CORE 52 | Week 22 | The Golden Rule
September 7, 2022

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Matthew 6:1-20 (NRSV)

1 “Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. 2 For the judgment you give will be the judgment you get, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. 3 Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye but do not notice the log in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your neighbor, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while the log is in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye.

6 “Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under foot and turn and maul you.

7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 Is there anyone among you who, if your child asked for bread, would give a stone? 10 Or if the child asked for a fish, would give a snake? 11 If you, then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

12 “In everything do to others as you would have them do to you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

13 “Enter through the narrow gate, for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. 14 For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns or figs from thistles? 17 In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will know them by their fruits.


FOR REFLECTION

  1. What is your first memory of the Golden Rule? How old should someone be to start teaching this rule? How does understanding of the rule and its implication for action change as we grow up?

  2. What is an example of a common situation where applying the Golden Rule is usually difficult for you?

  3. Read the first paragraph on page 149 in your CORE 52 book:

    “When personal morality is our motivation, we tend to be isolationists. Isolationists avoid bars so they won’t drink. They avoid neighbors who swear. They avoid inner cities where crime and drugs are rampant. The means of morality is avoiding “sinners” who become stumbling blocks. However, when service is our motivation and our mechanism for expressing our love for God, avoidance gives way to engagement. We purposely enter the places and relationships where God’s love is most needed. The truly religious become God’s ambassadors.” —Mark Moore in Core 52 (p. 149)

    What are some areas of life that you have pulled away from and why?

  4. Talk about the difference between avoidance and engagement (i.e. avoiding sin versus engaging with sinners).

  5. What are some areas you feel you need to increase your engagement with and why?

  6. Who are orphans and widows you can visit? Who are the marginalized in your world? What can you do for them?



Key Points

  1. Jesus’s Golden Rule tweaked the Silver Rule, thus massively transforming religion.

  2. When James spoke of religion as care for widows and orphans, he showed how his perspective matched that of his older brother, Jesus.

  3. James, like the Old Testament prophets, called us to justice, kindness, and humility as true religious expression.



DAILY JOURNAL

WEDNESDAY
Read the essay.


THURSDAY
Memorize Matthew 7:12.


FRIDAY
Read Luke 10:25–37.


MONDAY
Meditate on Isaiah 1:11–17; Micah 6:8; James 1:27.


TUESDAY
Schedule one hour today to live in total alignment with the Golden Rule.


OVERACHIEVER CHALLENGE
Memorize James 1:27.

BONUS READ
Dale Carnegie, How to Win Friends and Influence People