As Deuteronomy provides commentary on the ten commandments, the fifth commandment is next. We see here the teaching of the law on all questions of human authority. And we should notice first that the common Puritan practice of ordering all questions of law under the heading of the ten commandments is here supported (e.g. the Westminster Larger Catechism). The command to honor parents can also have legitimate application to one’s shift manager at a fast food joint. “Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates . . .” (Deuteronomy 16:18-22).
The people are called to appoint judges and officers at the local level, who are to render justice (v. 18). Their judgments must not be twisted, partial or bought (v. 19). Justice, pure justice, is commanded, and the rendering of it is linked to Israel’s inheritance of the land (v. 20). The practice of religious syncretism is to be utterly rejected (vv. 21-22). And why is this?
In many instances our modern notions of what constitutes impartial justice must be brought under the judgment of Scripture. The vast majority of court cases in Israel were to be decided at a local level, by judges appointed throughout the tribes who knew the situation. The passage shows three ways in which justice can be turned into something else (v. 19), three ways in which justice can be seduced.
Justice perverted—justice must not be turned or bent. Scripture has a great deal to say about this (Lev. 19:15; Dt. 24:17; 27:19; 1 Sam. 8:3; Amos 5:12; Is. 10:2). Lev. 19:15 is of particular interest here—you are to show no preferential treatment to either the poor or the mighty. So justice is perverted when it is redefined; tyrants never announce their intention to establish an unjust state. Justice is also perverted when it is established on the foundation of a false religion.
Justice made partial—a literal rendering here says that the judges are not to “regard faces” (Ps. 82:2; Prov. 18:5; 24:23; 28:21; Mal. 2:9). This is what might be considered “old boy network” justice. When friends of the judges may transgress with impunity, justice is corrupted.
Justice bought—judges in Israel were not to permit litigants to argue their case with money (Ps. 15:5; Prov. 17:23; Is. 1:23; 5:23;33:15; Ez. 22:12). Please note that it is not a sin to offer a bribe in an already corrupted system. But this is only the case if the bribe were purchasing justice from an unjust man, rather than corrupting justice (Prov. 17:8; 21:14). If a man were to bribe an official to let me smuggle a Jew out of Nazi Germany, there is no problem. But such occasions are rare — usually bribes work in the direction of corruption.
Justice must be served, straight up. A literal rendering here would be, “Justice, justice, you shall pursue!” God bluntly links Israel’s hot pursuit of justice in the land with their right to inherit the land (v. 20). And remember the commandment that this falls under, and the promise that accompanies it—it is the first commandment with a promise. When you read of a perverted court system in the newspaper—which you do every evening—more is required of you than a little tsking. More is being threatened than you think.
This shows us, incidentally, that justice in the land begins with honoring of father and mother. The principles learned around the dining room table will extend to the highest courts in the land. The importance of “what is is” was learned a long time before that slippery principle was invoked at the federal level.
In the context of this discussion of justice, the law says that Canaanite gods are not to be honored alongside the true God. Different gods, different laws. Different laws, differing justices. But multiple justices means rampant injustice. Pluralistic justice is polytheistic justice, which is to say, injustice. And this is what we have today—precisely because American Christians want their asherah poles beside the altar of the Lord. We have too many gross examples of this kind of thing. This is why public syncretism is cultural suicide.
Whenever we get stirred up, we want to go off and do great things. But we need to master some other things first. And this brings us to three points of application.
Faithfulness at ground level—the best preparation for lawful resistance is lawful submission. And young men, start with your mother. Those who want to hate injustice without loving justice are simply part of the problem.
Hate corruption—we are not told that justice is something we should wistfully hope for; justice is something we should passionately pursue.
Understand the times—we are in the mess we are in because our theology permits syncretism, and indeed, under various names praises compromised syncretism—on the left, pluralism, multiculturalism, and tolerance; on the right, traditional values and various forms of Americanism. All of it contributes to our current confusions, and the judgments which rest upon us.