Matthew 7:12 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Summary on the Torah’s Fulfillment

Matthew 7:12 – Summary on the Torah’s Fulfillment

MT7:12 “So, everything you want others to do to you, you also do to them.[1] For this is the Torah and the Prophets.[2]

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[1] Everything you want others to do to you, you also do to them: The Golden Rule. This simple statement is among the most well known principles of ideal conduct. Though many famous philosophers and religious founders have phrased something similar, it has always been in the negative. The Nazarene puts it in the positive. So, one may keep the negative rule by living in a cave, but not the Nazarene Rule (Compare Luke 6:31 and Romans 13:10). Various renderings are: GDSP: therefore you must always treat other people as you would like to have them treat you; BECK: do for others everything you want them to do for you; PHI: this is the essence of all true religion.

The Nazarene Saint who has emptied himself of Self will always respond positively to others, seeking their highest good. ‘Love never behaves badly. It always seeks the best interests of others.’ (Romans 13:10 and Philippians 2:4, 7) Ghandi argued with his British occupiers:

“When all nations live by the Sermon on the Mount we will have not only solved our problems but those of the whole world.”

We have no difficulty knowing what hurts us. It is a simple matter of refraining from doing to others what hurts us, and going a quantum leap beyond this, and doing those things for others that you would want done for you. Note the context to follow the Golden Rule deals in part with money matters.

[2] The Torah and the Prophets: The conclusion to the Nazarene’s subject raised in Matthew 5:17. There is a popular tradition of the great Jewish Rabbi Hillel who was asked to stand on one leg and summarize the Torah. His answer:

“What is hateful to thee, do not to another.”

Philo the Jew of Alexandria, a contemporary of Paul, gave a similar answer:

“What you hate to suffer, do not do to anyone else.”

However, the Nazarene goes beyond these negative viewpoints with a positive one, called the Golden Rule. Many religions have a negative expression of this, including the Greek philosophers, as well as Buddha and Confucius. Paul summarizes it:

‘The law is summarized in love of neighbor. Love is the fulfillment of the Law.’ (Romans 13:9, 10)

This single verse (Matthew 7:12) serves as the perfect conclusion to the subject introduced in Matthew 5:17, the Law’s fulfillment. Will this Way be easy? The Nazarene proceeds to explain.

Bernard d’Agesci (1757-1828), La justice, musée de Niort. Holds scales in one hand and in the other hand a book with “Dieu, la Loi, et le Roi” on one page and the Golden rule on the other page. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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Preceding

Matthew 7:1-11 – The Nazarene’s Commentary on Neighbor Love Continued 6: Matthew 7:1-5 Judgment and neighbor love

Matthew 7:1-11 – The Nazarene’s Commentary on Neighbor Love Continued 8: Matthew 7:6-11 Giving and neighbor love

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Additional reading

1. Solitude
2. Letter to a Non-Christian Nation

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Further reading

1. Golden Rule
2. Remember The Golden Rule
3. In Praise of Mere Decency
4. Standing Up To Racism
5. Faith helped me find my purpose
6. Today’s Scripture – August 9, 2017
7. The Golden Rule recommended by Castle View Academy as one of two Kindness Books for Kids!
8. Challenges Happen
9. A Golden Year Through Serving One Another
10. In Praise of Mere Decency
11. July 30 @ 1 Thessalonians 4-5
12. Muse of the Day
13. Canticle
14. Judgement
15. Relational Aggression
16. Go do. Psalm 32:1-2 Isaih 26:4 Hebrews 13:1-2
17. Blessings From God
18. Impact

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