Matthew 7:12

III. THE GOLDEN RULE.

12. Therefore.

This term indicates. connection, and that what follows is based upon what goes before. The idea is that those who are children of God must rise up out of. narrow and selfish life. He is benevolent and kind, and gives good gifts to those that ask him. If we are his children we must be benevolent like him, "Therefore."

Whatsoever.... do ye even so to them.

This does not imply that we are always to do to others as they wish, but what we would like to have done to ourselves if we were placed in their condition and they in ours. We might injure them by complying with their foolish wishes. It is unwise and unkind to an able-bodied beggar to give to him what will encourage him to continue his mendicant life. What ought to be done with the poor is to help them to ways of making. living. We must always do to others in such. way as to be. benefit to them. Every man must perceive that this rule would lead to universal justice, goodness, compassion, forgiveness and candor, and exclude everything of an opposite character. If we proceed in this way, we readily know how we ought to act in all circumstances.-- Adam Clarke.. maxim somewhat similar to the Golden Rule is found in the teachings of various heathen sages; Socrates among the Greeks, Buddha and Confucius among the Orientals, and Hillel among the Jews. But the other teachers do not come up to Christ's standard. 1. They do not base the duty on the obligation we owe as the children of God. 2. With them the maxim is negative instead of positive, passive instead of active, and runs in substance: "Do not do to others what you would not wish them to do to you." Christ's Golden Rule is active, working, never resting benevolence and beneficence.

This is the law and the prophets.

The summing up of this teaching. It is the summary of the second great command--Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself--one of the two commandments on which hang all the law and the prophets (Matthew 22:40). Everything said in them about our duty to our neighbor may be reduced to this rule.

PRACTICAL AND SUGGESTIVE.

JUDGING.--It behooves to ever bear in mind that while actions must be judged by the immutable standard of right and wrong, the judgments which we pass upon men must be qualified by the considerations of age, country, situation, and other incidental circumstances. And it will be found that he who is most charitable in judgment is least unjust.--Southey.

Teach me to feel another's woe, To hide the fault. see; That mercy. to others show, That mercy show to me.-- Pope.

MOTES AND BEAMS.--Why are you so quick to see. small fault in. brother who have one so much greater yourself? Get rid of your own fault, which partially blinds you, and then you shall see clearly, not to stand staring at your brother's faults, but to help him overcome them. There is always. hypocrisy in professing. horror of other people's sins while we tolerate all our own. Some quaint writer says most men carry. wallet on their shoulders, putting other people's fault in the front end where they can be seen, and their own behind where they are out of sight.-- Eggleston.

PEARLS BEFORE SWINE.--If. herd of hungry and ferocious hogs are called up to be fed, and instead of grain you throw before them. basket of pearls, they will not only trample the pearls under their feet, but in their eagerness for the expected food they may rush upon you and tear you to pieces. Likewise, some men, when you press the claims of truth on their attention, will not only despise the truth, but persecute you for annoying them with it. When such men are known they should be avoided. Jesus acted on this principle when he refused, often, to answer the Pharisees.-- McGarvey.

THE GOLDEN RULE.--Before the days of Christ there was. great Jewish teacher named Hillel. An inquirer once came to him with the strange question: "Can you teach the whole law during the time. stand on one foot?" "Yes," said Hillel, "it is contained in this one rule: 'Whatsoever you would not wish that your neighbor do to you, do it not to him.'" This has been quoted to detract from the originality of Christ's moral teaching. But even here, while there is. resemblance, there is. vast difference. Christ translates the negative into the positive.-- Hanna.. would add that not. line of Hillel's teaching was put in writing until. century or two after Christ, and no one can tell bow much that is really due to Christ was credited up by the Christ-hating Rabbis, who compiled from tradition his teachings, to Hillel.

In this rule. man's desire of good from others is set up as the measure of his good performances to others. The more selfish and unbounded his desires are, the larger are those performances with the obligation of which be is burdened. Whatsoever he would that others should do unto him he is bound to do to them. Therefore the more he gives way to ungenerous and extravagant wishes of service from those who are around him, the heavier and more insupportable is the burden of duty that he brings upon himself.-- Chalmers.

POINTS FOR TEACHERS.

1. Bring out the lesson that we determine the standard by which we will be judged by our standard for judging others. If we axe merciful we will get mercy; if charitable, will receive charity; if severe and exacting we will receive the same. 2. Draw out the figure of one with his eye filled with. beam looking for. mote in another's eye; show the application of the figure, the folly and hypocrisy of such. course, and the right way. 3. Bring out the absurdity of. man making presents of pearls and jewels to hogs, and make the application. Show who are guilty of such folly. 4. Point out the solid basis on which prayer rests, the relation of those in the kingdom to God, the blessed promise and why we may rely upon it. 5. Bring out the course that earthly parents pursue towards children, care for them, hear every cry, seek their welfare, give good things to them, and make the application to the heavenly Father. 6. Point out the oppositeness of. stone instead of. loaf, and. serpent instead of. fish. 7. Bring out the significance of the Golden Rule, what it means, what would be the effect of its universal application, how it is "the law and the prophets." 8. Show the difference between Christ's Golden Rule and that of other teachers. 9. Bring out and apply the points in this lesson which have. personal application. Ask your pupils what lessons they find for themselves.