Answer
Yes, the statement “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” is biblical. It comes from Matthew 7:12, often called the Golden Rule. In that verse, Jesus gives a timeless principle: “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”
The conventional phrasing of the Golden Rule is “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Different Bible translations might word the command a bit differently, but it remains a basic ethical principle for Christians:
“Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you” (NLT).
“Whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them” (ESV).
“In everything . . . treat people the same way you want them to treat you” (NASB1995).
“Treat others as you want them to treat you” (CEV).
Jesus’ statement is in the context of a lesson about loving our enemies. Jesus took the conventional quid pro quo method of treating people and turned it on its head (see Matthew 5:38–48). Rather than doing to others what they have done to us or giving them what they may deserve, we are to treat them the way we want them to treat us.“Whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them” (ESV).
“In everything . . . treat people the same way you want them to treat you” (NASB1995).
“Treat others as you want them to treat you” (CEV).
Jesus said the rule that we should do unto others as we would have them do unto us “sums up the Law and the Prophets,” and that means the Golden Rule has always been basic to the Bible’s message. Jesus simply crystalized the message into a notable precept. Later in Matthew, when asked to identify the greatest commandment, Jesus responded, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:37–40).
The night of His arrest, Jesus said to His disciples, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34–35). One way to show love is to do unto others as we would have them do unto us.
Doing unto others as you would have them do to you recognizes that humans often prioritize their own interests. By laying down this maxim, Jesus compels us to step beyond our little world and look out for others. The command to “do unto others” encapsulates God’s commandments toward people. It’s not about individual preferences (“I like chocolate ice cream, so I’ll buy it for others”) but about godly virtues (“I want to be treated kindly, so I’ll treat others kindly”). The Golden Rule encourages obedience to God and fosters empathy for others.
It is worth noting that the “do unto others” rule is a principle for life, not a means of salvation. If viewed as the latter, it becomes a burdensome task that cannot be accomplished. God’s perfect standard can only be met in Christ, the Perfect Man. Only when we trust in Christ do we have both the freedom and the power to carry out the Golden Rule.
