1. Old and New Testament Views on Justice

2. Judaism vs. Christianity
Why do Christians and Jews see justice differently if they both read and study the Old Testament?
Judaism vs. Christianity

3. Justice as Observed in the Old Testament
“The essence of the Old Testament is to lead one to live out in mind, heart, and actions the noble principles of justice, mercy, and faithfulness” (Lightbears).
True and responsible reading of the law would produce people who care about the hurts and needs of others.
“Bible directed people would behave unjustly only if they lived inconsistently with the principle ideals revealed in the Old Testament” (Lightbears).

4. Justice is Rooted in God’s very Being/Nature
“Whom did the LORD consult to enlighten him, and who taught him the right way? Who was it that taught him knowledge, or showed him the path of understanding? Isaiah 40:14
But if our unrighteousness brings out God’s righteousness more clearly, what shall we say? That God is unjust in bringing his wrath on us? (I am using a human argument.) Certainly not! If that were so, how could God judge the world? Romans 3:5-6
“The LORD your God…defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the immigrant, giving him food and clothing. Deuteronomy 10:17-18
He never shows partiality or favoritism
“…that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” Matthew 5:45
God “will repay each person according to what they have done.” Romans 2:6
For God does not show favoritism. Romans 2:11

5. God Commands Justice
“Administer true justice, show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the immigrant or the poor.” Zechariah 7:9-10
Jeremiah 22:3 “Do what is just and right. Rescue the disadvantaged, and don’t tolerate oppression or violence against the immigrant, the orphan, and the widow.

6. Original Activists God’s Prophets Command Justice
Proverbs 31:8-9 “Bring about just righteousness open your mouth for those who can’t speak for themselves
Psalms 146:7-9 “The Lord God upholds justice for the oppressed, and gives food to the hungry, the Lord sets the prisoner free. He loves the righteousness, but he thwarts the way of the wicked.
Proverbs 31:8 “Speak up for those who cannot speak up for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute…”
Isaiah 58:3,5-7 “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter – when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?”
Deuteronomy 27:19 “Cursed be anyone who withholds the justice due to the immigrant, the fatherless, and the widow. Then all the people shall say, “Amen.””

7. Original Activists God’s Prophets Command Justice
Shout it aloud, do not hold back. Raise your voice like a trumpet. Declare to my people their rebellion and to the descendants of Jacob their sins. For day after day they seek me out; they seem eager to know my ways, as if they were a nation that does what is right and has not forsaken the commands of God. They ask me for just decisions and seem eager for God to come near them. “Why have we fasted,” they say, “and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?”
Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers. Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high. Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for people to humble themselves? Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed and for lying in sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord?
Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here I am (Isaiah 58:1-9).
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8).

8. SUMMARY THUS FAR
In the Old Testament, justice is a core attribute of God
The call for justice is rooted in the original proclamation that God created man in His own image – thus mankind is inherently valuable
God does not differentiate between types of humans
Male, female, poor, rich, old young, etc.
Thus, ALL human beings should be treated with respect, dignity, and value
God commands the Israelites to walk in the way of justice in order to produce true righteousness.
Justice is also a core component of the laws of the people of Israel.

9. Just a Few Examples of Israelite Laws
Do not take advantage of a hired worker who is poor and needy, whether that worker is a fellow Israelite or a foreigner residing in one of your towns. Pay them their wages each day before sunset, because they are poor and are counting on it. Otherwise they may cry to the Lord against you, and you will be guilty of sin (Deuteronomy 24:14-15).
Do not deprive the foreigner or the fatherless of justice, or take the cloak of a widow as a pledge. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you from there. That is why I command you to do this.
When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back and get it. Leave it for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. When you beat the olives from your trees, do not go over the branches a second time. Leave what remains for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow. When you harvest the grapes in your vineyard, do not go over the vines again. Leave what remains for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt. That is why I command you to do this (Deuteronomy 24:17-22).

10. So, if this is what Israel, the Jewish people, knew of justice, what went wrong?
SIN! “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of god…” Romans 3:23

11. Jesus' Rebuke of the Jewish Religious Leaders
Jesus rebuked many religious leaders because they thought they were righteous for following the law perfectly, but they were missing so much in their understanding of justice.
“You have neglected the more important matters of the law––justice, mercy and faithfulness.” Matthew 23:23
They neglected the essence of justice and mercy towards others.

12. Where did the Pharisees go Wrong?
They gave oral tradition and the written Word, as inspired by God, equal authority.
Thus, they added to God’s word, which is forbidden
Deuteronomy 4:2 “You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you.”
The Gospels give many examples of the Pharisees treating their traditions as equal to God’s Word
Matthew 9:14 ‘Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast,[a] but your disciples do not fast?”’
Matthew 15:1-9
Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat.”  He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?  For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’  But you say, ‘If anyone tells his father or his mother, “What you would have gained from me is given to God,”[a]  he need not honor his father.’ So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word[b] of God.  You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said:
  “‘This people honors me with their lips,       but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me,    teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”
Matthew 23: 5 and 16
“They do all their deeds to be seen by others.”
‘“Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’’
Luke 11:42
‘“But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.’
Jesus applied the condemnation of Isaiah 29:13 to the Pharisees saying, “Their teachings are merely human rules” (Mark 7:7).

13. Where did the Pharisees go Wrong?
When following the law, they emphasized strict justice.
One must follow the law perfectly
If you did not follow the law, you paid the consequences, which was often death or excommunication
They capitalized on this idea of purging evil from Israel
They believed that Jews were responsible for ensuring these rules were kept.
They focused on personal piety as a means of ensuring they fulfilled the law perfectly
Pharisee comes from a Hebrew word meaning separated (the idea of being set apart)
They believed in an afterlife with appropriate rewards and punishments based on individual merit. They also believed that the Messiah would set up His kingdom on earth when He came.
They believe that Jesus did not do that, thus he is not the Messiah

14. Christian Response to Jesus’ Rebuke
Justice and mercy definitions (according to dictionary.com)
Mercy: compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm.
Justice: the action of being fair and reasonable
God describes true justice differently as we have already seen.
Justice is CARE and ADVOCACY for the vulnerable
Justice is RIGHT RELATIONSHIPS
Justice includes GENEROSITY
Justice is FORGIVENESS and MERCY and RECONCILIATION
Justice requires SELFLESSNESS
surrender to your knowledge of God’s righteousness and goodness and faithfulness
Justice is BEAUTIFUL in the eyes of God
As Christian’s we MUST repent and LOVE God in order to do justice as God requires.

15. Works Cited
Keller, Timothy. Generous Justice. New York, Riverhead Books,
Rosario, Jeffery. “God of Justice: Justice and the Old Testament.” Light Bearers Ministry,