“Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 7:12 NLT)
The two great divisions of the Old Testament, the law and the prophets are summarized by this great principle.
This applies to many situations in traffic, in business, in national and international politics, in the checkout line, in conversation, and in family relations. Nobody enjoys being around brash know-it-alls who give little space for others to speak. Nobody enjoys having their lives put in danger by foolish motorists. Nobody enjoys partisan divisiveness in politics. Nobody enjoys impolite company especially in family life.
The golden rule encourages us to ask, how would I like to be treated in this situation?
The Narrow Gate
A lackadaisical attitude can creep into our faith, unless we constantly remind ourselves that the way to life is narrow.
“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14 NKJV)
The popular way is not the way to eternal life. Elsewhere Jesus said that only He is that way.
"I am the way, the truth, and the life!" Jesus answered. "Without me, no one can go to the Father.” (John 14:6 CEV)
In a pluralistic world, this is not popular. The world’s idea is that there are many ways to heaven, but the unpopular truth is that there is only one way, Jesus.
False Prophets
Another verse that reveals the necessity of right judgment, not judgmentalism, but discernment, is to know who are false prophets.
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ (Matthew 7:15-23 NIV)
The key question is: Are their fruits of obedience to the will of our Father in heaven? Our attitude must be wariness or caution in regard to these wolves. So discernment or righteous judgment is needed.
Foundation
A builder’s attitude determines his building decisions. It’s always tempting for builders to take short-cuts, but honest and wise builders don’t. One of the most important building decisions is the foundation.
“Everybody who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise builder who built a house on bedrock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the wind blew and beat against that house. It didn’t fall because it was firmly set on bedrock. But everybody who hears these words of mine and doesn’t put them into practice will be like a fool who built a house on sand. The rain fell, the floods came, and the wind blew and beat against that house. It fell and was completely destroyed.” (Matthew 7:24-27 CEB)
Building in a flood zone, or a landslide area, and skimping on foundation depth, or building on sand are some very poor decisions. Building on a solid foundation is essential. Our spiritual foundation is building on the Rock of Christ. Many Christians want to build on the personality of a man, vain human traditions or modern fads, but no matter what our expression of the Christian faith is, we should build on the foundation of Christ’s words and act upon them.
Teaching Authority
When Arnold of Brescia, Peter Waldo, John Wycliffe, Jan Hus, Girolamo Savonarola, and other Pre-Reformation Christians read the words of Christ, they realized that it was He who taught with authority, and the Church in its current state, was sadly lacking in its authority. When Luther and later Reformers began studying the words of Jesus, they too were captivated by His authority. This attitude of submitting to the words of Jesus and acting upon them, even in the face of denominational teachings which are different, has been a hallmark of Christians since the beginning.
“When Jesus finished speaking, the crowds were surprised at his teaching. He taught them like someone with authority, and not like their teachers of the Law of Moses.” (Matthew 7:28-29 CEV)
The foundation of the Church also includes the whole of the Bible, but with the teachings of Jesus always being in chief place.
“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:19-22 ESV)
The Church is built upon three things: the foundation of the apostles (whose records fill the New Testament), the prophets (whose records we have in the Old Testament), and Jesus as the chief corner stone (the Gospels). These are the divisions of the Christian Bible.
