Equitable; Equal; Fair; Righteous

“‘But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.’” (Matthew 5:44-45 NKJV)

In preparation for the upcoming school year, our entire staff is going through a District-mandated training today. One of our discussion prompts queried, “What is the difference between equity and equality?” In today’s polarized political climate, this kind of discussion can become hot, as entrenched positions do not easily give way to rational, logical, objective discussion. Rather than rehash our considerations, let’s look at what Jesus had to say.

These instructions to the disciples were incredibly counterintuitive. Typically, an enemy is not someone to whom we express love, we are not particularly kind to those who curse us, we try to avoid those who hate us and if we pray for those who are persecuting us it is usually like David prayed; “Lord, break their teeth!” It is important to recognize that to be fully man, Jesus had to have those same tendencies built into His human nature.

As in all other areas of temptation, however, He did not succumb to that inclination. In fact, he went on to tell His disciples in verse 45 that if we hope to claim to be sons of the Heavenly Father, we must not react in such a manner, either. As so often is the case, He gave us the quintessential example – “(The Father) makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”

That, therefore, is our challenge. Our human nature and political posturing may say, “If they hit me, I’m going to hit them back harder.” While perhaps a good military, law enforcement or political strategy, that cannot be the posture of the believer in their interpersonal relations. How does that flesh itself out in daily life?

Is there one at work who has made it their life’s mission to keep us down? Love them; I Corinthians 13 is not just for family relationships, so everything Paul said there would apply. Does a student or parent use every vile name in the book to describe us in their obstinate resistance? Pronounce upon them in your own mind and even to their face a blessing, just as the patriarchs did for their children. Examples for the rest of the passage are myriad; in every case, we are to return good for evil.

“But that’s not fair,” one might object. As my wife was prone to tell our kids when they would say that, “The fair comes in October and lasts for three weeks; deal with it.” Life isn’t always fair. For the righteous man (the believer), equitable treatment means to treat others as Christ treats us.

In closing out the model prayer He provided for the disciples, Jesus made this principle perfectly clear. “‘For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.’” (Matthew 6:14-15 NKJV)

Equity will not always result in equality. Righteousness does not always seem fair. That, however, is the ministry to which we have been called.; that is therefore how the Spirit-led believer will live.

Gird up your loins; He will give you strength; you can do this.

Related Scriptures

“‘But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.’” (Luke 6:27-28 NKJV)

“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.” (Romans 12:14 NKJV)

“Therefore

‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him;

If he is thirsty, give him a drink;

For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.’” (Romans 12:20 NKJV)

“Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.’ And they divided His garments and cast lots.” (Luke 23:34 NKJV)

“Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not charge them with this sin.’ And when he had said this, he fell asleep.” (Acts 7:60 NKJV)

“And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.” (I Corinthians 4:12-13 NKJV)

“For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:

‘Who committed no sin,

Nor was deceit found in His mouth’;

who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness— by whose stripes you were healed.” (I Peter 2:21-24 NKJV)

“‘Is there any number to His armies?

Upon whom does His light not rise?’” (Job 25:3 NKJV)

“You visit the earth and water it,

You greatly enrich it;

The river of God is full of water;

You provide their grain,

For so You have prepared it.

You water its ridges abundantly,

You settle its furrows;

You make it soft with showers,

You bless its growth.

You crown the year with Your goodness,

And Your paths drip with abundance.

They drop on the pastures of the wilderness,

And the little hills rejoice on every side.

The pastures are clothed with flocks;

The valleys also are covered with grain;

They shout for joy, they also sing.” (Psalms 65:9-13 NKJV)

“Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: ‘The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. And he thought within himself, saying, “What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?”’” (Luke 12:16-17 NKJV)

“‘Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.’” (Acts 14:17 NKJV)