Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 7:12

"All things therefore whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, even so do ye also unto them: for this is the law and the prophets." — Matthew 7:12 (ASV)

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.

"The law and the prophets" are here condensed into a single sentence. This is the golden rule, a handy rule, a perpetually-applicable rule, useful in every condition, and it never makes a mistake.

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 is rightly called "the golden rule." Christ says of it that it is "the law and the prophets." It is their essence; it is the sum and substance of the highest morality.

Whatever you would want others to do to you, do that to them. Do not let that golden rule remain merely as a record in this Book, but take it out with you into your daily life.

If we all acted toward others as we would want them to act toward us, how different the lives of many people would become! Ours would be a happy world if this law of Christ were the law of England and the law of all nations. God send us the Spirit by whom alone we shall be able to obey so high a rule!

Everything that has come before leads up to this and argues for it, and so He says “therefore.” It will be instructive to look back and reflect on this. Let my reader consider this.

In this passage, our King gives us HIS GOLDEN RULE. Put yourself in another’s place, and then act toward him as you would wish him to act toward you under the same circumstances. This is a truly royal rule, a precept always at hand, always applicable, always right. Here you may be a judge, yet not be judging others, but judging for others. This is the sum of the Decalogue, the Pentateuch, and the whole sacred Word.

Oh, if only all people acted on it! Then there would be no slavery, no war, no exploitation, no strikes, no lying, no robbing; instead, all would be justice and love. What a kingdom this is that has such a law! This is The Code Christian. This is the essence of all that is right and generous.

We adore the King from whose mouth and heart such a law could flow. This single rule is a proof of the divinity of our holy religion. Indeed, its universal practice by all who call themselves Christians would carry conviction to Jew, Muslim, and unbeliever with greater speed and certainty than all the defenses and arguments that human ingenuity or piety could produce.

Lord, teach it to me! Write it on the fleshy tablets of my renewed heart! Write it out in full in my life!