For about as long as I can remember, I’ve thought of favoritism as something most likely to be shown to those who held some sort of advantage: wealth, familiarity, beauty. Being from the right side of the tracks. Having grown up in the same small town. Belonging to the same social club.

I think I remember at least one or two stories where some rich dude got away with one or more heinous acts. You know, cheated some poor farmer out of the land that had been in his family for three generations. Sexual imposition against some good-looking young woman whose family couldn’t afford a good lawyer or the local DA. Drunk driving and leaving the scene of an accident.

It always seemed likely to me that members of a jury might show preference to someone who had money, power, influence. The ability to return the favor in some way or another. Likely that a judge, even if a jury was so foolish as to follow the evidence and vote their conscience, might provide an inexcusably light sentence. In other words, pervert justice, or at least what I perceived as justice.

That line of reasoning led me to be rather surprised when I came across Leviticus 19:15 in some personal reading. “Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.” (NIV)

“Do not show partiality to the poor.”

Do not excuse theft, violence, vandalism, looting, or any other wrongful thing just because the perpetrator is poor. Do not hold anyone to a lower standard of morality because of their poverty. Nor, hold the rich to a lower standard because of their wealth. But also, not to withhold justice because you resent that wealth.

Focusing on the facts, on morality, on truth, rather than on personal perceptions, preferences, and prejudices, is required in order to make fair decisions. Drawing conclusions and rendering judgment based on our personal inclinations and resentments does not lead to justice. Favoring those most like us is no less—or, more—unjust than replacing fairness with pity and thereby excusing wrong behavior.

I really like how The Message renders that last thought from Leviticus 19:15: “Judge on the basis of what is right.” Anything more—or less—than that is a perversion of justice.

And yet, let us never forget that the God of Justice also pronounced, “. . . judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”

H. Arnett
3/20/25