As Kingdom royalty we are required to have an understanding of Justice. In today’s world the term justice is usually perceived as a legal term that results in a fine, jail time or possibly even execution. In biblical terminology justice can mean those things, but is much broader in use and practice. Justice is a God-ordained action that upholds the well-being and equality of all people -- and this guiding principle applies to both external legal action as well as the internal attitude of one’s heart.

This is a principle that is largely misunderstood throughout history and up to the modern day. In the ancient law book known as The Code of Hammurabi there is a law that restricts penalty to an animal (in this case a domestic goat) that kills a freeman. Even if the freeman is wealthy, there is no recompense for his death, which is an injustice. If the goat has killed before, the owner may be subject to a fine of an unjust amount. By contrast, in the Torah (Exodus 21.28-29) an ox that kills any person, slave or free, is to be put to death and if the ox has killed before then the owner is also subject to capital punishment (presumably for not having obeyed the law to put the animal down making him directly liable for murder). The difference between the two laws is striking not only in the punishments, but in how each values human life. Hammurabi saw animal and human life as equal, the Bible elevates human life above that of animals. Hammurabi devalues slaves over freemen, the Bible sees them as equal.

Later in history we see that Hebrew religious leaders equated justice with law and punishment only, which is the crux of the conflict when an adulterous woman is brought before Jesus before a sentence of execution may be carried out. Jesus rightly expanded the notion of justice to include not only external deeds but to internal desires. Adultery is wrong, but so is the desire to have a man or woman that is not your wife. Murder is wrong, but so too is anger towards someone that wishes the death of another. Man can only judge the actions of others – beast or human, but God judges the heart.

Today many express a belief in social justice, which is an attempt to distribute wealth, opportunity and privilege to all people of a society. As well intentioned as it may sound on the surface, this is as much in error as Hammurabi’s edicts. We could go into the philosophy of the nature of man to prove how such a system doesn’t work and in fact promotes injustice to many, but we don’t need to. Jesus talked at length about the poor and the rich but never advocated anything like social justice. Furthermore, though he was and is the King of kings he humbly lived among us as one of the poor. He owned no property, had no income, and was the social equal of some in society. His teachings about the classes (like “the poor will always be with you”) and his example in human life reveal the error of this system of “justice”.

So how does a prince or princesses of the Kingdom exercise Justice? By treating all people equally, regardless of their race, political affiliation, religious belief, social or economic status or sinful identity. Also, by not harboring those kinds of prejudices – or any ill will – towards another person. When we recognize that we are all created equal we can begin to seek the betterment of all -- which begins with their spiritual condition and works outward from there. Just as we found a hierarchy when exercising wisdom, so too there is one in exercising justice. God is very concerned with a person’s heart, and far less concerned with their economic standing. God is far more concerned about having a relationship with a person than he is with their social status. Crime must be punished, so too unrepentant sin, but only when grace and moderation fail.