Before Love Dies Interpreting the Law of God (3) The Law is the key to true love. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall ...
False Interpretations Interpreting the Law of God (2) Bad understanding is no excuse for not understanding at all. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, ...
The Neglect of God’s Law Interpreting the Law of God (1) We cannot interpret God’s Law if we continue to neglect it. If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination. Proverbs 28:9 The Law of God, Paul insisted, is holy and righteous and good (Rom. 7:12). ...
Distributive Justice The Rule of Law: Justice (7) We are our brothers’ keepers. “For six years you shall sow your land and gather in its yield, but the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow, that the poor of your people may eat; and what they leave behind the beasts ...
Retributive Justice The Rule of Law: Justice (6) Deliberate acts of injustice require retribution. “If a man gives to his neighbor money or goods to keep safe, and it is stolen, then, if the thief is found, he shall pay double.” Exodus 22:7 Of course, there will always be people who care but little ...
Restorative Justice The Rule of Law: Justice (5) When we have caused injustice, we must set it right. “When a man opens a pit, or when a man digs a pit and does not cover it, and an ox or a donkey falls into it, the owner of the pit shall make restoration. ...
Preventive Justice The Rule of Law: Justice (4) Preventive justice acts to hold injustice at bay. “You shall not spread a false report. You shall not join hands with a wicked man to be a malicious witness.” Exodus 23:1 Living justly requires a kind of prescience on the part of God’s people. We have ...
Obligatory Justice The Rule of Law: Justice (3) Biblical justice obligates us to certain actions. “You shall not oppress your neighbor or rob him. The wages of a hired servant shall not remain with you all night until the morning. You shall not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block before the ...
Justice Defined The Rule of Law: Justice (2) Justice is righteousness expressed in love and faithfulness. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you. Psalm 89:14 We hear a good deal of talk these days about justice. Usually “justice” is preceded by the word “social”—“social justice.” ...
Justice, Only Justice The Rule of Law: Justice (1) From the government of the soul to the culture, God seeks justice. “Justice, and only justice, you shall follow, that you may live and inherit the land the LORD your God is giving you.” Deuteronomy 16:19 In this series we have been considering the Lord’s ...