The Secret Codes in Matthew: Examining Israel’s Messiah, Part 8: Matthew 11-12, by Kevin M. Williams
Micah appears to be telling his contemporary religious leaders precisely what Yeshua was trying to say to the Pharisees of His day (and to us today). There is sin in the camp. Justice is distorted. The Spirit of the Lord is empowered toward justice. They have been confronted with the truth and must now make a choice, either to serve the kingdom of God, or to serve darkness.
An excellent book on biblical justice is Due Process by Messianic Jewish author Dr. Daniel Juster,3 where he dives into the subject of biblical justice in significant detail. “Without standards of righteousness, justice and due process, nothing that is lasting can be built. We will cancel out one another’s efforts in competition and mistrust. It will not be long before Satan attacks and sends difficulty. Along with prayer and spiritual warfare, establishing God’s standards of righteousness and justice are absolutely essential if the Kingdom of God is to prevail. However, God has promised that His Kingdom will prevail. Therefore I have to believe that His standards will be established again among His people” (p. iii).
Saying that the distortion of justice may be at the core of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is a strong statement. Does the Bible give us further insights into this?
Earlier in Matthew, Yeshua tells us, “For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you” (Matthew 7:2). In the previous verse we read, “Do not judge lest you be judged” (Matthew 7:1).
It does not seem reasonable that we are never to judge. Rather, it is prudent to judge according to biblical standards. How often do we, like the Pharisees, judge based on appearances? How often do we, like the Pharisees, pass judgment because traditional ritual was not enforced? How often do we question the giftings of others because their giftings do not line up with our own agendas? In each case we have judged, and we have not judged using biblical principles. In fact, when we behave in such a fashion, we are not judging sin, yet we fall so easily into its trap. “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment” (John 7:24).
From the Torah of Leviticus 19:15 “You shall do no injustice in judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor nor defer to the great, but you are to judge your neighbor fairly,” through the through the Book of the Revelation, “And I heard the altar saying, “Yes, O Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are Thy judgments” (Revelation 16:7), justice is an ongoing theme. Even our brother Paul admonishes us, “Therefore you are without excuse, every man of you who passes judgment, for in that you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things” (Romans 2:1).
Category: Biblical Studies, Pneuma Review, Winter 2003
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