Topical Bible: Injustice: A Bad Example Leads To

◄ Injustice: A Bad Example Leads To ►

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Injustice, as depicted in the Bible, often arises from the actions and decisions of individuals who set poor examples for others, leading to widespread moral and societal decay. The Scriptures provide numerous instances where the unjust actions of leaders and influential figures result in negative consequences for their communities and followers.

One of the most striking examples of injustice stemming from a bad example is found in the account of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. Ahab, the king of Israel, is described as having done more evil in the eyes of the LORD than all those before him (1 Kings 16:30). His marriage to Jezebel, a Phoenician princess who worshiped Baal, further led him and the nation of Israel into idolatry and injustice. Jezebel's influence is particularly evident in the account of Naboth's vineyard, where she orchestrates Naboth's unjust execution to seize his property for Ahab (1 Kings 21:1-16). This act of injustice, driven by greed and abuse of power, sets a precedent for corruption and moral decline in the kingdom.

The prophet Micah also speaks against the leaders of Israel who practice injustice, highlighting how their actions lead the people astray. Micah 3:9-11 states, "Now hear this, O leaders of the house of Jacob, you rulers of the house of Israel, who abhor justice and pervert all that is right, who build Zion with bloodshed and Jerusalem with iniquity. Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets practice divination for money." The leaders' corruption and perversion of justice result in societal chaos and divine judgment.

In the New Testament, Jesus addresses the Pharisees and scribes, who, through their hypocrisy and legalism, set a poor example for the people. In Matthew 23:23-24 , Jesus rebukes them, saying, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint, dill, and cumin, but you have disregarded the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel." Their focus on minor legalistic details while neglecting true justice and mercy leads others to follow suit, perpetuating a cycle of injustice.

The Apostle Paul, in his letters, warns against the influence of bad examples within the church. In 1 Corinthians 5:6 , he writes, "Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough?" Here, Paul emphasizes how even a small amount of sin and injustice, if left unchecked, can spread and corrupt the entire community.

Throughout the Bible, the theme of injustice as a result of bad examples serves as a warning to leaders and individuals alike. The Scriptures call for righteousness, justice, and integrity, urging believers to set examples that reflect God's character and lead others toward truth and justice.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Exodus 23:2
You shall not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shall you speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Development of the Ideas of Jesus Respecting the Kingdom of God.
... Jesus followed in this respect the example of others ... net, which gathers both good
and bad fish; the ... suddenness of this event, its apparent injustice, and its ...
/.../renan/the life of jesus/chapter vii development of the.htm

Thoughts on Mind and on Style
... Follow Nature," or, "Conduct your private affairs without injustice," as Plato ... unique,
for there are many; but each bad sonnet, for example, on whatever ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pascal/pensees/section i thoughts on mind.htm

Evidences of Regeneration.
... and the feeling of opposition to injustice, are not ... being expressed either by good
or bad men, than ... For example: benevolence in the saint, and selfishness in ...
/.../finney/systematic theology/lecture xxix evidences of regeneration.htm

Appendix: Polemical Fragments
... our purse is not made secure by proof of injustice. ... I had written ill, seeing myself
condemned; but the example of so ... Port-Royal fears, and it is bad policy to ...
/.../pascal/pensees/section xiv appendix polemical fragments.htm

Book iv Thus Gently Sang the Lady Philosophy with Dignified Mien ...
... For some find themselves suffering injustice at the hands of ... which is hard and which
restrains bad men by ... bravely whither leads the lofty path of high example. ...
/.../boethius/the consolation of philosophy/book iv thus gently sang.htm

Of the Five Sacraments, Falsely So Called. Their Spuriousness ...
... it was thought to be of bad example to allow ... their wives, sets Christ before them
as an example. ... impious toward God, partly fraught with injustice toward men ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 19 of the five.htm

The Pure in Heart
... lest he tempt them to follow his example. ... that this world was a bad world, and ...
drunkenness, evil speaking, lying, slandering, injustice, oppression, cruelty ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/the good news of god/sermon xvi the pure in.htm

John Chapter xv. 23
... The report, for instance, whether good or bad, about some ... any rate love justice and
abhor injustice; not such ... This takes place if one, for example's sake, who ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate xc john chapter xv.htm

Upon Compassion.
... creatures, it would be found of as bad consequence to ... who has himself no sense of
injustice, cruelty, oppression ... that divine Person, who was the example of all ...
//christianbookshelf.org/butler/human nature/sermon v upon compassion.htm

Ephesians iv. 31, 32
... argument from physical subjects, but draw our example from those ... He has taken away
the bad seeds; he now ... is in them; but if we return injustice with gentleness ...
/.../homily xvi ephesians iv 31.htm