Matthew 7:12. All things whatsoever you would wish The word therefore ({οὖν})
Matthew 7:12-14; Luke 6:31
MATTHEW 7:12-14; LUKE 6:31
Matthew 7:12-14
Luke 6:31
12. All things, therefore, whatsoever you would wish that man should do to you, do so also to them: for this is the Law and the Prophets. 13. Enter in by the strait gate: because broad is the gate, and wide is the road, which leadeth to destruction, and there are many who enter by it. 14. Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the road, which leadeth to life, and there are few who find it.
31. And as you wish that men should do to you, do you also to them likewise.
Matthew 7:12. All things whatsoever you would wish The word therefore ({οὖν}) is superfluous, as we often find such particles occurring, and without any addition to the sense, in detached sentences.467 I have already said, that Matthew does not give here a single discourse, but a summary of doctrine collected out of many sermons. We must, therefore, read this sentence by itself. It is an exhortation to his disciples to be just, and contains a short and simple definition of what justice means.
We are here informed, that the only reason why so many quarrels exist in the world, and why men inflict so many mutual injuries on each other, is, that they knowingly and willingly trample justice under their feet, while every man rigidly demands that it shall be maintained towards himself.
Where our own advantage is concerned, there is not one of us, who cannot explain minutely and ingeniously what ought to be done. And since every man shows himself to be a skillful teacher of justice for his own advantage, how comes it, that the same knowledge does not readily occur to him, when the profit or loss of another is at stake, but because we wish to be wise for ourselves only, and no man cares about his neighbors? What is more, we maliciously and purposely shut our eyes upon the rule
467Greek proverbs, even when exhibited in a detached form, are frequently introduced by {ἀλλὰ} and {γὰρ}, and similar particles, instances of which must be familiar to the classical reader.
{μέγα} {ευ} {ἐστι}, {τὸ} {δὲ} {εὖ} {μέγα}. "But not what is great is excellent, but what is excellent is great." {́̔Ινα} {γὰρ}
{δέος}, {ἔνθα} {καὶ} {αἰδὼς}" For where fear is, there also is shame." {Πόνος} {γὰρ} {ὡς} {λέγουσιν}, {εὐκλεϊης}, {πατὴρ}.
"For labor, as they say, is the father of glory. The fact chiefly to be noticed here is, that such particles came to be regarded as a part of the proverb, and were hardly ever separated from it: though their use must originally have been elliptical, like that of {γὰρ}, which opens many a reply in Greek dialogues. — Ed.