Matthew 7:12–14 — The Golden Rule and the Narrow Gate

Victor Porton’s personal theological reading of Matthew 7:12–14; the views below are the author’s interpretation.

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Matthew 7 > 12 All things therefore, as many as you may want that men should do to you, so also do you to them, for this is the law and the prophets. 13 Enter you in by the narrow gate, because wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many are they who enter through it. 14 How narrow is the gate, and restricted the way, that leads to life, and few are those who find it.

Verse 12 does not say that “as many as you may want that men should do to you, so also do you to them” is love or Gospel, it says that it is the law and the prophets, that is a thing not enough to do. You must do to people more than you want, otherwise, you do not enough. I mean, you want for yourself such things as food, house, and a new car. Obviously, you would want your money for your neighbor to buy him a car as much as you want for yourself (and therefore give money away, when reasonable), accordingly this teaching of Jesus. But that’s not enough: You need to want the will of God, what is much above a house or a car, both for yourself and for others.

So, to do to other people what you want for yourself is not enough, you need to do what God wants for us. To do what you want (even if you want for others) is a wide way, and to do what God wants is the thin way.