The reason for the Golden Rule varies, depending on the level of spiritual development of the hearer. It is good to understand the "stages" a Christian goes through in obeying this rule, and what it is and what it is not. Most think it is about fairness, or, if more advanced, that it tells us to use our desires and feelings to judge how others would want to be treated. These understanding are good, but not perfect. At the end of His teaching, Jesus gives the reason why the perfect follow the Golden rule: "Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful." Luke 6:31-3