People often say all religions and philosophies teach the same thing. On the surface, it sounds true. After all, versions of the “Golden Rule” show up across cultures. But when you line them up side by side, you see that Jesus did not just repeat what others had already said. He transformed it.
How Different Voices Framed It
- Confucius (China, ~500 BC): “Do not impose on others what you do not wish for yourself.”
- Thales of Miletus (Greece, ~600 BC): “Avoid doing what you would blame in others.”
- Rabbi Hillel (1st century BC): “What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor.”
- Jesus (Luke 6:31): “Do to others as you would have them do to you.”
What Makes Jesus Different?
Notice the pattern. Confucius, Thales, and Rabbi Hillel all frame their teaching in the negative. The call is to avoid harm, to refrain from doing what you would not want done to you. In other words, do nothing wrong and you are fine.
Jesus flips the script. He moves from passive restraint to active love: “Do to others.” Do not just avoid hurting people. Seek out ways to bless them. His version demands more than politeness. It demands initiative, selflessness, and action fueled by God’s Spirit.
The Takeaway
While many philosophies aim for balance or mutual respect, Jesus sets the bar higher. Love is not the absence of harm. Love is the presence of good. That shift changes everything.
Reflection
Are you simply avoiding harm, or are you actively showing love?
In Luminance 