What the Bible Has

to Say About

Justice
The Bible has much to say about justice. It is our job to convert biblical principles into realistic
advice for today, but it is difficult to read the Bible without seeing what the late Bishop David
Sheppard called “a bias to the poor.”

Ge ne s is 1 :2 6 – 3 0 , 2 :4–15
The first human, in both creation stories, is given the task of subduing the earth (see 1:28) and
looking after the Garden of Eden (see 2:15).

L e v it ic us , C h a p t er 25
The Year of Jubilee is a program to alleviate poverty and to allow land to rest. It also describes a
fair system for selling land based on the number of years until the Jubilee.

P r o v e r bs , C ha p ter s 11–22
Many of the central proverbs point to the need to:
» care for the poor (see 13:23; 14:31; 19:4,7; 21:13; 22:9,16)
» act honestly in everyday life (see 11:1; 13:11; 16:8,11; 17:23; 20:10,23)
» be generous (see 11:24,25; 19:17)
» work and trade (see 11:26; 12:11,24; 13:4; 14:23; 22:29)

A m o s 2 :6 , 8 :5 – 6
One of the Old Testament’s livelier prophetic oracles has much to say against dishonesty toward
the poor, particularly in the marketplace.

M at t he w, C h a p t er 6
This central chapter of the Sermon of the Mount points us all away from seeing any earthly

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achievements as “treasure.” Instead we are encouraged to work out what it means to give to the
poor and needy and to store up treasure in heaven. Exploitation is hatred toward God.

L uk e 6 :3 7 ,3 8
Using the illustration of fair trade in the marketplace (allowing the goods to settle in the container
before declaring it full), Jesus describes God’s justice. With the same measure we will be judged.

L uk e 1 1 :3 7 – 5 4
Jesus reserves his condemnation for those who observe the letter of the law but not its spirit: “You
give a tenth of your . . . garden herbs . . . but neglect justice and the love of God.”

H e b r e w s 1 1 :3 3
The “heroes” of the faith are commended as much for their administration of justice as for their
bravery in battle.

R e v e l at io n 1 9 :1 1
We can all expect to be judged with justice by the one who is to come.

Scripture text taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright
©1973, 1978, 1984 by the International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Copyright © 2008 by World Vision Resources, Mail Stop 321, P.O. Box 9716, Federal Way, WA 98063-9716,
253-815-3320, wvresources@worldvision.org. All rights reserved.

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 About World Vision
W o rl d V i s i o n i s a Christian relief, development, and advocacy organization dedicated to helping
children and their families break free from poverty. Our work is motivated by our faith in Jesus Christ. We
see a world where each child experiences “fullness of life” as described in John 10:10. And we know this can
be achieved only by addressing the problems of poverty and injustice in a holistic way. That’s how World
Vision is unique: We bring nearly sixty years of experience in three key areas needed to help children and
families thrive: emergency relief, long-term development, and advocacy. And we bring all of our skills across
many areas of expertise to each community we work in, enabling us to care for children’s physical, social,
emotional, and spiritual well-being.

W o rl d V i s i o n R es o u r c e s educates Christians about global poverty, inspires them to social justice,

and equips them with innovative resources to make a difference in the world. By developing biblically-based
materials for educators and ministry leaders on the causes and consequences of global poverty, World Vision
Resources supports the organizational mandate to move the church in the United States to more fully embrace
its biblical responsibility to serve the poor.

For more information about

our resources, contact:

World Vision Resources

www.worldvision.org
wvresources@worldvision.org

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