Explaining the “golden rule”

Ephesians 6:1-9

¹ Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. ² “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: ³ If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.”

⁴ Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.

⁵ Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ. ⁶ Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. As slaves of Christ, do the will of God with all your heart. ⁷ Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. ⁸ Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do, whether we are slaves or free.

⁹ Masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Don’t threaten them; remember, you both have the same Master in heaven, and he has no favorites.

One of the things that people often quote, that some don’t even realise was something that Jesus said is called the “Golden Rule” which is to “Do to others as you would have them do to you”.

It feels like this passage of scripture is attempting to explain and expand on this principle.

What is behind this significant wisdom, though, is, in my view a much more significant principle.

Yes, it is essential to treat people in a way that is aligned with how you would want to be treated. Indeed, children should obey their parents, and parents shouldn’t exasperate their children. There is a need for respect and fairness in workplaces.

But the principle behind these instructions is that everyone is created in the image of God. Everyone is deserving of dignity because they are reflectors of the Deity.

Lord God, please forgive me when I think less of people because they disagree with me, or because they are immature, or stuck in destructive behaviours. Lord, help me to see people with Your eyes.

Written by Ps. Justin Ware