A Vessel for Grace ::  Matthew 7:7-12

“Therefore, whatever you want others to do for you, do also the same for them … ” (Matthew 7:12). This statement, often referred to as the Golden Rule, is so well known that many people quote it without realizing it’s from the Bible. Unfortunately, people often interpret Jesus’ teaching more like: “Do to others what they do to you.” Or, “Don’t do to others what you don’t want done to you.” These are easy commands to follow. If someone is mean to you, be mean back. If you don’t want people to take advantage of you, don’t take advantage of others. If someone is kind to you, be kind back. In fact, this is even how we react to God. John said that we love God “because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19).

But Jesus said this one rule sums up the Law and the Prophets. In other words, all of God’s commands about how we are to live with one another and be His obedient disciples are based on this idea—that we treat others how we want to be treated. This may seem simple, but it goes far beyond just showing basic human respect for one another. That’s a standard every human is held to, whether a believer or not. The Golden Rule speaks to something greater—resembling our Heavenly Father in our earthly relationships.

What this command is really asking of us is that we love with the same love God has shown us. We sacrifice for others the same way God has already sacrificed for us. We give to others out of the abundance of things God has given to us. By modeling Jesus’ sacrificial love in how we treat others, we become vessels God uses to pour His grace out on others.