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Many people are aware of a legendary account about a famous Jewish rabbi named Hillel who taught in Jerusalem until the early first century (about 10 A.D.) The essence of the legend is that a man challenged Hillel, who was famous for promoting that Jews practice a kind, genuinely loving approach toward one another. This cynical man is said to have approached the rabbi, asking him to teach him everything he needed to know while he (the man) stood on one leg. Instead of replying with impatience at what obviously was intended to provoke him, Hillel remained calm. He told the man, “What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor.” This statement has come down to us as, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” We call it “The Golden Rule” and sometimes take it for granted as a mere platitude about how people should be “nice” to each other. According to the old legend, the man was so impressed by Hillel’s example of patience and his wise response that he dedicated himself to practicing this truth.

It is wonderful to know from the Scriptures that the Messiah himself taught in the land of Israel within a few decades of Hillel’s time. His teachings provide the context of the full insight into the truth of “The Golden Rule” in Matthew 7 (as part of the Sermon on the Mount) and in Luke 6, the Sermon on the Plain. We will look briefly at part of the teaching in Luke (in the Williams translation.)

But I say to you who listen now to me, practice loving your enemies, practice doing good to those who hate you, continue to bless those who curse you, and continue to pray for those who abuse you. To the man who strikes you on one cheek, offer him the other too; and from the man who takes away your coat, do not keep back your shirt (undergarment) either. Practice giving to everyone who asks of you, and stop demanding back your goods from him who takes them away. Yes, you must practice dealing with others as you would like them to deal with you. Now if you practice loving only those who love you, what credit do you get for that? Why, even notorious sinners practice loving those who love them. And if you practice doing good only to those who do good to you, what credit do you get for that? Even notorious sinners practice the same.

But you must practice loving your enemies, doing good to them, and lending to them, despairing of nothing; so that your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Continue to be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Then stop criticizing others, and you will never be criticized; stop condemning others, and you will never be condemned. Practice forgiving others, and you will be forgiven. Luke 6: 27-33, 35-37

Far from being a superficial maxim about being nice when it is convenient, Jesus’ use of The Golden Rule in Luke (v. 31) is a charge to care deeply about how one would treat the most hostile of enemies. It is a declaration that invites believers to obey the Messiah’s most radical demands. As the context states, it is not merely a matter of getting along with those with whom it is easy. The commitment to be like the Most High entails the practice of dedicated efforts to love enemies, not reluctantly, but from the heart. Knowing the depths of God’s rescuing love for us when we were His enemies (Romans 5: 8- 10) should encourage us to think of loving enemies as a joyful privilege. This type of mindset might be totally repugnant to the natural instinct and feeling of self- preservation for anyone, but God’s love poured into our hearts through the holy spirit (Romans 5: 5) enables true believers to obey it. The fruit of obedience to carefully treat others (including enemies), not as they treat us, but as we would like to be treated if in their situation, will be truly golden.