourselves in equal or worse condition than we find others in. All of us live under a sovereign God, yet it is His children who are called to be salt and light. The golden rule is a guideline for meeting that expectation.