Laws regarding fairness. Exodus 23:1-9 A true testimony must be told in a way that does not create a false impression. It needs to be honest about the circumstances and issues surrounding an event or topic to be accurate. Hearing and passing along false reports and gossip can cause a lot of trouble and heartbreak. Some people, for malicious reasons, start or suggest lies in hopes of damaging someone else's reputation.
Envy among the Jewish leaders was the reason Jesus's words were distorted and misrepresented. He did not say He was going to destroy the Temple. He had told them, "Destroy this temple" (referring to His body), and He would raise it up in three days. This is what actually happened. Slander, false witnesses, and gossip can harm families by turning one member against another.
Misrepresenting a person's words and taking them out of their original context can cause problems with neighbors and friends. The morality of a crowd is almost always lower than that of an individual acting alone. The pressure of a crowd can actually lead a person to say or do what they know is wrong just to be accepted or not appear too different. This can happen to Christians who are not strong in faith. False testimony and lies in court create major issues because so much time must be spent uncovering the truth before a fair decision can be reached. Agreeing to deception puts both parties equally at fault. It is our responsibility to stop false rumors or lies rather than pass them along. Justice is often corrupted when a wealthy individual is judged, because of favoritism shown due to their social status. Meanwhile, having an overly sympathetic attitude toward the poor man's case is also wrong. The main goal of judging a matter is to ensure that unbiased justice is served without external pressure. Fairness means treating both the rich and the poor equally when reaching a just conclusion. Distorting justice only creates more problems that complicate the lives of everyone involved.
A startling new command was given in the law: be kind to your enemies. This was very unusual at that time because revenge was seen as the natural way to deal with those who opposed you in any way. Even if someone is hostile toward you, the laws of fairness and kindness still apply. If property, such as an enemy's animal, is lost and you find it, you should return it to its owner. If you see a problem and are able to help, you must help. It's important that we all learn not to return evil for evil. Even if evil is spoken against you, responding with gracious words will demonstrate the reality of your Christian testimony and faith in God. We avoid certain things, knowing that God is aware of everything behind the matter and will deal with justice or mercy as He sees fit. Our duty is to steer clear of anything that is evil.
The problem with accepting a gift or bribe from someone is that you might be expected to change your opinion or word choices to condemn another person. Bribes given to figures of authority corrupt justice and undermine the purpose of laws. To preserve integrity, any influence from a gift or bribe must be rejected. Judgment and justice should be impartial, without regard for persons or favors. Justice is often shown as a statue of a blindfolded woman holding a sword and a scale, symbolizing the need for wisdom and discernment in decision-making and the importance of executing justice fairly to prevent lawbreaking.
Prejudice is another issue among God's people that must be addressed in the interest of fairness. It can lead to oppression and unfairness toward deserving individuals and cause more trouble for them to live peacefully. We should be sympathetic toward those living among us who are far from home. It is important that we do not discriminate against strangers and aliens because we were once strangers and aliens ourselves. Showing compassion for strangers is our obligation to respond to their needs.
Strangers who come among us have the same right to protection and assistance as those who have lived here for generations. Almost all of our ancestors came from somewhere else. Justice and fairness are personal matters among people who are all the same in the eyes of God. Regarding possessions, property, or position in society, the stranger, immigrant, exchange student, or person just passing through is not in view in this law.
We simply honor God by treating others with the respect, compassion, and concern that come with holy living. A holy nation should care about those who are poor, as they are important to God and should be important to us. Enduring hardship due to their circumstances is enough; strangers should not have to suffer it from us. Our role is to comfort and help those in need and to understand their situation so we can make it easier for them and offer assistance.