An Evil Partiality
W. Osborne Lilley. Malachi 2:9 Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as you have not kept my ways… The possession of the law was the strength and glory of the Jewish priesthood. They had in it a Divine standard of human action, and it was their duty to maintain its authority, and enforce its requirements. Being selfish and corrupt they made their exalted position the means of gratifying their avarice; the vices of the rich were unreproved, the faults of the poor were severely dealt with. They "knew faces" (Hebrews). They were misrepresenting the character of God, bringing the law of God into contempt, and ruining the nation. I. THERE MAY BE PARTIALITY IN THE LAW ON THE PART OF THOSE WHO ADMINISTER IT TO THE PEOPLE. All righteous law is Divine. The principles of the decalogue underlie all just legislation. Administrators of righteous laws should feel that they are revealing and enforcing Divine, universal, and eternal realities. There should be no respect of persons. Partiality leads to — 1. Loss of confidence in constituted authorities. 2. Rebellion and anarchy. 3. The increase of crime.Every Christian minister has to bring God's law into contact with public vices and personal sins. This must be done fearlessly, faithfully, firmly, and impartially. He must not adapt it to men's humours. He must not modify it to hinder its application to offenders of any social grade. He must present it as God's unalterable standard, not his own. If he is "partial in the law" — (1) He will confirm men in their sins. (2) He will deceive and mislead them. (3) He will be accounted responsible for their destruction. (4) He will at last be rejected by God, and condemned by the people. II. THERE MAY BE PARTIALITY IN THE LAW IN THE ESTIMATES OF MEN IN SOCIAL CIRCLES. The world is a court of justice. Society is always testing reputations and giving judgments. Men are oftener governed by prejudice than b; the desire to judge righteously. Society often applies God's law according to its prejudices. Sometimes our application of the law is partial. 1. Because the person judged is, or is not, of the same religious persuasion as ourselves: 2. Because it is our interest either to hide or expose his faults. 3. Because we are already prejudiced favourably or otherwise towards him. 4. Because of his elevated or degraded social condition. This partiality leads to erroneous impressions, misrepresentations, unjust actions, and bitter feelings. III. THERE MAY BE PARTIALITY IN THE LAW IN ITS APPLICATION TO OURSELVES. Men deal tenderly with their own sins. They hold the mirror of the law so as not to reveal them. They are willing to apply those commandments that do not condemn their particular vices. Faithful application of the law is seldom made. This is the cause of much ignorance of ourselves, much vanity and self-conceit, much folly and self-deception, much cherishing of sin, and persistence in it. By an impartial application of the law our sins are discovered, and we are led to Christ that they may be taken away. (W. Osborne Lilley.) Parallel Verses KJV: Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law. WEB: "Therefore I have also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according to the way you have not kept my ways, but have had respect for persons in the law.