“In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 7:12)
When we break, say, a traffic rule, don’t we want the police officer to cut us some slack? But when someone else does, and especially when we’re inconvenienced, don’t we feel they should be taught a lesson? This double standard in our favor is sometimes reflected even in the way we pray; we ask for mercy for ourselves when we sin and punishment for others when they do.
Jesus teaches us to do to others what we would have them do to us. That’s why He tells us not to judge because by our own measure, it will be measured to us, and we might even find ourselves violating our own rules to a greater degree. We should accord to others what we want for ourselves. If we walk according to this Golden Rule, we will fulfill all of God’s commandments.
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