Jesus provided us a very plain and practical summary of God’s standard of righteousness as expressed in the Old Testament when he was concluding his Sermon on the Mount. “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets” (Matthew 7:12). Jesus taught that a love rightly expressed toward God and toward our fellow man was the very heart of God’s message in the Old Testament.
We should not be surprised that this summary is expressed in the context of our relationship with others. After all, six of the ten commandments deal with our relationship to others. The love that we are to have for God is here assumed by our Lord because we cannot love our fellow man rightly without first loving God.
What does it mean then to treat others as I would have them treat me? This command is not glib rhetoric, but is comprehensive instruction that Christ expects us to perform. First and perhaps foremost we must apply this standard to every relationship that we encounter, whether it be with the cashier at the grocery store or our best friend. Why? Every man, woman, and child bears the image of God, our Creator, and as such is worthy of our respect and honor, no matter how tarnished that image may be (Genesis 1:26-27).
Jesus gave further insight to the full implication of this command later in an encounter with a certain lawyer. “And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him [Jesus], saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He [the Lord] said unto him, What is written in the law? How readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind: and thy neighbor a thyself” (Luke 10:25-27).
The Scriptures tell us that the lawyer “willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:29). Jesus answered his question by relating a story of a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho who “fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.” (Luke 10:30). A priest passed by and ignored the man as did a Levite. Both of these men, owing to their duties and station of life, would have been expected to aid this poor man, but they did not. Finally, a Samaritan passed, saw the man, and “when he saw him, he had compassion on him…and bound up his wounds…brought him to an inn, and took care of him” (Luke 10:33-34).
Jesus asked the lawyer which of these three “was neighbor unto him that fell among the thieves? And he [the lawyer] said, He that had mercy on him. Then said Jesus…Go, and do thou likewise” (Luke 10:36-36). It is clear that love is no respecter of persons and the command to do unto others as we would have them do unto us extends to all those we encounter. The image of God in every man demands it; that this image is marred requires us to show mercy to every man. This is the teaching of the Old Testament and the expectation of our heavenly Father.
From the Chaplain 