Luke 6:31 English Standard Version (ESV) And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

Luke 6:31 Modern English Version (MEV) Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.

The Modern English Version is the one we quote but it is not the one we learned.

What is at the core of the golden rule?

If it took you a moment to ponder that question, then I have succeeded in offering up my version of the golden rule core. “I wish people wouldn’t do that.”

At the core of the golden rule are the feelings we encounter because someone has treated us in a manner which is upsetting to us. I called this posting golden rules because there are multitude of behaviors which annoy us.

Which one bothers us at any particular moment is a matter of personal experience. As a writer I can only address the one at this moment that bothers me the most.

The reason I said I have succeeded with my version if you had to ponder my question is because recently I encountered another writer who asked a question and never came back to address any of the possible answers. It like being given a test and receiving a failing grade without being given the right answer.

“I wish people wouldn’t do that.” That is my answer and no one else’s. I don’t get to choose how others think or feel. We might have common experiences like being cut off in traffic, but that does not mean our response to the event are the same. The responses of that one event range from a non-verbal grunts to road rage and death on the highway.

This is my point for these golden rules. Wishing doesn’t make it so. We can only example right behavior and in doing that no one else will ever know why.

The Lord knows and He is the only one that really matters.

Psalm 12:5-6 English Standard Version

⁵ “Because the poor are plundered, because the needy groan, I will now arise,” says the Lord; “I will place him in the safety for which he longs.” ⁶ The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times.

As this relates to yesterday’s offering, we must look to our own behaviors to determine our condition. Do we find within ourselves a groaning behavior?

Strong’s definition of groan here is varied and could mean shrieking:—crying out, groaning, sighing. When sheep are left to feed themselves because of the neglect of their shepherds they must look to themselves and be honest with themselves about the time spent feeding on His Word.

If the Lord is leading you to green pastures, we can expect to be satisfied. If we hunger and feed ourselves without the Lord we can expect to come away unsatisfied. Even the smallest unconfessed sins have the ability to muddy the waters and hinder our spiritual insight.

2 Chronicles 29:15 English Standard Version

¹⁵ They gathered their brothers and consecrated themselves and went in as the king had commanded, by the words of the Lord, to cleanse the house of the Lord.

The good news is to be found in the gathering together and dedication of self in seeking the Lord’s Word and cleansing the house of the Lord together. It is in the sharing of our findings that clarity can be found. We do this over and over again, refining with the “furnace on the ground”. In this way the Word of the Lord shared among us helps all of us to clarify and purify our understanding.

Hebrews 2:11-12 English Standard Version

¹¹ For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, ¹² saying, “I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.”