17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree ■briugeth forth evil fruit.
18' A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree tliat bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast iuto the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
In this part of the sermon on the mount our Lord begins to draw His discourse to a conclusion. The lessons He here enforces on our noticCj are broad, general, and full of the deepest wisdom. Let us mark them in succession.
He lays down a general pTinciiole for our guidance in all doubtful questions between man and man. We are " to do to others as we would have others do to us." We are not to deal with others as others deal with us. This is mere selfishness and heathenism. We are to deal with others as we would like others to deal with us. This is real Christianity.
This is a golden rule indeed ! It does not merely for- bid all petty malice and revenge, all cheating and over- reaching. It does much more. It settles a hundred difl&cult points, which in a world like this are continually arising between man and man. It prevents the neces- sity of laying down endless little rules for our conduct in specific cases. It sweeps the whole debateable ground with one mighty principle. It shows us a balance and measure, by which every one may see at once what is his duty. — Is there a thing we would not like our neighbor to do to us ? Then let us always remember, that this is the thing we ought not to do to him. Is there a thing we would like him to do to us ? Then this is the very thing we ought to do to him. — How many intricate ques- tions would be decided at once, if this rule were honestly used !