We love the Golden Rule. We teach it to everyone, even in our secular schools. It’s nice! Treat others how you want to be treated. I think we may be missing something if we forget that beautiful sentiment comes after “blessed are the poor” and “you hypocrite, take the log out of your own eye”. It may be comforting to tell someone the golden rule but it is uncomfortable to live it out. In fact, in the context of the sermon, Jesus says that word for word!

In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets. Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Matthew 7:12-14

He says to enter through the narrow gate. It is hard to begin to walk the path of treating others how you want to be treated! It is a struggle to take that first step to abandon revenge and getting what one deserves and getting even and instead showing leniency and grace. Once we walk through that gate, the path is also narrow and hard to traverse. But once you go through the gate, all you have to do is stay on the path!

“In everything” really means in everything. In patience, in forbearance, in sympathy, in kindness and in love treat people the way you want to be treated.

Ethan Kirl

Originally Published June 9, 2020