Pursue justice, and justice alone, so that you may live, and you may possess the land that the LORD your God is giving you. Sermons
I. JUDGES OCCUPY A HIGH AND RESPONSIBLE POSITION. 1. They are necessary. They require to be set up "in all thy gates... throughout thy tribes." 2. They represent God (Deuteronomy 1:17). They are called "gods" (Psalm 82:1). They are clothed with a portion of God's authority (Romans 13:1). 3. They are set to uphold the sacred interests of justice. 4. They may, by wresting judgment, or by hasty and wrong decisions, inflict irremediable injury on the innocent. 5. The right discharge of their functions conduces in the highest degree to the stability, happiness, and material prosperity of society. II. JUDGES ARE REQUIRED TO EXECUTE JUST JUDGMENT. 1. They are not to be swayed by private partialities - political, social, ecclesiastical. 2. They are not to make distinctions between rich and poor, i.e. "respect persons." 3. They are not to accept bribes. 4. They are, as administrators of a justice which is impersonal, to judge in every case according to absolute right. - J.O.
That which is altogether Just shalt thou follow. (preached at the Assizes): — The duties which are incumbent upon us may be very properly divided into two classes — such as are incumbent upon all men, and such as are incumbent upon particular ranks of men.I. JUSTICE IS IMMEDIATELY CONNECTED WITH THE END OF THAT OFFICE WHICH MAGISTRATES, JUDGES, AND RULERS BEAR. The exercise of justice itself is the proximate means of answering the purposes of government and judgment. One of the principal ways in which other virtues promote these purposes is by contributing to the steady and vigorous exercise of incorruptible justice. Injustice, directly and of itself, defeats these purposes, and is in every instance absolutely inconsistent with them. Other vices obstruct them sometimes very strongly, but always more remotely and indirectly, often by preparing the way to injustice. II. RULERS AND JUDGES HAVE, FROM THEIR OFFICE, OPPORTUNITY FOR MANY EXERTIONS OF JUSTICE WHOLLY PECULIAR TO THEMSELVES. On this account also justice may be considered as in a special manner the virtue of their character and station. The poor man, who cannot himself resist the oppression of the great; the peaceable man, who is harassed by the encroachments of the man of violence; the orphan, whose rights are invaded by him that hath no bowels, claim the protection of the judge, and can obtain redress only by brining their cause under his cognisance. Differences arising from the ignorance or the self-partiality of persons well disposed can be determined only by the superior knowledge and unbiassed justice of the judge. When individuals are injured or the public disturbed by crimes, it is to the integrity of the judge that they must look up for help. How extensive, then, is the sphere of public justice which is peculiar to the ruler and the judge! In every instance of public justice he must make conscience of doing what is right, else he forfeits the character of a just and honest man, in the very same way as another person would forfeit it by being convicted of a transgression of private justice. III. Justice may be considered as in a peculiar manner belonging to rulers, judges, and magistrates because THEY ARE UNDER PECULIAR OBLIGATIONS TO IT. Every act of injustice brings positive hurt on the person who is affected by it; but an unjust judgment hurts with the cutting aggravations of its being done under form of law, and of its impeaching the person whom it injures, as if he had been injurious. Private persons are connected only with a few, and therefore only a few can be hurt by their injustice; but the injustice of a judge is of more extensive consequence, it hurts all who are subject to his jurisdiction. Private injustice may be checked or redressed by the righteousness of the judge; but if the judge be unrighteous, by whom shall his injustice be restrained? (Alex. Gerard, D. D.) (N. Caussin.) People Levites, MosesPlaces Beth-baal-peor, EgyptTopics Alone, Altogether, Follow, Gives, Giveth, Giving, Guide, Hast, Heritage, Inherit, Justice, Livest, Mayest, Perfect, Possess, Possessed, Pursue, RighteousnessOutline 1. The feast of the Passover9. of weeks 13. of tabernacles 16. Every male must offer, as he is able, at these three feasts 18. Of judges and justice 21. Asherah poles and images are forbidden Dictionary of Bible Themes Deuteronomy 16:20 1075 God, justice of 5238 bribery Library The Age of the Apostles (Ad 33-100)The beginning of the Christian Church is reckoned from the great day on which the Holy Ghost came down, according as our Lord had promised to His Apostles. At that time, "Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven," were gathered together at Jerusalem, to keep the Feast of Pentecost (or Feast of Weeks), which was one of the three holy seasons at which God required His people to appear before Him in the place which He had chosen (Deuteronomy xvi. 16). Many of these devout men there converted … J. C. Roberston—Sketches of Church History, from AD 33 to the Reformation Whether Six Daughters are Fittingly Assigned to Gluttony? Whether Pride Should be Reckoned a Capital vice? The Passing and the Permanent Obedience The Second Commandment Appeal to the Christian Women of the South The Life and Death of Mr. Badman, Deuteronomy Links Deuteronomy 16:20 NIVDeuteronomy 16:20 NLT Deuteronomy 16:20 ESV Deuteronomy 16:20 NASB Deuteronomy 16:20 KJV Deuteronomy 16:20 Bible Apps Deuteronomy 16:20 Parallel Deuteronomy 16:20 Biblia Paralela Deuteronomy 16:20 Chinese Bible Deuteronomy 16:20 French Bible Deuteronomy 16:20 German Bible Deuteronomy 16:20 Commentaries Bible Hub |
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