The Sermon on the Mount – Matthew 7:12 The Golden Rule
Jesus preached many beautiful lessons in the Sermon on the Mount. The lessons were practical and applied to everyday life. One important thing that Jesus said in his Sermon was “do to others what you would like them to do to you”. This is so valuable that it is often called the “Golden Rule”.
INTRODUCTION
The Sermon on the Mount is full of significant teaching, but it would be too much to cover in one lesson. A great way to introduce today’s lesson is to first list the five main points of the sermon, as described below. Next, go back to the fourth point and cover the golden rule in more detail. As Jesus instructed, “Then, in everything, do to others what you want them to do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 7:12 NIV)
A negative form of the Golden Rule is found in Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism. It was even found in Greek and Roman ethical teachings. However, it is not enough to say, “don’t do things to people that you don’t like them to do to you.” We could follow that advice by simply doing nothing. We could avoid people altogether. Instead, Jesus said the same thing but positively: “Do unto others.” This requires us to interact with people. We must take positive action with those around us.
One way to divide the Sermon between Matthew is as follows:
1. (Mat 5:1-16)
Be lights in a world in darkness.
The first part of the sermon is called the “beatitudes”, which means to be very blessed. Being blessed is more than just being happy. A spiritual mindset and a sense of accomplishment come from choosing God’s way in whatever circumstance we find ourselves in. Jesus lists various difficult circumstances and the blessing that can come despite them. This way of life not only improves our own lives. Living according to God’s instructions makes a real difference in our world. The section ends with Jesus saying, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16 NIV) This is more detailed in the lesson Jesus teaches about salt and light.
2. (Mat 5:17-48)
It’s Not Just About Rules: Be Good Because God Is Good
The Jewish leaders of the day made following God more about external rules and regulations and not about obeying God from the heart. In this sermon, Jesus contrasts these two approaches and makes it clear that living in the kingdom of God is not just about what people do or appear to do on the outside that matters. God wants our actions AND our hearts. Because Jesus compares this new way of life to the Old Testament Laws, some people compare this part of the Sermon to God giving the Law to Moses on Mount Sinai. This Sermon is on a mountain.
The section ends with “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48 NIV). Of course, we are not perfect, but our eyes must be on God’s perfection, and this must be our example and goal.
3. (Mat 6:1-18)
Be genuine: Obeying God is not about getting attention
Jesus talks about giving to those in need, praying and fasting. He speaks of hypocrites who make these acts of worship very public. Jesus points out that God is invisible and knows what happens in secret. He says, “Be careful not to practice righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:1 NIV)
4. (Mat 6:19-7:12)
The real treasure is to be with God. He lives a rich and generous life.
This part of the sermon begins with “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21 NIV) How we view money and earthly possessions reveals what we value most. God’s generous grace toward us inspires generous grace in the way we judge others. Jesus encourages his audience to take advantage of God’s generous nature and to be generous in the way we treat others. At this point in the Sermon, Jesus instructs them with what is known as the “Golden Rule” (THE MAIN POINT OF THIS LESSON)
5. (Mat 7:13-28)
Make the wise decision to listen and obey
Listening to Jesus’ words are not enough. The teaching must be put into practice. The Sermon on the Mount ends with a choice between two doors. The wide door looks simpler and many people choose it. Choosing the wide gate leads to destruction. Fewer people choose the narrow gate. The narrow door is more complicated, but it leads to life.
Jesus warns us not to listen to “false prophets” who say things that might tempt us to make the wrong decision. They can be recognized as fake by the way they say one thing and do another.
Finally, Jesus leaves the crowd with a parable about two builders. This is further explored in the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders lesson.
Luke’s gospel records Jesus saying many of the same things as in Matthew but in various settings and times. For example, our memory verse for today is found in both the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 7:12) and the Sermon on Luke 6:17-49. Scholars have differing opinions as to whether the sermon was preached in a single session or is a collection of a few sermons or teachings of Jesus combined. It would make sense that Jesus was repeating many of the same teachings to his various audiences.
Jesus taught about the kingdom of God and how to live in it. The sermon is not just about what to believe. It is practical and teaches how to live.
COMMENT
Once, when Jesus saw a crowd of people, he went up a mountainside to teach them.
Teachers in those days usually sat down when they were teaching, so when Jesus sat down, people would gather around him to hear what he had to say.
The people had listened to other teachers and preachers, but they were amazed at what Jesus told them. They could tell that Jesus was telling the truth. What Jesus said that day was so important that his Sermon (or his speech) was written in our Bibles for all of us to read even many years later. Because he was speaking from the side of a mountain, people refer to what he said that day as “The Sermon on the Mount.”
Jesus was a good teacher. When people listened to him, they learned many important things about God. But Jesus didn’t just talk about what people should know. He also taught people the best way to live. He taught about worshiping God, but he also taught about being nice to people and helping others.
Let’s list some of the things that Jesus talked about in the Sermon on the Mount.
Many people in the world do not know God or follow him. When people do not follow God, the world is in darkness. However, Jesus told his followers that they could be like a light in a dark world. If they obeyed God, the people would know what to do right.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus also talked about following rules. Other teachers said that God was happy if people obeyed all the rules. However, Jesus said that if you only follow God’s rules on the outside but don’t love Him on the inside, then this saddens God. God is our heavenly father, and we are his children. Children want to be like their parents, so Jesus said, “Try to be good like God; your father is good!
However, some religious leaders followed God’s rules to gain attention. They liked to stand on a street corner and pray out loud so that everyone would hear them and think they were good. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said that God can hear us pray even if we whisper or go to a quiet place alone. Every time we do good things, God sees what is happening. We should do good things to make God happy and not just to show off to other people.
Another thing that Jesus talked about in the Sermon on the Mount was a treasure. Sometimes people worry about money, clothes, or food, but Jesus said that if you follow God, you are rich! You have treasures in heaven waiting for you. People who think about earthly treasures become disillusioned if the treasure is lost or stolen. So what is more valuable, the treasure on earth or the treasure in heaven?
Jesus said that we will be sad if we always worry about things on earth. If we remember that we have a treasure in heaven, we know that treasure will last forever.
The last thing Jesus said in his Sermon was about making a wise choice. He said there were two options, and the options were like doors. A door is wide and easy to go through. Most of the people chose this door. They always do the easy instead of the good. The other door is narrow and more brutal to go through. Not as many people choose to go through that. People who pass through the narrow gate are willing to do what is right even if it is difficult.
Jesus said that the wide gate leads to a life full of destruction, and the narrow gate leads to a beautiful life that leads to an even better life one day with God. So where do you think the doors lead? Which door would you choose?
Jesus said many other essential things in the Sermon on the Mount. So many things it can be hard to remember them all!
Although we don’t remember everything, Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount that there is one thing I would like us to try with all our might. remember. If we remember this that Jesus said, we will always know how to treat people. It is like a valuable rule that always works in any situation. It is so valuable that some people call it “The Golden Rule”. Would you like to know what the golden rule is? This is the golden rule that Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount and on other occasions.
“Do to others what you want them to do to you.” Luke 6:31, NIV
How you want people to treat you is how you should always treat them. Would you like people to always be nice to you? Then you’d better treat others with kindness.
Do you wish others had told you the truth? Then you should be the kind of person who tells the truth.
What would you like people to do for you if you were hurt or sad? So when we notice that someone is hurt or sad, what should we do for them?
If someone hurts us, we feel like hurting them. However, that is not the golden rule. The golden rule is that we only treat people as we wish to be treated. Jesus knew that following the golden rule would sometimes be difficult, but remember what he said about doors? Choosing to follow the golden rule is like walking through a narrow door. It may be more difficult…