EXODUS 23
“You shall not spread a false report. You shall not join hands with a wicked man to be a malicious witness. 2 You shall not fall in with the many to do evil, nor shall you bear witness in a lawsuit, siding with the many, so as to pervert justice, 3 nor shall you be partial to a poor man in his lawsuit. 4 “If you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey going astray, you shall bring it back to him. 5 If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying down under its burden, you shall refrain from leaving him with it; you shall rescue it with him.6 “You shall not pervert the justice due to your poor in his lawsuit. 7 Keep far from a false charge, and do not kill the innocent and righteous, for I will not acquit the wicked. 8 And you shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds the clear-sighted and subverts the cause of those who are in the right.9 “You shall not oppress a sojourner. You know the heart of a sojourner, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt. – Exodus 23:1-9
EXODUS 23 LAWS ON PARTIALITY, JUSTICE & KINDNESS
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
The Lord prohibits us from bearing false witness against someone
Partiality must not be exercised in order for justice not to be perverted
There must be no discrimination in showing kindness to others
Foreigners must also be treated with respect like any one else you’ll encounter.
The book of James covers the sin of partiality in chapter two. In the first verse of this chapter, he reminds believers that partiality must not be exercised by anyone who claims they believe in Jesus Christ. In verse 8 of James 2, he directs us why we cannot be partial because of the royal law, which is to love your neighbor as yourself. In verse 12 he also talks about justice and mercy: that those who have not shown mercy will be judged because mercy triumphs over judgment. He calls this the law of liberty.
I referred to the book of James because it covered these following verses in Exodus 23 that tackles the same requirements for God’s people to follow. Matther 7:12 also summarizes this. 12 “So, whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. It reminds us of God’s nature which is clearly spoken about in 1 John 4:8 which says “8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” If you claim you know God, you will be impartial, just and kind.
REFLECTION
- What can you say about those who discriminate the poor, the sick and needy?
