I understand Matthew 7:12 as telling us to do for others what we want them to do for us.

My understanding has a different “flavor” than the words translated by the New International Version as: “do to others what you would have them do to you”. (Matthew 7:12 NIV (emphasis added)).

Why?

Because I don’t like the idea that the Way of Jesus involves doing things to people.

This idea of doing things to people is dangerous, especially in these days of Christian nationalism.

Doing things to people opens the door to motivating and justifying violent actions such as assaulting the Capitol in order to bully, intimidate and disrupt the finalization of the presidential election.

Doing things to people opens the door to imposing my religious views on other people.

Doing things to people opens the door to imposing my political views on other people.

Doing things to people opens the door to imposing my cultural views on other people.

Doing things to people opens the door to using the Power of Money, the Power of Religion, and the Power of the Kingdoms of the World to persecute, manipulate and exploit people.

In contrast, doing things for people is the spirit of what Jesus said and did.

To hear and see this, all you have to do is hear and see, understand and perceive what Jesus taught.

Read the Sermon on the Mount. (Matthew 5:1-8:3).

Jesus commanded us not to get angry with other people or call them a fool. (Matthew 5:21-22).

Jesus commanded us to settle our disputes peacefully and to “turn the other cheek” when other people attack us. (Matthew 5:9,23-25,38-42).

Jesus commanded us to “love [our] enemies and pray for those who persecute [us]” (Matthew 5:44).

Jesus commanded us to remove the “planks” in our own eyes before trying to remove the “specks” in other people’s eyes. (Matthew 7:3-5).

What kinds of things did Jesus do for people?

He gave sight to the blind. He empowered the lame to walk. He cleansed those with leprosy. He gave hearing to the deaf. (Matthew 8:1-3; 11:5).

He gave hope to a lonely, despised woman at a well. (John 4:4-42).

He saved the life of a woman who was about to be stoned. (John 8:11).

My understanding of Matthew 7:12 is consistent with some other paraphrases and translations of that verse.

The International Standard Version says: “whatever you want people to do for you, do the same for them”.

The GOD’S WORD Translation says: “Always do for other people everything you want them to do for you”.

The Good News Translation says: “Do for others what you want them to do for you”.

The Holman Christian Standard Bible says: “whatever you want others to do for you, do also the same for them”.

The Christian Standard Bible says: “whatever you want others to do for you, do also the same for them”.

The idea that we are giving for others what we would want them to give for us is strengthened by the placement of this verse in the Sermon on the Mount.

The preceding sentences in the Sermon on the Mount talk about knowing how to give good gifts to people—about knowing what to do for others. (Matthew 7:9-11).

Wise-People-of-Goodwill can reach different conclusions about what it is wise to do for other people. Therefore, we need to listen to understand each other rather than listening to argue with each other.

I discuss such differences among Wise-People-of-Goodwill in my blog “Intensive Care Units or Health Clubs?”. We need “intensive care units” for sick people and we also need “health clubs” to keep people healthy.

Wise-People-of-Goodwill can differ on the exact number of such facilities, the best equipment for such facilities, and how best to fund and operate such facilities.

Wise-People-of-Goodwill can differ on how best to encourage the construction and operation of such facilities.

Wise-People-of-Goodwill can differ on the best timeframe for evaluating which are the best approaches (short-term, mid-term, or long-term).

Wise-People-of-Goodwill can differ on which approaches are best economically, educationally, militarily, and diplomatically for short-term “intensive care units” and long-term “health clubs”.

Wise-People-of-Goodwill can differ on which approaches are best for doing good things for other people by ourselves, by our churches, by our families, by our neighbors, by our businesses, by our nations, and by our civilizations.

To gain the perspectives and insights of as many Wise-People-of-Goodwill as feasible, we need to heed the wisdom of Isaiah: “Come now, and let us reason together” (Isaiah 1:18 (KJV)).

And, when faced with such difficult decisions, we should be encouraged by this advice of James (who was probably the brother of Jesus):

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” (James 1:5).

As Jesus told us in the Sermon on the Mount about the Power of Prayer:

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8).

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For more of my thoughts about the Sermon on the Mount, please read my blogs “Building Houses on Rock: Mission Impossible?”, “Building Houses on Sand: Specks and Planks”, “Building Houses on Rock: Mercy and Forgiveness”, and “Building Houses on Rock: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness”.

For more of my thoughts about the dangers of nationalism, please read my blog “Nationalism Is Patriotism Gone Astray”.

For wisdom to discern when to avoid divisiveness and when not to be intimidated by divisive people, please read my blog “Grace and Peace—Titus”.