What is the Golden Rule of Christianity?
Some call it the ethic of reciprocity; others call it the Golden Rule. In the Bible Jesus taught this rule to his disciples, and it became a cornerstone of Christianity and a pillar for human relations to this day.The RuleJesus said in Matt. 7:12, “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”The Whole LawIn New Testament times, the “Law and Prophets” referred to the Old Testament, with Jewish law outlined in the first five books of the Bible. With the Golden Rule, Jesus distilled Old Testament teachings about dealing with others into one easy-to-remember statement.ContextJesus taught the Golden Rule as part of his Sermon on the Mount. In that sermon, he put a fresh perspective on several well-known Jewish traditions and laws, saying inner motive was every bit as important as the outward action.A Universal RuleVariations of the Golden Rule, known as the ethic of reciprocity, exist in many of the world’s religions, from Buddhism a
