The Golden Rule – How to Live Peaceably With All People

Reverend Leo H. McCrary II

You know of the “Golden Rule” but do you live by its two key principles so that you may live peaceably with all people?

Introduction

In last week’s sermon, I preached against allying with evil and resisting it with the kind of love that fights against it and wins.  In my sermon this week, I want to add on to that a principle we must live by.  You see, at the end of the day, the goal of the true believer is to live peaceably with all people.  So, I wish to share with you the principle Jesus taught, which is found in Matthew 7:1-12.  

God has given us a principle to live by if one truly desires to live at peace with others and, therefore, live at peace with oneself.  Should this land and the world adopt this principle, there would be peace throughout.  

Yet this rule is either misunderstood or completely ignored by those who live by worldly principles.  There are even many who say they are of God who have not adopted this principle to live by.  If believers are to walk in spirit and in truth, this principle cannot be discarded or ignored.

What Is the Golden Rule

When Jesus taught what we call the “Golden Rule”, you will notice that He doesn’t mention the words “golden rule”.  In Matthew 7:12, Jesus stated that the principle is “the Law and the Prophets”.  Now, what does that mean?

This isn’t the only time in scripture where we see Jesus refer to a teaching of His as “the law and the Prophets”.  When Jesus was asked about the great commandment in the law, He responded by saying that one should love God wholeheartedly, and one should love their neighbor as one loves themselves, and on both of those answers, hung all the Law and the Prophets.

Therefore, the “Golden Rule” is a principle we should understand is founded on God’s love, as it comes from God, who is love.  

How to Live by the Golden Rule

The keyword in Matthew 7:12 is the word “therefore”.  Why do I say that?  Well, the word ‘therefore’ is an adverb that is used to connect multiple statements to one result.

In this case, ‘therefore’ connects Matthew 7:12 to all that is recorded of Jesus’ teachings in Matthew 7:1-11.  Many of us believe the golden rule is simply to treat others the way we want to be treated, but in His teaching of this principle, Jesus tells us how to live by the principle.

So, if we are going to treat people the way we desire to be treated, Jesus tells us in Matthew 7:7-8 that one must seek God’s guidance.  Jesus said that one must ask, seek, and knock, and the Lord will not simply give, but will help to guide one in how to live by His love.

You see, if one does not seek God’s guidance, how could they ever do what is righteous and good?  If one does not ever seek God’s guidance, how could they ever live in a manner that makes for peace?

Then, Jesus, in Matthew 7:1-6, tells us that if we are going to treat people the way we desire to be treated, we must consider how we judge others.  If one does not take into consideration how they judge others, that raises the question:  How can one go in the way of peace?

So to be clear, for one to live by the “Golden Rule”, one must seek God’s guidance, and one must take into consideration how they judge others.

Is Judgment Proper

Now, when we start talking about judgment, some of us may wonder whether or not it is proper for a Christian to judge.  I believe many of us have heard a time or two in our lives that Christians aren’t supposed to judge others, right?

However, I want to reference what Jesus said in Matthew 7:6.  Jesus instructed His followers not to give (to minister) what is holy to the dogs nor to cast our pearls before the swine.  Let us understand that the dogs and swine represent those who despise the wisdom of God – fools (Prov. 1:7).  Jesus said that ministering to such people is a waste because they will trample over the teaching, discarding and disregarding it.

Here’s a question that I will pose to you:  How can you know who the dogs and swine (the fools) are without judging?  Therefore, judgment is necessary so that you may know when to and when not to.

Let us understand that judgment is both a part of our God-given nature and that judgment is clearly part of the method of being able to live peaceably with all people.

When God created mankind, He created us in His image, according to His likeness.  Do you not think that God judges and determines what is good?  

Genesis 1 shows us that throughout His creation, God would determine what was good.  For example, when the Lord said let there be light, He saw the light and that it was good.  When the Lord separated the dry land from the sea, God saw that it was good.  When the earth brought forth its plant life, God saw that it was good.

Moreover, when God placed Adam in the garden, Genesis 2:19-20 tells us that God brought the living creatures to Adam, and He watched Adam judge and name each of the living creatures.  Such judgment is in our nature to determine whether a day is beautiful or whether or not something tastes good.  Such judgment is not inherently wrong!

The Forbidden Judgment

However, there is a kind of judgment that does cross a line.  In Matthew 7:1-2, we see Jesus speaking of the kind of judgment that crosses a line and is not proper for a person to judge others with.  In Matthew 7:1-2, Jesus implies that there will be a time when one will be judged for the judgment they judged others with.  

Now, what is the significance of that?  Well, we must consider who it is that will be the judge of our judging of others.  We must consider who will be the judge of how we choose to treat others.  Who will be the judge of how we choose to move?  God.

God will be the judge of how you chose to judge others.  God will be the judge of how you treated others.  When God judges, He will judge whether one lives eternally or dies the eternal death of eternal condemnation.  

So, when Jesus warns one not to judge, He is warning one not to judge in a manner that will bring on eternal condemnation.  How does one judge in a manner that would bring on eternal condemnation?  By putting oneself in the place of God and judging as if one were God.

Let me be very clear about this:  One ought not put oneself in the place of God, judging as if he or she is God.  Who is man or woman to think that he or she can plan God?  Who is man or woman to think that he or she can determine who lives and who dies?  Who is man or woman to think that he or she can determine who is and who is not worthy of God’s reward?

Should you move in such a manner, with such judgment, you ought to understand you are moving in a manner that is forbidden and will be condemned!

The Folly of “Self-righteous Christians”

With that being said, such judgment has been, and still is, in the world today, coming from those who believe themselves to be able to judge with such judgment.  Yes, there are those who profess to be of God who have, and still do, move in a manner believing they can judge who is and is not worthy of God’s reward.  

Such entitlement comes from a place of one believing themselves to be superior to others.  What is it that makes one think they’re superior to others?  

Does one’s race make one superior so that one can judge/condemn others?  Absolutely not.  We are all flesh and blood.  We all share in the same shortcomings in that all of us are sinners who fall short of the glory of God, and live in need of His saving grace.

Does being religious make one superior to others?  Absolutely not.  

Consider Jesus’ parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector who both went to the temple to pray (Luke 18:9-14).  The Pharisee, a religious man, in his prayer, looked down on someone like the tax collector, while the tax collector humbly acknowledged he was a sinner in need of God’s saving grace.  Jesus taught that the tax collector was the one who went home justified that day, not the religious Pharisee who thought too highly of himself.

In his epistle, James spoke quite a bit about the folly of a superiority complex.  In James 2:1-4, he wrote, “Do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality.”  He added that if one treats one who wears fine apparel above another who is poor, they have shown partiality and become judges with evil thoughts.  

In its nature, the superiority complex, like racism, goes against the way of God.  As we know, God has commanded His followers to love all people, regardless of who they are.  At the same time, God says that His way is a way that causes His sun to shine upon both the just and the unjust.

In James 4:11, he warned, saying, “Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.”

Who is man to think that he can judge God’s law when he, without Christ’s help, is not righteous enough to fulfill the law itself?  If man, without Christ, cannot fulfill God’s way, why should he think for a second that he can judge with the judgment of God?

The Harm of the “Condemning Christians”

Yet, there are those who dare claim to be a child of God who disregard such teaching and judge and condemn others.

I will say to you today that the “condemning Christians” are the greatest hindrance and opposition to the work of faith and to people all over the world today!

The condemning Christians are adversaries of the Lord!  You see, they blaspheme the Spirit’s saving work, which is a work that leads and guides one into all truth.  In this moment today, with all of their bitterness, hatred, and “Christian nationalism”, they shut the gates to the kingdom of God, when true believers ought to be opening the gates and welcoming others in!

Yes, the so-called Christian nationalists are those who stand in opposition to God’s will today!  God’s will is for all who receive His only begotten Son to be raised with Him at the last day (John 6:40).  Yet, these thugs and extremists, hypocrites, work a work today that pushes people away from the kingdom as they condemn others to hell, when they are the ones who, through their blasphemy, are destined for eternal condemnation.

In their condemnation of others, they do not make for peace in this world.  No, they stir up strife, contentions, and anger.  They move far from the principle of doing unto others as they would want done to them, so far as love, honor, and respect goes.  

The move in a manner where the only thing that would come back to them is bitterness and hatred.  However, I will remind you, as a child of God, don’t you give in ot their bitterness and hatred – that is what Satan wants you to do.  Here is where you must remember to turn such emotions over to the Lord who has said that vengeance belongs to Him (Deut. 32:35).

The Righteous Judgment of God

Should we desire to live peaceably with all people, let us accept the fact that we cannot judge in the same manner as God.

God’s judgment is righteous because He is righteous, which is to say that God is without sin or flaw.  When God judges, He is impartial in His judgment (Ex. 34:5-7).  God does not take any bribes (Deut. 10:17).  God shows no personal favoritism, as He is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34; Gal. 2:6).  Moreover, God is God of both Jews and Gentiles (Rom. 3:29).

In our judgment, man’s judgment can be bought and bribed.  How else do you explain the rich and wealthy often walking away guilty of crimes they have done?  In our judgment, man is biased, whether it is by gender, race, or nationality.

God is just and faithful in His judgment because He has sworn to Himself, since He can swear by no one greater.  I want you to understand that God will be faithful to you because He must first be faithful to Himself!  Therefore, in His faithfulness, you don’t have to worry about God going back on His word and the promise of how He will judge.

We ought to be thankful that no man will determine whether or not we will live or die because that judgment would be as corrupt as it gets!  Time and time again, man has proven himself to be corrupt!

How Christians Ought to Judge

If we are going to live peaceably, I say to you today, consider living by the golden rule.

Before we dare to judge to condemn anyone, let us first do something about our sin.  As Jesus said, we must remove the plank from our own eyes (Matt. 7:5)!

To remove the plank (sin) from our own eyes, we must go before the throne of grace and confess to the Lord, acknowledging our sin.  As John said, “[God] is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).”

When you go before the throne of God, acknowledging your sin, you will obtain mercy and find grace from the Lord.  With the grace that God has shown you, what do you think you should do?  Shouldn’t you move in the same grace that God has shown you?  The last thing you should be is an unforgiving servant, as the unforgiving servant will face judgment (Matt. 18:21-35).

Christ said that when the speck is removed from our eyes, we will see more clearly how to remove the speck from our brother’s eye (Matt. 7:5).  To be clear, that was not Jesus giving you the person to judge to condemn anyone, as condemnation is wrong.

Yet, I repeat to you, again, judgment is not wrong, especially when one judges how to be help their neighbor with their struggles.  You see, this is the way that a true believer ought to judge:  Seek how to best help uplift others, rather than how to put down and destroy.  When God’s children move in that manner, we move in a manner that makes for peace!

Live Peacebly With All People

As Paul said, living peaceably with all people is dependent on us (Rom. 12:18).  God has called on all of us to live in a manner that makes for peace.  What God has not called on us to do is to condemn anyone.  As James said, “There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy (Jas. 4:12).”  God doesn’t need our help with that judgment, as He is righteous!  What can we justified sinners do to help the righteous God in His judgment?

Let us stay within our calling and move according to the principle that will make peace.  Let us learn to discern good from evil.  Let us discern when and when not to.  Moreover, let us learn to discern who to be an ally of and who not.  As Christ said, we must learn to discern who to give what is holy to and who not, because even that can lead to strife from which nothing good can come.

While others say they believe in God but disregard His principles for making peace, we must not do the same.  Let us be faithful to the principle that makes for peace, by again, walking in spirit and in truth.