Jesus Teaches the Golden Rule
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TITLE: Jesus Teaches The Golden Rule
SUBJECT: Sermon on the Mount
PROPOSITION: Jesus’ teaching on the golden rule is: 1) Based on Needs, 2) Reflects God’s Character, 3) Optimistic, 4) A Practice of Love, 5) Is Proactive.
OBJECTIVE: Each hearer should have a better understanding of what the golden rule means and how to apply it.
AIM: To cause us to consider, reflect, and think more often about the golden rule.
INTRODUCTION:
1. Read: Matthew 7:12
2. About the Text:
1) Jesus has just finished a discussion of hypocritically judging others.
2) He then discusses asking, seeking, finding.
3) He uses the illustration of a son asking of his father bread, or fish.
4) The golden rule flows within this context.
5) The unrighteous judgment of others would not be following the golden rule.
6) God’s example is granting us good things when we ask is an example of following the golden rule.
7) When we do good things to others, that is an example of following the golden rule.
3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.
DISCUSSION: Jesus’ Teaching on The Golden Rule is . . .
I. Based on Our Spiritual Needs (Matthew 7:7-10)
1. Our needs compel us to ask, seek, and knock.
1) What do we do when we need something?
2) We go out and look for it.
2. Everyone has spiritual needs also.
1) This is a call to prayer.
2) Are we talking to God?
3) 1 Thessalonians 5:17
3. Needs are universal.
1) Each person has both physical and spiritual needs.
2) What are we doing to address them?
4. It is out of our needs and the needs of others that we practice the golden rule.
II. Reflects God’s Character (Matthew 7:11).
1. God does not deal with us as we deserve. Psalm 103:8-18
2. Even though we were God’s enemies, God acted toward us as we would have wanted Him to act toward us. Romans 5:6-10
3. God expects his children to be like Him. Matthew 5:44, 45
4. Hence we must practice the golden rule.
III. Optimistic (Matthew 7:12)
1. The golden rule does not say, “whatever others want you to do, do that.”
2. It doesn’t even mean if we would want something to be done to us from the wrong motive that it is OK for another to do that.
3. It says what “you would.” It is optimistic. In that sense it is based upon the best someone has to offer.
4. Many are the sins based upon what others want. Proverbs 1:10-19
5. It means that we should act based upon how we would want others to optimistically act toward us.
IV. A Practice of Love (Matthew 7:12).
1. Matt.22:39; Mark 12:31; Rom.13:9; Gal.5:14; Jam.2:8: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
2. The golden rule causes us to think about how our actions toward others would affect ourselves.
3. Would I want this to be done to me if someone else were doing this to me?
4. It is introspective. Phil.4:8
V. Proactive (Matthew 7:12).
1. It doesn’t wait for others to do before you start.
2. James 4:17 – The sin of omission. If we know to do good, we ought to do it.
3. James 1:22-25 — Not merely hearers, but doers.
4. John 15:4, 5 – Abide in the vine.
5. Matthew 28:20 – Teaching them to OBSERVE all things.
CONCLUSION:
1. We have looked at the golden rule. It is…
1) Based on Needs
2) Optimistic.
3) A Reflection of God’s Character.
4) A Practice of Love.
5) Proactive.
2. Invitation