Justice vs. Fairness
Justice is carrying out wise judgments based on the laws and character of God.
Definition A primary Hebrew word for justice is tsadaq. It conveys the idea of being right in a moral or legal sense. Significantly, Scripture uses this same Hebrew word for righteousness. Righteousness is the perfection of the character of the Lord Jesus Christ. His righteousness becomes ours when we receive Him as our own Redeemer. Jesus fulfilled the just demands of the Law by substituting His sinless life for our sins through His death on the cross. Justice is frequently used in conjunction with judgment. One Hebrew word for judgment is mishpat. It means “a verdict, sentence, or formal decree” in relation to human or divine law. “Keep ye judgment, and do justice” (Isaiah 56:1). (See also Psalm 119:121 and Proverbs 21:3.)
The Rewards of Justice • “The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day” (Proverbs 4:18). • “Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning” (Proverbs 9:9). • “The just shall come out of trouble” (Proverbs 12:13). • “There shall no evil happen to the just” (Proverbs 12:21). • “The wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just” (Proverbs 13:22).
• “For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again” (Proverbs 24:16). • “The memory of the just is blessed” (Proverbs 10:7).
The Requirements of Doing Justice Justice is an active expression of the will and nature of God. Justice requires a person to verbally confirm God’s truth and carry it out. Therefore, the word do often precedes the word justice. Psalm 82:3 states, “Do justice to the afflicted and needy.” “David . . . executed judgment and justice among all his people” (I Chronicles 18:14). The same point is emphasized in Romans 2:13, “For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.” In Ezekiel 5, God provides a detailed description of a just man: “If a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right and . . . .” • Has not looked to the false gods of his day • Has not defiled his neighbor’s wife • Has not violated commands of personal uncleanness
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isdom and prudence are the parents of justice.
“I wisdom dwell with prudence . . . By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.” —Proverbs 8:12–15
“Justice is the activity of —Proverb God’s holiness.”
“Justice means rightness with God; nothing is just until it is adjusted to God.” —Oswald Chambers
“Yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.” —Romans 3:4
• Has not oppressed anyone Justice
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• Has not taken advantage of a creditor • Has given food to the hungry • Has provided clothes for the poor • Has not gotten rich by high interest • Has not engaged in iniquity
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nly when a person sets aside his own opinions will he understand the justice of God. “The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.” —Psalm 25:9
“He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” —Micah 6:8
• Has carried out wise judgment between parties • Has walked in God’s statutes and judgments “. . . He is just, he shall surely live” (Ezekiel 18:5–9). Based on this list, justice requires the following: 1. “The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom” (Proverbs 10:31). 2. “The tongue of the just is as choice silver” (Proverbs 10:20). 3. “The just man walketh in his integrity” (Proverbs 20:7).
An Example of a Just Man Doing Justice
Mature bull elephants keep the peace on the plains of Africa by preventing unruly “teenagers” from disrupting the social order. 126
Justice
“For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. “And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right [just] I will give you. And they went their way. Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He
saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right [just], that shall ye receive. “So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. “But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?” (Matthew 20:1–15).
The Issue of Justice The justice in this case is the question that the householder asked the last labourers. “Why stand ye here all the day idle?” Even though the labourers worked only an hour, they had made themselves available all day long. The householder assumed responsibility for the labourers’ readiness by hiring them for an hour. The greedy tend to be unjust because they do not see the bigger picture or consider all the factors of a situation.
How Justice Competes With Fairness Most people demand fairness. However, absolute fairness requires that all get the same things at the same time. This is impossible; thus, we must look to God, Who is completely just. When we focus on fairness, we fail to see the just compensation of God. For example, if God gives more money to one, He will give more faith to another, who can appropriate needed funds. “Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith?” (James 2:5). • Justice is based on the universal, unchanging principles of God’s Word; fairness, on the variable will of the majority. • Justice establishes guilt when God’s standards are violated. Fairness tries to remove guilt by lowering the standards. • Justice causes. us to confess our failures and plead for mercy; fairness, to justify our failures so we think we need no mercy. • Justice is based on personal responsibility and yields revival. Fairness is based on personal rights and produces rebellion. • Justice expresses God’s wisdom. Fairness expresses man’s reason.
How Good Judgment and Justice Work Together Proverbs was written to give “the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity” (Proverbs 1:3). The ability to judge wisely is given to the meek. “The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way” (Psalm 25:9). Judgment is acquired through a sequence identified in Psalm 37:4–6: “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.”
Personal Evaluation How just are you? • Do you read God’s Law? Do you memorize and meditate on it? • When you deal with a matter requiring justice, do you find Biblical precedents on which to base your decisions? • Do you ask God for an understanding heart to make wise and just judgments?
• Justice is impartial and objective; fairness is partial and subjective.
• Do you have a meek spirit so God can guide you in justice and judgment?
• Justice requires swift prosecution of criminals. Fairness results in slow punishment of criminals.
• Do you understand the difference between justice and fairness?
• Justice limits the punishment of criminals. Fairness produces inconsistent punishment of criminals.
• Do you cry out to God when required to make a decision based on justice?
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ustice is the response of one who memorizes and meditates on God’s Law day and night.
A ruler was to make his own copy of the law and read it daily so he could make wise decisions and establish his kingdom with justice. (See Deuteronomy 17:18–20.)
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f you want to promote revival, tell people about their responsibilities. If you want to promote rebellion, tell people about their rights. “I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.” —Psalm 119:7
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ntil a person is brought to justice, he will neither desire nor appreciate mercy. “Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.” —Proverbs 30:20 Justice
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