In this one verse Jesus is able to condense both the sayings in the Law and the sayings of the Prophets into one sentence. 

Matthew 7:12 (KJV)
¹²Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

The order of Jesus words is very important if you want to understand the truth behind them.  It is not whatever others do to us, do back to them.  It is what we desire others to do to us, we are to do to others.  The major difference is that our moral and ethical behavior should not be a reaction to other people’s behavior, whether good or bad, but as followers of Christ our behavior ought to set the pattern for others to follow.  Therefore, we should not and cannot blame others for our behavior because we are supposed to be the example set before men like a light that shines upon all mankind.  If we are going to be a testimony before unbelievers, there’s a good chance that we may be their only contact with Christ. How will you represent him?  Paul teaches that we ought to be above the reproach of others. (Col 1:21-23, I Timothy 3)

Colossians 1:21-23 (NKJV)
²¹And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled
²²in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight–
²³if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.

In other words, there should be nothing that anyone can say about us that would cause them to think we are a hypocrite in our testimony.  We must remember that we are an example and model of Christian behavior to others.  Too many believe that this responsibility is only placed upon pastors and priests, but Jesus teaches that it is for all his followers.  This is the moral code for all Christians which has been called, “The Golden Rule.”  But this is not the proper term to use since it is not a rule to kept as though it is simply another law that we need to struggle with.  It is meant to teach us the moral code that God had always taught to his people. It is used as a test to see if we truly understand our obligation to God and to man and if we are placing God’s holiness above our own.