Leviticus 19:15-18 You shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: you shall not respect the person of the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty… As charity is sister to piety, so is justice related to both. This virtue is enjoined upon us - I. IN RESPECT TO CONDUCT. 1. In judgment justice should be impartial. (1) Pity for the poor is, in the abstract, good. Yet must it not lead us to favour them against the right (Exodus 23:3). (2) Respect for those who enjoy rank and station is not only lawful but laudable. But this must not lead us to favour them in judgment (see James 2:1-4). (3) The balances of justice are those of the sanctuary. They are true. They must be held by an impartial hand. It must not tremble under the excitement of pity, or of hope, or fear. 2. In dealings justice should be strict. (1) "Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people." Pedlaring is the vice here interdicted. This is rather the meaning of the word (רכיל) rendered "talebearer." Tramps, who have no settled residence, are oftentimes dishonest, and otherwise so dangerous to society, that every nation has its vagrant acts to control them. (2) The Jews in their dispersion are much given to pedlaring. It has been to them a necessity owing to the unfriendly laws of the nations with respect to them. How dreadfully their sin has been visited upon their head when their necessities urge them to violate their law! (3) Pedlars have, amongst other evils, been notorious tale-bearers. By the slanders they have circulated not only has the peace of families been invaded, but communities and nations have been embroiled. The Jews say, "One evil tongue hurts three persons - the speaker, the hearer, and- the person spoken of" (see Proverbs 11:13; Proverbs 20:19). 3. The evils of injustice are serious. (1) "Neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour.' Some are wicked enough of purpose to compass the blood of the innocent by falsehood (Proverbs 2:11, 12; Ezekiel 22:9). (2) Slander may have this result without the intention of the slanderer. Who can control a conflagration? (see James 3:6) II. IN RESPECT TO MOTIVE. 1. "Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart." (1) He is thy brother. He has a common fatherhood with thee in God. He has a common nature with thee. (2) He is therefore amenable with thee to the same tribunal. God, the Judge of all, surveys not the conduct only, but also the motive. 2. "Thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour." (1) Not to reprove his sin is to hate him. This is eminently so when he hath trespassed against thee. To conceal it in such a case is to nurse wrath against the opportunity for revenge (2 Samuel 13:22). Such conduct is utterly at variance with the spirit of the gospel (see Matthew 18:15; Luke 17:3). (2) To "suffer sin upon him" is to be an accomplice in his sin. The words may be construed, "nor bear his sin." This suggests that the accomplice, with the guilt, is also obnoxious to the punishment of the sinner. Men wreak their vengeance upon themselves. (3) In rebuking we should remember that the sinner is our "neighbour." It should be done in a neighbourly way. Thus, as far as practicable, privately. "Charity covereth a multitude of sins," viz. from others, though not from the sinner. And kindly. It is thus more likely to be well received, as it ought to be (see Psalm 141:5; Proverbs 27:5, 6). 3. The root of justice is love. (1) "Thou shalt not avenge." This is another way of saying, "Thou shalt forgive." With the spirit of vengeance there can be no peace in the world. God says, "Vengeance is mine ;" he claims the right to avenge because he alone is superior to all retaliation. (2) "Nor bear any grudge." Thou shalt not insidiously watch the children of thy people. How the Jews violated this law in their malignity against Jesus! (see Mark 3:2; Luke 6:7; Luke 14:1; Luke 20:2). (3) Contrarywise, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." This is the spirit of the Law as well as of the gospel. The same Holy Spirit of love is the author of both (see Matthew 7:12; Matthew 22:39; Romans 13:9, 10; 1 Corinthians 9:19; Galatians 5:14). - J.A.M. Parallel Verses KJV: Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour. |
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