When the famous philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche, declared that “God is dead,” he was honest enough to recognize what would follow, the death of objective justice. Without God as the ultimate authority, he argued, we’re left with nothing but power struggles between people who all want different things. Today we see Nietzsche’s prophecy fulfilled. Our culture speaks endlessly of justice while having no foundation for defining it. We demand fairness while serving systems that benefit ourselves.
But in Exodus 21-23, we encounter something radically different, justice that loves its enemies. Here is law that establishes dignity and responsibility for everyone, masters and servants, rich and poor, powerful and vulnerable alike. This is the justice that forms the foundation of Christ’s kingdom, and it demands nothing less than the transformation of our hearts.
Three thousand years ago, God’s people had just been freed from a system where Pharaoh’s word was law, literally. In Egypt, the Pharaoh held supreme authority in all legal matters, and his personal decrees were final. Egypt had various written contracts and legal documents, but justice often depended on the Pharaoh’s personal judgment. It was not anchored in established, written standards that everyone could know and reference.
But when God gave Israel His covenant law in Exodus 21-23, He grounded justice not in royal power or human wisdom, but in His own unchanging character. Unlike other ancient legal codes that flowed from kings who claimed divine authority, these laws revealed the very heart of God Himself.
Because God’s own character defines justice, His people must live with truth, impartiality, and active love. This love protects even the vulnerable enemy and shows the mercy ultimately fulfilled in Christ.
The Scope of God’s Justice
Let me walk you through what God actually says in these three chapters, because the details matter for understanding the radical principle we’ll focus on today.
Exodus 21 opens with laws about Hebrew slaves, people who had sold themselves into temporary servitude to pay off debts. But notice God’s heart: no one could be enslaved permanently against their will. After six years, they went free, no payment required, no legal hoops, just freedom (21:2). If they came in married, they left married (21:3). God protected family relationships even in economic hardship.
If the slave loves the life he has built with his master, the law provides a way for them to agree to permanent service. The master brings him to the doorpost and pierces his ear with an awl, a public act marking voluntary, lifelong commitment (21:5-6). Love freely chosen becomes stronger than debt.
After addressing economic relationships, the text turns to crimes against life. Murder demands the death penalty because human life bears God’s image, yet God distinguishes between premeditated killing and accidental death. His justice safeguards due process by providing sanctuary cities that ensure judgment waits until intent and evidence are carefully weighed (21:13).
Because justice requires measured accountability, God provided the well-known standard ‘eye for eye, tooth for tooth’ (21:24). It was never a license for private vengeance but a safeguard for judges to impose penalties that matched the offense. The powerful couldn’t crush the weak with excessive penalties, nor could the guilty escape with token fines.
From the protection of life, the law next addresses economic wrongs (22:1). Theft required double or even fivefold restitution, punishment that also restored the victim. If someone stole livestock and slaughtered it, the thief paid five oxen for one ox or four sheep for one sheep. God’s justice aimed not merely to deter crime but to make victims whole. Then the law presses beyond property to people.
Exodus 22:21-24 NASB “You shall not wrong a stranger or oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. 22 “You shall not afflict any widow or orphan. 23 “If you afflict him at all, and if he does cry out to Me, I will surely hear his cry; 24 and My anger will be kindled, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless.
This is personal to God who positions Himself as the defender of those who cannot defend themselves. The widow, the orphan, the foreigner, these aren’t just social categories but people under divine protection. When they cry out in oppression, God hears. When they’re exploited, God’s anger burns.
Chapter 23 continues this theme with laws about justice in the courts. No false testimony, no following the crowd into evil, no bribes that blind the eyes of judges. The chapter concludes with sabbath laws, festival requirements, and God’s promise to guard and guide them into the promised land.
These aren’t random regulations. They’re a coherent vision of what human community looks like when God’s character shapes the rules. Every law reflects something about who God is and what He values.
The Heart of Divine Justice
As I studied these chapters I kept returning to one small pair of verses. They may seem minor at first, but they reveal the most radical demand in the whole code: God calls His people to seek the good of those who hate them.
Exodus 23:4-5 NASB “If you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey wandering away, you shall surely return it to him. 5 “If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying helpless under its load, you shall refrain from leaving it to him, you shall surely release it with him.
Stop and let that sink in. Your enemy’s ox. The donkey of one who hates you. God’s justice extends even to people who despise you, who work against you, who wish you harm. If this principle governs something as mundane as livestock care, imagine what it reveals about God’s comprehensive vision for how His people should treat their opponents. This single command encapsulates everything that follows in verses 1-9 of chapter 23, a passage that speaks directly to our present discussion with how to treat political enemies. And that begins with the truth that…
God’s Justice Rejects False Witness Against Anyone
Exodus 23:1 NASB “You shall not bear a false report; do not join your hand with a wicked man to be a malicious witness.
The Hebrew word for “false report” literally means “empty hearing” or “worthless news.” God isn’t just prohibiting perjury in court; He’s commanding truthfulness in all our communication about others. But the specific context isn’t just about lying but aligning with wicked people when their lies serve our interests, “do not join your hand with a wicked man to be a malicious witness.”
God’s people must reflect His truthful character in everything we communicate. Your heart should be moved by God’s commitment to truth even when lies would benefit you. Your mind must grasp that truthfulness isn’t just about accuracy but about reflecting God’s character. Your soul finds rest knowing that God never lies about you, even when you deserve condemnation. Your will must choose honesty even when it costs you.
Convenient Lies
Following Charlie Kirk’s assassination, false reporting has once again become a public focus. Social media platforms overflow with unverified claims, doctored images, and conspiracy theories. Some blame left-wing extremists without evidence. Others suggest Israeli involvement based on Kirk’s occasional criticism of certain Israeli policies. Still others claim the shooting was staged or blame right-wing rhetoric for radicalizing the left.
The temptation for Christians is enormous. When someone we disagree with politically gets attacked, our first instinct isn’t always to demand truth. We naturally look for narratives that confirm our existing biases. Conservative Christians might share unverified claims about the shooter’s political affiliations if it supports their narrative. Progressive Christians might downplay the political motivations if acknowledging them feels uncomfortable. But verse 1 cuts through all of this. God’s people cannot bear false reports about anyone, not even our political enemies. We cannot join hands with malicious witnesses, even when their lies benefit us by targeting people we oppose.
Christ Faced False Witnesses
Jesus perfectly embodied this principle, even under the most extreme circumstances. At His trial, Matthew 26:59-60 tells us that the religious leaders “were trying to obtain false testimony against Jesus so that they might put Him to death. They did not find any, even though many false witnesses came forward.” When Jesus was falsely accused, He didn’t respond with false counter-accusations. He didn’t spread lies about His accusers’ motives or character. Even on the cross, facing execution based on perjured testimony, He prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
Christ calls us to this same commitment to truth, even when lies would serve our interests. In a post-assassination political climate where false witness runs rampant, God’s people must be known for our commitment to accuracy and fairness, especially regarding our enemies. And truth alone is not enough, because…
God’s Justice Refuses to Follow Crowds into Evil, Even Against Enemies
Verse 2 gives us another counter-cultural command:
Exodus 23:2 NASB “You shall not follow the masses in doing evil, nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after a multitude in order to pervert justice;
Justice is Independent of Popular Opinion
God’s justice operates independently of crowd dynamics and tribal loyalties. Your heart needs to feel the weight of standing alone for truth when crowds demand otherwise. Your mind must understand that justice isn’t democratic, it’s theological. Your soul finds courage knowing that God’s approval matters more than human applause. Your will must choose what’s right even when it’s unpopular.
Following the tragedy of Kirk’s death, many have celebrated on social media, claiming he “got what he deserved” for his “controversial” positions. Some are demanding that conservative speakers be banned from college campuses for their own “safety.” There is a very small but vocal minority (less than 5% per X analytics) fringe subset of conservative voices framing the far left as an existential enemy warranting lethal force. But God’s commands His people to resist joining any mob that celebrates or demands any kind of unjust retribution. Justice isn’t about which crowd we belong to but about reflecting God’s character. Crowds aren’t the only force that can bend justice. Just as majority opinion cannot dictate what is right, neither can social sympathy tilt the scales.
Justice is Independent of Social Status
God forbids favoritism even toward the disadvantaged because His standard is higher than both majority opinion and oppressed-versus-oppressor narratives:
Exodus 23:3 NASB nor shall you be partial to a poor man in his dispute.
In most societies the danger is showing favoritism to the rich and powerful. Yet here God warns against leaning toward the poor simply because they seem more deserving of sympathy. His justice is not tilted by wealth, poverty, or popularity. Judges were to decide cases on the facts, not on feelings for the disadvantaged or pressure from the crowd. This verse protects the courtroom from reverse favoritism, but its reach is wider. Any time we make decisions, at work, in friendships, in politics, God calls us to the same standard. Compassion is good, but when compassion replaces truth it becomes corruption. Justice belongs to the Lord, and it must be blind to status.
Many American institutions are working to change outcomes between social groups so that everyone finishes with equal results. Racism and sexism are not only personal sins but patterns woven into society itself. Laws often favor the majority. Indeed, in a fallen world, it would be surprising to find any institution untouched by prejudice. Yet instead of calling everyone to one standard of truth and justice, today’s reforms tilt the scales toward certain groups in the name of fairness, regardless of fault. That is not biblical equity; it is distorted empathy, replacing one form of partiality with another. God clearly commands us not to allow our empathy stand in the way of what is just.
The Christ Who Stands Above Every Crowd
Jesus embodies perfect justice joined with perfect mercy. His compassion never meant lowering God’s standard or redefining sin. When crowds tried to crown Him king for their own advantage, He withdrew rather than exploit their enthusiasm. When a mob dragged a woman caught in adultery before Him, He shielded her from unlawful execution yet confronted her guilt with the charge, “Go and sin no more.” He loved the sinner without softening the verdict of God’s law.
The cross reveals this harmony most clearly. While we were still His enemies, Christ bore the penalty our sins deserved so that God could remain just and still justify those who believe. Mercy was extended without compromising righteousness; justice was satisfied without vengeance. His example warns us that empathy which excuses sin is not love but rebellion. True compassion protects the guilty only by leading them to the God who forgives through Christ.
When cultural voices urge us to tilt the scales toward the powerful or the oppressed, we must remember the Savior. He stood alone for us without ever compromising God’s righteous standards. Our calling is to follow Him and love every neighbor. We must defend every image-bearer and work for justice without bitterness. We trust the God who will one day set all things perfectly right. Because Christ loved His enemies without ever bending God’s standard, His followers are called to the same pattern. And we cannot effectively do this unless we understand that…
God’s Justice Demands Active Love for Enemies, Not Just Neutrality
Exodus 23:4-5 NASB “If you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey wandering away, you shall surely return it to him. 5 “If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying helpless under its load, you shall refrain from leaving it to him, you shall surely release it with him.
Active Love for Those Who Hate Us
God’s justice requires active benevolence toward our enemies. Your heart must feel genuine concern for your opponents’ welfare. Your mind needs to understand that loving enemies isn’t optional for God’s people. Your soul must find its security in God’s love so it can extend love to those who hate you. This isn’t just internal goodwill toward our enemies but choosing to actively serve them.
Notice the specificity of these commands. God gets into the practical details: lost livestock must be returned, overloaded animals must be helped. The Hebrew verb in verse 4 means “you shall surely return”, not “you might consider returning” or “you should return if convenient.” It’s an absolute command. Verse 5 goes even further. The Hebrew construction emphasizes that you cannot simply walk away when your enemy needs help. The phrase “you shall surely release it with him” includes the preposition “with him”, meaning you must work alongside your enemy to solve their problem.
Beyond Political Tribalism
Christians must face reality with clear eyes. Some of the most radical progressive voices in America are openly hostile to biblical morality and pose a genuine threat to religious freedom. Acknowledging that threat is not fear-mongering, it is simply telling the truth. But truthful awareness is different from vengeful reaction. Exodus 23 calls us to a higher road: we refuse false witnesses, we refuse mob dynamics, we refuse favoritism, and we refuse to rejoice in our enemies demise.
This means we neither retreat into silence nor lash out in revenge. We advocate for policies that protect life, family, and religious liberty. We insist on fair laws and due process for everyone, including those who would gladly strip us of the same protections. We do not allow the outrage of the moment or the pressure of social media to dictate our actions. Compassion is good, but compassion can be corrupted when it bends the standard of God’s justice or trades truth for public approval.
The Christ Who Loved His Killers
Jesus provides the ultimate example of active enemy love. He didn’t just passively tolerate His opponents, He actively served their interests even while they plotted His death. He healed the high priest’s servant’s ear after Peter cut it off during His arrest. He warned His disciples not to resist His capture because it would lead to their own destruction. Even on the cross, He was concerned about His executioners’ spiritual welfare.
But Jesus also shows us that loving enemies doesn’t mean abandoning truth or justice. He consistently opposed false teaching and corrupt power while simultaneously caring for His opponents’ ultimate good. He called Pharisees “whitewashed tombs” and “children of hell,” but He also wept over Jerusalem and longed to gather them like a mother hen gathers her chicks.
Christian must model an uncompromising commitment to truth joined with genuine love for those who oppose us. Jesus Himself commands it.
Matthew 5:43-45 NASB “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
To love our enemies is not to surrender truth but to act like our Father, who sends rain on the just and the unjust. Speaking at Charlie Kirk’s memorial last weekend, President Trump displayed how impossible this is to do at the deepest heartfelt level of the soul. He praised Charlie’s love for his enemies while admitting that he hates his own and does not want the best for them. His candor reflects what every heart knows: this command cuts against our instincts and is impossible unless Christ lives inside of you. On the other hand, Erika Kirk displayed this Christlikeness. In the face of unspeakable loss she publicly forgave Charlie’s killer and prayed for his soul. That is not weakness, it is the supernatural strength of a heart ruled by Christ. The believer can and must advocate for justice for their enemies while also displaying the love of Christ. We oppose violence while caring for the souls of those who commit it, because our Lord loved us when we were His enemies. The love of Christ moves beyond forgiveness to concrete action, guarding those least able to guard themselves.
God’s Justice Protects the Vulnerable, Including Vulnerable Enemies
The passage concludes with specific protections for the most vulnerable members of society:
Exodus 23:6-8 NASB “You shall not pervert the justice due to your needy brother in his dispute. 7 “Keep far from a false charge, and do not kill the innocent or the righteous, for I will not acquit the guilty. 8 “You shall not take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the clear-sighted and subverts the cause of the just.
Justice Especially for the Powerless
God’s justice system specifically protects those without power to protect themselves. Is your heart moved by injustices against the powerless? True justice is measured by how it treats the vulnerable. You may take comfort in knowing that God defends those who cannot defend themselves, but do you actively work to ensure that justice reaches those society ignores? Let’s take this a step further. What about vulnerable people who are also our enemies? Whenever public backlash falls on those we oppose, whether it’s a lawsuit, a boycott, or a social-media mob, it is tempting for us to say, “They brought this on themselves” or “Maybe they’ll learn a lesson.” But verses 6-9 demand that we protect vulnerable people regardless of their politics. The same God who commands us to return our enemy’s ox also commands us not to oppress strangers or pervert justice for the needy. God appeals to Israel’s own experience of vulnerability.
Exodus 23:9 NASB “You shall not oppress a stranger, since you yourselves know the feelings of a stranger, for you also were strangers in the land of Egypt.
They knew what it was like to be powerless in a hostile system, without advocates, legal protections, or a voice in decisions that shaped their lives. Because they once lived as strangers in Egypt, they were to guard the rights of strangers in their own land.
The principle carries forward: those who have tasted weakness must not exploit the weak. Even in today’s heated political climate, followers of Christ should remember this when opponents are mistreated or denied fair treatment. Past experiences of being silenced or ignored should make us quick to defend justice for all, even for those with whom we sharply disagree.
The Christ Who Defends the Powerless
Jesus fulfilled the heart of Exodus 23 by protecting the vulnerable even when they opposed Him. He welcomed children the disciples tried to push aside, healed beggars others silenced, and defended a woman whom a mob sought to stone. At His arrest He told the soldiers, “let these men go,” shielding His disciples from harm. On the cross He prayed for His executioners, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” delaying the judgment their sins deserved. In every case He upheld God’s righteous standard while refusing to exploit weakness.
This is the pattern for His people. We do not excuse evil or abandon truth. But we actively guard the dignity and rights of those who cannot protect themselves, friend or foe, ally or adversary. We do this because our Lord defended us when we were powerless and opposed to Him.
Conclusion
Brothers and sisters, God’s Word leaves no safe middle ground. His justice demands more than avoiding blatant evil. It calls us to reject every lie, resist every evil crowd, and refuse every form of favoritism. We cannot share rumors that smear an opponent and remain faithful to God. We cannot delight in personal ruin, even when someone’s words deserve public accountability. We cannot tilt the scales for the “right” side and still honor the Lord who shows no partiality. And we cannot remain neutral toward our enemies when Christ commands active love and practical help—even for those who would harm us.
But this is impossible in our own strength. Only the Savior who loved us when we were His enemies can create hearts like His. Before we can love our enemies, we must face the staggering truth that we were God’s enemies first. Our rebellion against His rule is far more vile to a holy God than the worst cruelty any opponent has ever shown to us. Every bitter thought, every selfish motive, every secret act of pride is treason against the King of the universe. The most hateful political adversary you can imagine has not offended you half as deeply as your sin has offended God.
Feel the weight of that. Until you see the horror of your own sin, Christ’s command to love your enemies will seem optional and His cross will seem excessive. But when you see that He loved you at your worst, bore your guilt, and died to reconcile you to God, then the call becomes clear. Come to Christ, receive His mercy, and let His Spirit empower you to walk in truth, courage, and sacrificial love.
