Do Unto Others Sunday School Lesson on Luke 6 and the Golden Rule
Most children (hopefully) are taught the importance of treating others kindly. We want them to think before they act or speak, valuing the feelings of others. However, we don’t always emphasize why this is the best way to live. This lesson describes the “Golden Rule” given in Luke 6. Jesus wants us to treat other people as we’d want them to treat us. Not only does He ask that of us, but He also wants us to pray for our enemies and show kindness to those who might be harder to love. In this way, we show others the mercy and care that God gives us.
When we live out the “Golden Rule,” we follow the commands of Jesus, who was the greatest example of serving and sacrifice. God wants us to love others with the same love He has for us. It is challenging to consider being kind to those who mistreat us. However, we do not do this on our own merit or power. God helps us to live this way. As we pray and care for other people in the same way we wish to be cared for, we recognize that we are demonstrating Christ’s love. None of us is deserving of grace, but God cares for us despite our sins. We should pass on the love and mercy that we have been shown.
Sunday School Lesson on Luke 6 for Children: Do Unto Others
Passage: Luke 6:27-38
Target Audience: Kindergarten-6th grade (variable for activity emphasis)
Materials Needed: Construction paper, scissors, decorations, glue, string, ruler, paper bags, small treats or candies, Bibles.
Lesson Opening: This lesson teaches the “golden rule” and emphasizes the importance of treating others with the love and kindness we’d want them to show us, and the love and kindness God has demonstrated. Here are some activities to get kids thinking. Choose one of the following or come up with ideas of your own.
- What’s the rule? Discuss rules children encounter in different places (at school, home, sports, etc.). Ask if any rules are more important than others. Is there a most important rule? The Bible gives us rules to live by, but one of the most important ones has to do with how we treat others.
- Even our Enemies! Have students write down people in their lives who they do not get along with well, or who they might even consider enemies. After thinking about these less loveable acquaintances, tell students that the list is now a prayer list. Jesus commands us to pray for those who aren’t kind to us. It’s not always easy, but it can help us to forgive those who wrong us and remember that they need prayer, too!
- “Blessed in Order to Bless:” Provide students with several pieces of candy, stickers, or small toys. Instruct the kids to keep a few of the treats, but to give most of them away. Just as they received something from a teacher and pass it on, we all receive blessings from God, and we can pass those on to others in our lives.
- How would you treat them? Provide students with various scenarios that describe a situation with others. Brainstorm how we can treat people with the care and kindness of Jesus, in each one. For older students, invite them to role play and act out how they would respond to the encounters.
- The Golden Ruler: Have students take turns acting as “ruler” and making up rules for the class to follow. Remind everyone that the real ruler in our lives is God, who establishes rules for us and wants us to love and serve Him and others.
Bible Lesson (Luke 6:27-31) Love those Who Love You
Explain that this lesson focuses on important instructions that Jesus gave us about life.
Bible Lesson: This Gospel lesson is “red-letter text,” meaning that it contains the words of Jesus. It is not a passage that contains a story to be acted out, but does feature important words for us to understand and apply to our daily lives. Read the verses, or have older students take turns reading them out loud. As you go, discuss the meaning and importance of them.
“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. -Luke 6:27-31
Provide a little context for this passage. Jesus was preaching to the disciples, along with a crowd of people eager to hear His teachings. Prior to these specific verses, He had given several statements about the kingdom of Heaven, describing things that might have sounded confusing to most people. Jesus often spoke about things in unexpected ways. These statements were no different. Loving your neighbor is one thing, but loving enemies? Being kind to those who mistreat you? Giving to people who take? It sounds so counterintuitive. God’s ways are ways of love, and He wants us to love others. Jesus knew that this would not be easy, but that it would benefit the Kingdom of God.
Note: in discussing “turning the cheek” or letting ourselves be abused, it’s important to mention that this doesn’t mean we should be push-overs or not stand up to evil. It is important to have boundaries, but we are not to seek vengeance or repay wrong with wrong.
These verses end with what we call the “golden rule.” Of course, that’s not how the Bible specifically refers to it, but it’s a principle that “rules” above others for us. And it makes sense! We should treat other people with the same care and respect we want them to show us. We need to think before we speak or act, considering how the things we say and do will impact other people.
Ask: What do you think are some important rules in our lives? Why might this be called the “Golden Rule”?
How can we love those who are harder to love, or even those who mistreat us?
“If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. -Luke 6:32-36
God doesn’t call us to just do what is easy. Anyone can love people who love them, or act kindly to those who show kindness. We are called to do more than that, though. Jesus told people here to show care even for people who we know won’t do the same in return. In return, He promised blessing. We will be blessed and be “sons of the Most High,” but there was another reminder in Christ’s message. We are to show mercy because that is how God treats us. He loves us and grants us grace even when we sin and mistreat others. As He loves and forgives, so can we.
“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38 give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” -Luke 6:37-38
It might sound harsh or even intimidating to consider that we will be given as we give to others, for better or worse. But it’s important to know that God calls us to give to others and to forgive others, without judging others. There are times when we might be tempted to condemn or look down on people for various reasons, but that’s not our place. Of course, this principle does not mean that we give or treat others well in order to receive “Heavenly points” or blessings, but since we are thankful for God’s mercy already given, we love others in the way He has demonstrated.
Ask: Who can you show love to this week? How will you do so?
The Golden Rule is a wonderful and blessed way to live, and is how God commands us to live and to love one another. It can be hard, but God will give us help to do it, just as He helps us in everything. We have only to ask.
Close with a prayer thanking God for His never-ending love. Ask for His help to show love and kindness to others.