The Golden Rule and the Narrow Gate

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The Golden Rule and the Narrow Gate

Matthew 7:12-14

1. The Golden Rule is unique to Jesus. He is the only one who stated it as a positive: DO GOOD unto others... not “DON’T DO anything bad to others”
1. This “Silver” rule is found in many antiquated moral writings:

• Hindu : do naught to others which if done to thee would cause thee pain.
• Buddhism: Hurt not others with that which pains yourself
• Muslim: No one of you is a believer until he desires for his brother that which he desires for himself. (note: this was written after the Gospels were widely published)
• Bhai: He should not wish for others that which he doth not wish for himself, nor promise that which he doth not fulfil.
• Jewish: What is hateful to you, do not to your fellow men.  That is the entire Law; all the rest is commentary
• some Greek guy: Do not do unto others what angers you if done to you by others.

2. This sounds to me like Jesus was rephrasing a saying or proverb common to the audience. But as Jesus usually did, he turned it on its head and totally challenged our attempts at self-righteousness! It is not enough to AVOID treating others poorly, I must go and DO UNTO OTHERS... the responsibility of first action is MINE! I should make the first move! This is just the sort of thing Jesus did.
3. “For this sums up the Law and Prophets” So in application: If we keep this Golden Rule, we keep the Law. Right, and if I jump a 100 foot high bar, I will have cleared the 6 foot bar as well... Thank God for his grace!
4. By extension: any interpretation or application of God’s law that does not conform to the Golden Rule is a misapplication.

• When have you lived out the Golden Rule in the last week?
• When have you applied the GR and had someone NOT reply in kind?
• Does the GR apply to our civic life and law as well as our personal behavior?
• Have you ever seen Christians apply God’s law to people in a way that violates the GR?

5. “enter through the narrow gate...”  this phrase describes an event. A decision. A moment in time.
6. narrow gate... narrow road... Leads to life. The gate is the decision of salvation. The road is what follows the gate, it is the Christian life of following Christ. Not an easy path!
7. Wide gate... broad road... leads to death. What statement could stand more in contrast to our post-modern humanist cultural religion? People say “all paths lead to God”, “all religions are equally valid” ... blah blah blah...  Except that Jesus pretty much gave this idea the smackdown here in verse 13. So (as Jesus usually does) he forces us into a philosophical corner: He says we are either on the path to life, or the path to death. No third choices. Furthermore, he says that most people are on the path to death, not life.
8. “in all ages the real disciple of Christ has been looked on as a singular, unfashionable character; and all that have sided with the greater number, have gone on in the broad road to destruction.” Matthew Henry
9. If there were a sign over the narrow gate what would it say? “To Heaven” If there were a sign over the wide gate what would it say? (“To Heaven” because it lies!) So what do the people on the wide path think they are doing? Going to Heaven!
10.  Other verses that talk about gates to life and death:
1. Jeremiah 21:8 "Furthermore, tell the people, 'This is what the LORD says: See, I am setting before you the way of life and the way of death.
2. Deuteronomy 30:19 “This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live”
3. Jeremiah 6:16 “This is what the LORD says: "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, 'We will not walk in it.'”

• Who is on the narrow road?
• Who thinks they are on the narrow road, but are in fact on the wide road?
• What lies does our culture tell about the narrow and wide roads? How does Jesus’ statements apply to these beliefs?
• What are the “ancient paths”? Why do you think God calls them ancient, instead of merely good paths?
• What are the opposite of the “ancient paths”? What are the modern paths?