Matthew 7:12 — “Treat Others the Way You Want to Be Treated”
📖 “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”
Matthew 7:12 (NIV)
Some Bible verses feel like sunshine — warm, simple, and instantly clear.
Matthew 7:12 is exactly that kind of verse.
Jesus gives us a rule so golden and so gentle that even a child can understand it:
“Treat others the way you want to be treated.”
Today’s story shows what that looks like in a school cafeteria, through one sandwich, two boys, and one beautifully kind choice.
🥪 A Lunch Leo Loved
It was lunchtime, and Leo sat down with the biggest smile.
He opened his lunchbox and pulled out his favorite sandwich — the kind packed with extra love from home.
Leo grinned and said,
“Yum! I can’t wait to eat this!”
Moments like these feel so cozy — when everything is going just the way you hoped.
😔 A Friend With No Lunch
But just a few seats away, Max sat quietly.
His stomach rumbled, his face looked small, and he whispered to himself:
“I’m so hungry…”
He had forgotten his lunch today.
And suddenly, lunchtime didn’t feel so fun anymore.
It’s easy to enjoy our blessings when life feels full…
but Jesus often invites us to look around.
💛 Remembering Jesus’ Words
Leo glanced over at Max.
He could tell his friend felt sad and hungry.
Then a thought bubbled up in Leo’s heart — something he learned at Sunday school:
“If I were Max, I’d want someone to share…”
Matthew 7:12 quietly echoed inside him.
That’s how kindness often begins —
not with a rule,
not with someone telling you what to do,
but with simple empathy:
“How would I feel if that were me?”
🌈 Sharing the Way Jesus Taught
Leo looked at his sandwich, then back at Max, then made his choice.
He split the sandwich in half and handed a piece to Max.
Max’s face lit up instantly.
“Here, Max! Let’s eat together!”
“Thanks, Leo!”
Two boys, one shared meal, and a quiet joy that filled the whole table.
Love is rarely complicated.
Most days, it looks like noticing someone’s need — and choosing to care.
🎯 What Kids Learn From This Verse
✨ If you want kindness, give kindness.
✨ If you want friends, be a friend.
✨ If you’d hope someone would help you…
then you can be the helper.
This is the heart of Matthew 7:12 —
a love that thinks of others,
chooses compassion,
and makes the world brighter one small act at a time.
🙏 A Simple Prayer for Today
“Jesus, help us treat others the way we want to be treated.
Give us eyes to notice, hearts to care,
and courage to share what we have — just like Leo did.
Amen.”
