I. Two Principles of Biblical Justice
a. The God we serve is just because he is good.
b. God is all powerful, but He chooses to be merciful.
Gen. 18:25; Deut. 32:4; Job 37:23; Ps. 89:14; Ps. 96:13
II. The justice of YHWH vs. the justice of false gods
III. The justice of YHWH vs. human justice
a. Man judges the exterior, but only God judges the heart. 1 Sam.16:7
b. Man judges on the basis of temporary standards; Gods justice is based on eternal, unchanging ones Rom 11:33
c. Mans justice, even at its best, is vulnerable to corruption and compulsion. This is not so with God.
d. Human judges must be persuaded to show mercy by skillful argument. Mercy is a basic attribute of God.
Judges 5:11; Ps. 23:6; Ps 106:1; Ps. 145:17; Mic. 6:8; Hos. 6:6; Matt. 9:13
IV. The justice of God as seen in the parables
a. The Wheat and the Tares Matt 13:24-30 / 2 Peter 3:9; John 17:15
b. The
Unmerciful Servant Matt 18:23-25 / Matt. 6:21;
c. The Wicked Tenant Farmers Matt 21:33-44 (also Mark 12:1-12, Luke 20:9-19) / Heb. 10:29-30
d. The Servants Entrusted with Talents Matt 25:14-30, Luke 19:11-27
e. The Good Samaritan Luke 10:30-37
f. Laborers in the Vineyard; Prodigal Son Matt 20:1-16; Luke 15:11-32 / Rom 9:14-16; Li. 15:3-7, Lk 15:8-10, Lk 15:32..