This word is tossed around like a hot potato or kicked around like a soccer ball in our modern society. So misused, so distorted and abused, its meaning is becoming insensately meaningless. Does anyone really know what’s meant or intended when someone passionately cries out or humbly appeals for “justice?” Has the whole idea of justice become simply what one thinks or believes is right in a given situation within the framework of certain circumstances?
It’s interesting to note that in both the Old and New Testaments, the Hebrew and Greek words for “justice” are generally translated or rendered the same … “righteousness” in our English Bibles. While this may not seem important, it is highly significant because spiritually and scripturally speaking these two ideas are essentially the same. Therefore, one must keep this in mind when reading and/or studying the biblical text, and not insert a modern, human, westernized definition or understanding of either word (which one may tend to do).
In the Old Testament, a lot of emphasis is placed upon human justice, primarily dealing with one’s conduct in relation to others, especially in regard to the property, privileges, and rights of others. It applied to business — where just weights and measures are demanded (Leviticus 19:35-36; Deuteronomy 25:13-16; Amos 8:5; Proverbs 11:1; 16:11; Ezekiel 45:9-10). It is demanded in courts — where the rights of rich and poor, Israelite and sojourner, are equally to be regarded. Neither station, nor bribe, nor popular clamor, shall influence judges or witnesses. In actuality, all of God’s people are instructed . . .
Justice, justice shalt thou follow (Deuteronomy 16:18-20; Exodus 23:1-3,6-9).
This justice is what we, as faithful believers/followers, might call, “righteous living” — as contrasted with the wickedness and evil of those who fail to fear God and/or give due respect to other human beings. Remember the parable of the “unrighteous judge” in Luke 18:1-8? Jesus stated that he, “did not fear God and did not respect man” . . . So why was he called an unrighteous judge?
In a broader sense, justice is not only honoring others by granting them their rights, but may actually involve the duty and/or activity of establishing someone else’s rights. Remember the problem found in Acts 6:1-6, Christ’s first church meeting in Jerusalem? A specific group of individuals were being overlooked in the fellowship. It did not matter if that was intentional or unintentional, it simply wasn’t appropriate/right.
Therefore, justice was needed/demanded, and was promptly and forthrightly established! Those living righteously were, in an unprecedented manner, able to establish righteousness/justice for all. Please note, this wasn’t through the establishment of a governmental program or action, but the supreme execution of a better system . . . righteous people simply doing righteousness, thus justice was established and prevailed! In addition, consider the outward impact that occurred as His Church successfully resolved (without any outside influence) an internal problem —
The word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith.
Throughout the scriptures, the idea of seeking justice means to:
- “relieve the oppressed”
- “aid the fatherless”
- “plead for and assist the widow” (Deuteronomy 24:12-13; Isaiah 1:17, 11:4; Jeremiah 22:15-16; Psalms 37:21,26, 82:2-4, 112:4-6).
However, this conception of justice falls short of its full spiritual denotation and significance. Remember, biblically speaking, the concept of justice and/or righteousness is essentially the same. That idea becomes even more profound and focused within the spiritual, moral, and ethical aspects of a New Testament Christian’s life. It’s a matter of character, not some wishful norm of good human behavior. For believers, the absolute, prevailing standard is clearly established in 1 John 3:7:
Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning.
A mere give-and-take justice, defined by humans for humans, is not justice at all, and it is consistently never/not enough! The unfailing ideal is righteousness/justice, not simply extra rights or more privileges that somehow are supposed to give the less-advantaged the advantage. Yes, “the folly of fools is foolishness” (Proverbs 14:24) and “The naive inherit foolishness.“ (Proverbs 14:18) While the ways of humanity may seem right to humanity (see Proverbs 16:2), God clearly reveals that even American justice is supremely deficient and flawed, because those that live justly/righteously are the only ones qualified to identify, establish, and implement true justice! Think about it –
How blessed are those who keep justice, who practice righteousness at all times!(Psalms 106:3)
May the just arise from among us, may the righteous step up!
— His & Yours, Pastor Frank