Which other scriptures address justice and righteousness similar to Amos 2:6? Setting the Scene: Amos 2:6 “Thus says the LORD: ‘For three transgressions of Israel—even for four—I will not revoke My anger, because they sell the righteous for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals.’” Echoes in the Law: God’s Early Demands for Justice • Exodus 22:21–24 — “You must not mistreat or oppress a foreigner…If you take advantage of them…My wrath will burn.” • Leviticus 19:15 — “Do not pervert justice…Do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the rich; judge your neighbor fairly.” • Deuteronomy 24:14-15 — “Do not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy…Pay him his wages each day before sunset.” Prophets Who Sounded the Same Alarm • Isaiah 1:16-17 — “Learn to do right; seek justice, correct the oppressor. Defend the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.” • Isaiah 58:6-7 — “Is this not the fast that I have chosen: to break the chains of wickedness…to share your bread with the hungry…?” • Jeremiah 5:28-29 — “They have grown fat and sleek…They do not plead the cause of the fatherless…Shall I not punish them…?” • Ezekiel 22:29-31 — “The people of the land have practiced extortion and committed robbery; they have oppressed the poor and needy.” • Micah 6:8 — “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” • Zechariah 7:9-10 — “Administer true justice, show loving devotion and compassion…Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor.” Wisdom Literature: Justice as Worship • Psalm 82:2-4 — “How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked?…Rescue the weak and needy.” • Proverbs 14:31 — “Whoever oppresses the poor taunts his Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors Him.” • Proverbs 21:3 — “Doing what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.” New Testament Continuity: The Same Heartbeat • Matthew 23:23 — “Woe to you…for you tithe mint, dill, and cumin, but you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy, and faithfulness.” • Luke 4:18 — “The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor…to set the oppressed free.” • James 5:1-6 — “Look, the wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you…You have condemned and murdered the righteous one.” Common Threads to Notice • Selling people, withholding wages, or exploiting neediness brings God’s judgment. • Justice and righteousness are inseparable; true worship always includes fair and compassionate treatment of others. • From the Law through the Prophets to the teachings of Jesus and James, Scripture consistently defends the poor, the foreigner, and the laborer. Living It Out Today • Measure every financial or relational decision by God’s revealed standard of justice. • Champion fair treatment—at work, in church, in civic life—because the Lord still hears “the cry of the harvesters.” • Let mercy, integrity, and generosity mark every interaction, reflecting the God who never changes. |
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