Exodus 23:1-9 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs!
Today’s passage is Exodus 23:1-9. Let’s go!
Exodus 23:1 (NIV)
1 “Do not spread false reports. Do not help a wicked man by being a malicious witness.
On verse 1: Don’t gossip. Don’t fuel the rumour mill. Don’t say false things about others.
Exodus 23:2 (NIV)
2 “Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you give testimony in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd,
On verse 2: Avoid negative peer pressure and stand up for what is right.
Exodus 23:3 (NIV)
3 and do not show favoritism to a poor man in his lawsuit.
On verse 3: God tells judges not to favour a poor person in a lawsuit just because that person is poor. In verse 6 God will give the counterbalancing command, which is to make sure that the poor are not denied justice. Put verse 3 and 6 together and what you get is the notion that judges are to be fair and impartial, not showing favoritism to anyone simply because of their economic or social background.
Exodus 23:4-5 (NIV)
4 “If you come across your enemy’s ox or donkey wandering off, be sure to take it back to him.
5 If you see the donkey of someone who hates you fallen down under its load, do not leave it there; be sure you help him with it.
On verses 4-5: Even to people who hate us or consider us their enemy, we are to do to others as we would have them do to us.
Exodus 23:6 (NIV)
6 “Do not deny justice to your poor people in their lawsuits.
On verse 6: See verse 3 above.
Exodus 23:7-8 (NIV)
7 Have nothing to do with a false charge and do not put an innocent or honest person to death, for I will not acquit the guilty.
8 “Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the righteous.
On verses 7-8: In order to get Jesus to the cross, Jesus’ opponents had to bring false charges against Him, violating verse 7, and offer bribes to Judas the betrayer of Jesus, violating verse 8. It is ironic that Jesus’ opponents, who claimed to be righteous and to follow the law, broke the law, and with it their integrity. Meanwhile Jesus remained innocent and maintained His integrity throughout.
Exodus 23:9 (NIV)
9 “Do not oppress an alien; you yourselves know how it feels to be aliens, because you were aliens in Egypt.
On verse 9: This verse reiterates Exodus 22:21, making an even stronger appeal on behalf of foreigners.
Each of God’s commands in verses 1-9 are so straightforward and practical. Does God want us to apply these principles even today? Absolutely. Nothing has changed God’s heart for justice and His love for integrity.
Heavenly Father, thank You for being a just and fair judge and One who stands on the side of truth, justice and integrity. May I live and speak on the side of truth, just and integrity too. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
