Proverbs 28:21
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To have respect of persons is not good: for for a piece of bread that man will transgress.
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A virtuous man has great integrity and is fair at all times. He wants to exercise righteous judgment and avoid any wresting of truth or justice. A foolish and wicked man will show preferential treatment to men, when the compromise will benefit him. But this weak disposition makes a man vulnerable to the slightest temptations.
Warnings against financial haste surround our proverb. Diligent labor works, but vain ideas of quick riches lead to poverty (28:19). A faithful man works diligently and is blessed; a greedy man cheats for riches and is judged (28:20). Greed for riches, rejecting diligent labor, leads men to consider evil ideas; and it will bring them to poverty (28:22).
The Bible warns repeatedly against respect of persons - the perverting of judgment for family, friends, the rich, the poor, or those who can benefit you. True equity and righteous judgment never consider the persons involved, but look only to the facts and justice of the case. God condemns this form of hypocrisy and compromise in many places (18:5; Ex 23:2,8; Deut 1:17; 16:19; II Chr 19:7; Jas 2:1-10). See the comments on 17:23.
Solomon declared, "It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment" (24:23). And the LORD said, "Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour" (Lev 19:15).
All men have special friends, even our Lord, Who loved and favored John (John 13:23). Preferences do exist among men, which we can even read about in the best of men (Gen 37:3; I Sam 18:1; Phil 2:19-23). But any such affection or bias cannot ever enter into their judgment of a case. They must see truth and justice only.
A man at first might require a great bribe or appeal to cheat justice and compromise his judgment, for his inhibitions against corruption keep him from considering less. But once he has seared his conscience, it is much easier the next time. And soon he is reduced to violating truth for the mere proverbial piece of bread - hardly anything at all. He has set a personal precedent and brought his evil heart into motion. God forbid!
Reader, consider your ways. Do you mistrust the teacher criticizing your child due to your sentimental affection for him? Are you more gracious and serving to successful church members than to others? Are you more merciful overlooking the faults of friends than enemies? Do you apply company policy equally to friend and foe in the workplace?
Christ's ministers are gravely warned against preference and partiality in the judgment of the church (I Tim 5:21). For it is a mark of the profane reprobate that admires the more advantaged in the church (Jude 1:16). Let every man of God take heed!
Respect of persons cannot be mingled with the religion of Jesus Christ (Jas 2:1), for it is totally incompatible with the perfect integrity of our Lord and His saints. Even the enemies of Jesus Christ knew He was impeccably virtuous in this matter (Matt 22:16). And respect of persons is also a practical shame, for those we generally are tempted to favor by nature are often the enemies of the gospel (Jas 2:2-10).
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