Chapter 32

Justice

1. Justice in Action
   1.  
   2. Do What Is Just and Right
      • Practice justice and so act justly
      • Do what is right . . .
      • . . . Do no wrong to others
      • Strive to do what is right in the eyes of both God and people
      • Acting justly brings blessing
      • Injustice brings God’s judgment
   3.  
   4. Administering Justice
      • Administer and maintain justice
      • Judge justly
      • Do not show favoritism in judging . . .
      • . . . Nor show favoritism in other matters
      • Further instructions about legal judgments
      • Have the same laws for foreigners as for the native-born
      • Note: Avoid going to court
   5.  
   6. Justice and the Needy (I): Instructions
      • Do not mistreat the needy
      • Defend the cause of the needy
      • Give to the needy . . .
      • . . . Provide the needy with food and clothing
      • Even sell your possessions so as to give to the poor
      • Note: Treat foreigners the same as your native-born
   7.  
   8. Justice and the Needy (II): Insights
      • Defending and providing for the needy are a vital part of true religion
      • Providing for the needy is associated with righteousness
      • Providing for the needy brings oneself blessing . . .
      • . . . but giving to the needy must be done in an appropriate manner
      • Blessings include one’s own needs being met . . .
      • . . . There will also be reward in the afterlife
      • God will punish those who mistreat the needy
      • God will punish those who ignore the needy
   9.  
   10. OT Structured Provisions for the Needy
       • The providing of produce for the needy
       • The prohibiting of taking interest or profit from the poor
       • The canceling of fellow Israelites’ debts every seven years
       • The release of Israelite servants every seven years
       • The year of jubilee
       • The right of redemption for Israelite servants and of ancestral land

2. Being True
   1.  
   2. Faithfulness
      • Be faithful
      • Be trustworthy and reliable
      • Stand by others . . .
      • . . . Do not desert others
      • Do not betray others
      • Consequences of unfaithfulness
   3.  
   4. Truthfulness
      • Be truthful . . .
      • . . . Speak the truth
      • Be honest
      • Be sincere
      • Have integrity . . .
      • . . . Integrity brings security
   5.  
   6. Deceitfulness
      • Do not deceive
      • Do not lie
      • Do not give false testimony
      • Do not use flattery
      • Do not plot evil schemes
      • Avoid hypocrisy: Not acting in accordance with what you say; . . .
      • . . . and false external practices – doing things for show
      • Deceptive practices bring oneself harm
      • Deceptive practices ultimately bring God’s judgment
   7.  
   8. Dishonest Gain
      • Do not pursue dishonest gain
      • Do not steal
      • Do not defraud
      • Do not take excessive interest or extort money
      • Do not accept bribes
      • Ill-gotten gain does not last
      • Ill-gotten gain has ill consequences
   9.  
   10. Addendum: Oaths
       • The practice of swearing oaths, in God’s name – not to be done falsely
       • Swearing an oath to assert the truthfulness of a statement
       • Swearing an oath to confirm a pledge . . .
       • . . . Such oaths are barred by NT teaching

➜ Major Headings

Pray for persecuted Christians