Truth
Doctrine #24: Justice
Doctrine #24
Doctrine #24 Read
From the living room window, my parents would watch me fly down the street on my bicycle and jump off of a makeshift ramp I made when I was younger. My parents warned me to be careful. One day my dad watched as I continued to jump higher and travel down the road faster. He turned to my mom and said, "Jonathan is going to break his arm." On the next jump, I hit the ramp and my bicycle tilted in the air. I landed hard on the concrete. My left arm took the brunt of the landing. I ran to the house in agony. My dad grabbed the car keys, slowly opened the door, and calmly said to me, "Let's go to the hospital."
Overview
Justice is the quantitative equaling of a situation. Justice is the effect of just. This means that those who deserve punishment will eventually receive punishment and those who deserve a benefit will receive a benefit.
Discussion Question
Do you believe there are situations in your life where you try to equal out justice?
Scripture
Revelation 20:12-13
ChapterRead the ChapterChanges this passage only. Set your default for every passage.
12And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne; and books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works.
13And the sea gave up the dead that were in it; and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
12And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
13And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
Commentary
Swokowski Bible Commentary on this passage
Commentary · verses 11-15
Summary of verses 11-15: There will be two judgments. There will be a Reward Judgment (according to works in books) and a Salvation Judgment (according to one book: the Book of Life).
Everyone will be judged according to all their works, all the works they did of themselves whether good or bad. This will be the only moment in history that Justice is completely equaled out. It will be done in front of everyone proving God is Just.
Some people think we will all have the same amount of Reward. They say that because they know there will not be any jealousy in heaven, and they think the way to do that is through the man-made concept of denying uniqueness. Actually, it would be unjust for everyone to have the same Reward when some people deserve more and some people deserve less. Jesus told us to store up treasure (Reward) in heaven (Matthew 6:20). In fact, earlier in Matthew 6 Jesus said some people get their Reward on earth and others get their Reward in heaven. There will not be jealousy over people having different amounts of Reward because people will know it is Just for some people to have more Reward than them and some to have less.
Also, the Reward judgment occurs first. Then the Salvation judgment. There will be people with Reward who do not make the Salvation judgment. What happens to their Reward? Again, people, in hopes of denying uniqueness, want to say that Reward is given to those who do not have much to get everyone closer to the same amount of Reward. Actually, according to the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30), those with the most get the left over Reward, making the difference of Reward between people even greater.
Finally, notice that everyone that does not pass the Salvation judgment will be cast in the lake of fire. One of the places people could spend eternity is the lake of fire. The Bible ended with "bad people go to the lake of fire"...not "bad people go to hell."
Next, we will find out the other place people can spend eternity, which is why the last two chapters (21 and 22) are denoted by the "21,22" in the final section of the diagram which represented eternity.
Luke 14:12-14
ChapterRead the ChapterChanges this passage only. Set your default for every passage.
12And he said to him also that had bidden him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, nor thy kinsmen, nor rich neighbors; lest haply they also bid thee again, and a recompense be made thee.
13But when thou makest a feast, bid the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: 14and thou shalt be blessed; because they have not wherewith to recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed in the resurrection of the just.
12Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee.
13But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:
14And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.
Commentary
Jesus said if you have a meal and call your friends, or people that are rich or close to you, they are going to pay you back. But, if you make a feast, invite those who cannot pay you back. Jesus said to do things now, without the benefit, and you will get recompensed on Judgment Day.
Swokowski Bible Commentary on this passage
Commentary · verses 12-14
Doctrine: Reward. If we give to those who are able to give back, nothing is gained eternally. However, if we give to those who cannot pay us back, we will gain Reward "at the resurrection of the just." The resurrection of the Just is the Final Judgment.
Matthew 6:1-4
ChapterRead the ChapterChanges this passage only. Set your default for every passage.
1Take heed that ye do not your righteousness before men, to be seen of them: else ye have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.
2When therefore thou doest alms, sound not a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have received their reward.
3But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: 4that thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father who seeth in secret shall recompense thee.
1Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
2Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
3But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
4That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
Commentary
We saw this passage in the HOW/WHY vs. WHAT Doctrine. When people would see that these hypocrites do such great things, people would look up to them and give them glory; the hypocrites would be recognized for their accomplishments. Justice equals out by giving you reward now in public or later in private. In fact...
Swokowski Bible Commentary on this passage
Commentary · verses 1-34
The "Sermon on the Mount" continued. In this chapter, Jesus got more specific as to how to intentionally gain Reward.
Commentary · verse 1
Notice, the "reward" Jesus spoke of could not be Salvation. If it was, then "giving in front of others" would cause you to lose your Salvation. When Jesus spoke of "reward," He was speaking of spiritual value/treasure, which we will refer to as Reward.
Revelation 20:12-15 stated there will be two judgments. One will be a Salvation Judgment and will be done according to Righteousness (grace) with one book: the Book of Life. The other judgment will be a Reward Judgment and will be done according to Justice with books. This chapter from Matthew dealt exclusively with the actions that impact the Reward Judgment. Notice the emphasis of Justice throughout this chapter.
Commentary · verse 2
The first example Jesus gave to intentionally gain Reward was to give to the poor. Giving to the poor was a right WHAT. Jesus then explained the wrong HOW (in public) and wrong WHY (have glory from men). Jesus said the result was they get their Reward now. Notice, this was not a sin. It was the same as when Cain gave his offering to God in Genesis 4.
Commentary · verses 3-4
Notice, this was the same right WHAT: giving to the poor. However, Jesus gave the right HOW/WHY to give to the poor: do it in secret so you can be rewarded by God. This was the same as when Abel gave his offering to God in Genesis 4.
11For every one that exalteth himself shall be humbled; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
11For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
Commentary
Again, this will occur on Judgment Day if not before. It is our choice as to whether we want to be exalted now or humbled now. This is cause and effect, as well. If your cause is humility now, the effect will be that you will be exalted in eternity.
Swokowski Bible Commentary on this passage
Commentary · verses 9-11
Doctrine: Justice. Everything will be equaled out at Final Judgment, not while we are here on earth. In fact, since it will not be equaled out here, we ought to humble ourselves so that we will get a Reward at Final Judgment. Humility is the ability to consider any perspective, including that you could be wrong.
7Wherefore do the wicked live, Become old, yea, wax mighty in power?
8Their seed is established with them in their sight, And their offspring before their eyes.
9Their houses are safe from fear, Neither is the rod of God upon them.
7Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?
8Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.
9Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.
Commentary
In the Old Testament, people wondered if justice existed. Job questioned whether the wicked will get what they deserve. But as we saw in the mystery section, the mystery was not revealed to the sons of men, until now. (Ephesians 3:4-5) In fact, Job also said...
Swokowski Bible Commentary on this passage
Commentary · verses 4-13
Job stated that the wicked did prosper. Job was using a contrastive method to what he was experiencing. He was considering where he could be wrong.
30If I wash myself with snow water, And make my hands never so clean; 31Yet wilt thou plunge me in the ditch, And mine own clothes shall abhor me.
30If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;
31Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me.
Commentary
Job stated that God would punish him no matter how clean (holy) he was. Also, Job said...
Swokowski Bible Commentary on this passage
Commentary · verses 28-31
Job came to another conclusion. Conclusion #2: If profitability did not prevent God from destroying, then there was no profit in trying to be good.
22It is all one; therefore I say, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.
22This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.
Commentary
Job didn't see justice on earth, so he questioned whether it existed. People in the Old Testament did not have the Mind of Christ within them, so most often they could only think as a man: short term.
Swokowski Bible Commentary on this passage
Commentary · verses 18-22
Job was done with help from his friends. Job came to his own conclusion. Conclusion #1: God destroyed everyone, good and bad.
Ecclesiastes 4:1
ChapterRead the ChapterChanges this passage only. Set your default for every passage.
1Then I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and, behold, the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.
1So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.
Commentary
Solomon questioned justice because physical life all ended the same way, unequal. The people that were oppressed lacked compassion from another, along with the oppressors who lacked compassion from another. Both had the same need, even though both people lived totally differently.
Swokowski Bible Commentary on this passage
Commentary · verse 1
Solomon recognized that there were poor/needy people with no "comforter." Did he consider strengthening them?
Ezekiel 18:24-25
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24But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? None of his righteous deeds that he hath done shall be remembered: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.
25Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel: Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal?
24But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.
25Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal?
Commentary
God confronted Israel through Ezekiel because Israel stated God's way wasn't just. God was saying that the children of Israel were doing what man does, or thinking as men. They were justifying themselves, instead of justifying God. God was saying that the way the children of Israel were acting was not right or just, and God was the one doing the measuring. God was asking them if His perfect measure was not equal. Do you think God's way is equal?
Swokowski Bible Commentary on this passage
Commentary · verse 24
When the righteous turned away from righteousness and made progress towards wickedness, he would die.
Commentary · verse 25
The people were saying that God was not Just. God brought this up after He proved He was Just.
Zechariah 1:6
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6But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not overtake your fathers? and they turned and said, Like as Jehovah of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us.
6But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers? and they returned and said, Like as the LORD of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us.
Commentary
God's way is equal. When God responds to us, He is always and completely Just.
Swokowski Bible Commentary on this passage
Commentary · verses 4-6
Verse 7 began the description of the first of ten visions that Zechariah received. Zechariah's first vision (verses 7-17): Spirit Horses.
Proverbs 20:22
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22Say not thou, I will recompense evil: Wait for Jehovah, and he will save thee.
22Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.
Commentary
The way a man desires to have justice equaled out is through the physical, short term, and for his benefit. Man does not have Holy measures unless they are God's. If evil has been done, Solomon stated justice existed if we wait on God. If we do not take justice into our own hands, we believe justice does exist, and God is the one who will execute justice, as He sees what is fair, because He is Just.
Swokowski Bible Commentary on this passage
Commentary · verses 22-23
Injustice was an abomination to God.
Closing Thoughts
If you stole from someone because you wanted something they had, God doesn't strike you dead, or take something away from you and give it to the person you stole from. If that were the case, God would be equalling everything out immediately.
We have learned that God is Just and executes Justice because He is Holy. God even loves justice, but here's a question....
If God is Just wouldn't it be Right for Him to execute Justice immediately on earth? In the next Doctrine, we will find the answer!
On Judgment Day, everyone will get everything they deserve when they are judged according to their works out of books. There is only one book of life, but there are many books of works. Our Just God will then execute Justice. Everything will be equaled out then, not necessarily now.