Injustice

Injustice — the violation of what is due to persons before God and in human society — is among the most consistently condemned sins in Scripture, provoking the sharpest prophetic indictment. God's own character is the foundation: "For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe" (Deut. 10:17). The Law prohibited perverting justice for the poor or powerful alike (Ex. 23:1–3, 6–7; Lev. 19:15), and mandated protection of the alien, widow, and orphan, who were structurally vulnerable to exploitation. Amos's indictment of Israel centers on economic injustice: selling the righteous for silver and trampling the poor (Amos 2:6–7; 5:10–15; 8:4–6). Isaiah denounces those who "decree iniquitous decrees" that rob the poor of their rights (Isa. 10:1–2). Micah's summary of the prophetic demand is justice first: "Do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God" (Mic. 6:8). In the NT, James indicts wealthy landowners who defraud workers of wages (Jas. 5:1–6), echoing the prophetic tradition. God's eschatological judgment will finally vindicate the oppressed (Luke 18:7–8; Rev. 18:20).