What Does The Bible Say About Justice (35 Verses)

What does the Bible say about justice? Does God expect His people to walk in justice? Yes, God expects believers to walk in financial justice. Believers have been known to practice financial injustice. It’s not perceived as injustice but the Bible defines it in that manner. There are 130 Bible verses about justice in the New International Version of the Bible. Here are some that make a strong point.

Enjoy!

God’s grace empowers us to walk in financial justice. Greed works in our hearts and must be crucified. The Bible provides clarity as to what justice is and how it can be applied. What does the Bible say about justice?

Let’s do some digging.

What Does The Bible Say About Justice — Justice in the Law

Exodus 23:6 Do not deny justice to your poor people in their lawsuits.

There will be many shocked lawyers, judges, and attorney generals on judgment day.

Leviticus 19:15 Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.

Justice is balanced.

Deuteronomy 16:19-20 Do not pervert justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the innocent. Follow justice and justice alone, so that you may live and possess the land the Lord your God is giving you.

Bribes are never a good idea.

Deuteronomy 24:17 Do not deprive the foreigner or the fatherless of justice, or take the cloak of the widow as a pledge.

Every person we encounter is created in the likeness and image of God (Imago Dei). Treat everyone with honor, respect, and dignity.

Justice In The Biblical History Books

I Samuel 8:3 But his sons did not follow his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice.

God held kings and their families responsible for justice.

I Kings 3:11-12 So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.

The ability to administer justice is included in Godly wisdom.

What Does The Bible Say About Justice — Wisdom Books

Job 8:3 Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert what is right?

No, God does not pervert justice.

Psalm 7:6 Arise, Lord, in your anger; rise up against the rage of my enemies. Awake, my God; decree justice.

Psalm 97:2 Clouds and thick darkness surround him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.

Justice emanates through every action from God. Sometimes we believe treatment is unjust but our justice is clouded.

Psalm 112:5 Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice.

God rewards generosity and justice.

Psalm 140:12 I know that the Lord secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy.

God has a soft spot for the poor and needy and expects us to care for them. When we refuse to do so it’s considered financial injustice.

Proverbs 17:23 The wicked accept bribes in secret to pervert the course of justice.

Politicians, are you paying attention?

Proverbs 29:7 The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern.

I find it interesting how righteousness and justice and tied together.

Ecclesiastes 5:8 If you see the poor oppressed in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things; for one official is eyed by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still.

Financial Justice — Major Prophets

Isaiah 1:17 Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.

Justice and defense of the oppressed are a learned skill.

Isaiah 10:1-2 Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless.

God is not okay with Christian business owners taking advantage of people. Christians should be looking out for others and not attempting to justify greed as the blessing of God.

Isaiah 59:4 No one calls for justice; no one pleads a case with integrity. They rely on empty arguments, they utter lies; they conceive trouble and give birth to evil.

Empty arguments and lies will not cut it on judgment day.

Punish & Avenge

Jeremiah 5:27-29 Like cages full of birds, their houses are full of deceit; they have become rich and powerful and have grown fat and sleek. Their evil deeds have no limit; they do not seek justice. They do not promote the case of the fatherless; they do not defend the just cause of the poor. Should I not punish them for this?” declares the Lord. “Should I not avenge myself on such a nation as this?

God contemplates punishing Israel for not defending the cause of the poor. How are you or your church doing in that category?

I know of a church that refuses to help members financially unless they are “tithers” which is unbiblical. It’s odd because they also teach that if a person tithes (gives ten percent of their gross income to the church) they will be blessed. Kind of an odd situation.

If you have ever wondered about tithing here is a link to an ultimate guide to tithing.

Ezekiel 22:29 The people of the land practice extortion and commit robbery; they oppress the poor and needy and mistreat the foreigner, denying them justice.

Financial Justice — Minor Prophets

Sadly, I missed the concept of financial justice until recently. It took two specific things to grab my attention. Sometimes I’m thick.

The first thing was a message titled Killing Cash from Ethan Magness (Pastor of Grace Anglican Church). The good Reverend made the following comment, “Speaking about economic injustice in church does not make you a liberal it makes you Biblical. Because the scripture is rife with data about the unjust treatment of those who struggle.”

The second thing was reading through all twelve of the minor prophets.

Financial justice was often mentioned implicitly. The next time you read through the minor prophets keep your ears tuned for financial justice. It’s amazing how all twelve wove that concept through their books.

Amos 2:7 They trample on the heads of the poor as on the dust of the ground and deny justice to the oppressed. Father and son use the same girl and so profane my holy name.

Interestingly, Amos combined these two sins in the same thought.

Amos 5:12 For I know how many are your offenses and how great your sins. There are those who oppress the innocent and take bribes and deprive the poor of justice in the courts.

Do Justice, Love Kindness, Walk Humbly

Micah 6:8 He has told you, mortal one, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Zechariah 7:9 This is what the Lord Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another.

Malachi 3:5 So I will come to put you on trial. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive the foreigners among you of justice, but do not fear me,” says the Lord Almighty.

Contextually God is speaking to the priests. I know pastors have turned Malachi 3 into a church member bash fest but that’s an inaccurate rendering of the text. What we want to catch, though is that God lumps sorcerers and adulterers together with those who pay chintzy wages and oppress widows and orphans.

I recently heard a famous “Christian” financial talking head speak about marketplace wages. He dared to say that a person is only worth what the next person will take in wages. That’s an unbiblical and ungodly declaration. Yet, thousands of Christian business owners blindly follow his advice.

Financial Justice — The Gospels

Matthew 23:23 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the Law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.

Jesus was not encouraging tithing in the New Testament. He was still teaching under the law. Additionally, He was informing the Pharisees and the scribes that their value system needed an adjustment.

Luke 11:42 But woe to you Pharisees! For you pay tithes of mint, rue, and every kind of garden herb, and yet you ignore justice and the love of God; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.

Luke went a bit deeper than Matthew and called them out for “tithing” garden herbs. The distinction is important to show their infinitesimal legalistic tendencies.

This is the equivalent of a tithing advocate requiring their kids to give $1.00 out of the $10.00 granny gave them for a gift, or giving $2.00 from the $20 you found in your coat pocket.

What did Jesus say about tithing? Click here to find out.

Financial Justice — Bonus

James 5:4-6 Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you.

My wife and I were on the verge of buying a franchise. Our ducks were all in a row. However, this text kept gnawing at me.

I’m all for making a profit — when it’s done honestly. It’s wrong and sinful to financially abuse others — especially when we believe that it’s the blessing of God. We can justify our actions and call it stewardship but it’s nothing more than greed.

Jesus is our Justifier

Romans 3:26 (ESV) It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

I had to include this verse!