Therefore all things whatsoever you would that men should do to you, do you even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
All Commentaries on Matthew 7:12 Go To Matthew 7
John Chrysostom
AD 407
Otherwise; He had above commanded us in order to sanctify our prayers that men should not judge those who sin against them. Then breaking the thread of his discourse He had introduced various other matters, wherefore now when Here turns to the command with which He had begun, He says, “All things whatsoeverye would” That is; I not only command that ye judge not, but “Allthings whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do ye unto them;” and then you will be able to pray so as to obtain.
He says not, “All things whatsoever,” simply, but “All things therefore,” asthough He should say, If ye will be heard, besides those things which I have now said to you, do this also. And He said not, Whatsoever you would have done for you by God, do that for your neighbour; lest you should say, But how can I? But He says, Whatsoever you would have done to you by your fellow-servant, do that also to your neighbour.
Whence what we ought to do is clear, as in our own cases we all know what isproper, and so we cannot take refuge in our ignorance.
