The Golden Rule (Matthew 7:12; Luke 6:31)

The texts below are quoted verbatim from public-domain English translations; nothing is paraphrased.

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St. John Chrysostom (c. 347–407)

Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew, Homily 23 (on Matthew 7:12) Source: trans. in the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol. 10. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf110/npnf110.iii.XXIII.html

On "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would", and the meaning hidden in the word "therefore":

Summing up all in brief, and signifying, that virtue is compendious, and easy, and readily known of all men. And He did not merely say, "All things whatsoever ye would," but, "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would." For this word, "therefore," He did not add without purpose, but with a concealed meaning: "if ye desire," saith He, "to be heard, together with what I have said, do these things also."

On why the Lord measures the precept by our fellow-servant, and not by God, that none may plead it impossible:

And He did not say, "whatsoever things thou wouldest to be done unto thee of God, those do unto thy neighbor;" lest thou should say, "But how is it possible? He is God and I am man:" but, "whatsoever thou wouldest to be done unto thee of thy fellow servant, these things do thou also thyself show forth towards thy neighbor." What is less burdensome than this? what fairer?

On "for this is the law and the prophets":

"For this is the law and the prophets." Whence it is evident, that virtue is according to our nature; that we all, of ourselves, know our duties; and that it is not possible for us ever to find refuge in ignorance.

St. Cyril of Alexandria (c. 376–444)

Commentary on the Gospel of Luke (on Luke 6:31) Source: trans. R. Payne Smith, Library of Fathers, 1859. Public domain. Full text: https://www.tertullian.org/fathers/cyril_on_luke_03_sermons_26_38.htm

On "As ye wish that men should do unto you, even so do ye unto them", where the natural law of self-love is made the measure:

It was probable however that the holy apostles would perchance think these things difficult to put into practice: He therefore Who knoweth all things takes the natural law of self-love as the arbiter of what any one would wish to obtain from another. Shew thyself, He says, to others such as thou wishest them to be towards thee. If thou wouldest have them harsh and unfeeling, fierce and wrathful, revengeful and ill-disposed, shew thyself also such: but if on the contrary thou wouldst have them kind and forgiving, do not think it a thing intolerable to be thyself so.

On the law that grows needless where God has written His will upon the heart:

And in the case of those so disposed, the law is perchance unnecessary, because God writes upon our hearts the knowledge of His will: "for in those days, saith the Lord, I will surely give My laws into their mind, and will write them on their heart."

Blessed Augustine of Hippo (354–430)

Our Lord's Sermon on the Mount, Book II, Chapter 22 (on Matthew 7:12) Source: trans. in the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol. 6. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf106/npnf106.v.iii.xxii.html

On why "whatsoever ye would" must be taken in its strict sense, since there is properly no will but toward the good:

For the expression used, "whatsoever ye would," ought to be understood as used not in a customary and random, but in a strict sense. For there is no will except in the good: for in the case of bad and wicked deeds, desire is strictly spoken of, not will. Not that the Scriptures always speak in a strict sense; but where it is necessary, they so keep a word to its perfectly strict meaning, that they do not allow anything else to be understood.

On how the precept, spoken expressly of men, contains the whole of "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself":

But when it is said more expressly of men, "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them," nothing else seems to be meant than, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."

St. Gregory the Great (c. 540–604)

Morals on the Book of Job, Book X (on Matthew 7:12) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Matthew. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/catena1.ii.vii.html

On measuring what we owe another by the good we ourselves look to receive:

He that thinks he ought to do to another as he expects that others will do to him, considers verily how he may return good things for bad, and better things for good.