Partiality and Favoritism (part 1 of 3) - Proverbs 24:23

These also are sayings of the wise. To show partiality in judgment is not good. Proverbs 24:23

Solomon now gives us the sayings of the wise through the end of this chapter.  These are things we should definitely keep in mind as we walk in this life.  They are over a number of different topics which will be faced as we walk through our lives.  The first of these topics is the problem of partiality in judgment. 

The statement, "to show partiality" is literally "to regard the face."  This is when someone who is to render judgment sees a face they know - and suddenly their judgment is clouded due to a favorable reaction to this one they see.  Once they see their friend or aquaintence, they look upon them no longer with wise judgment, but with an attitude of personal preference.  This is one reason why our legal system has within it the practice of recusing ourselves from a case because our relationship with someone might skew our thinking and affect our judgment unfairly.  This is the case at the level of the judge, the prosecutor, and the jury.  To have justice be fair is of the utmost importance. 

I remember the first time I saw the statue that represents justice - and realized that she has a blindfold over her eyes.  She stands their blind to who is before her - with a set of scales in her hands.  The statue represents how we should enter into judgment with others.  We should be blind to who they are - not recognizing or regarding the face of the one before us.  Without this kind of blindness to who is before us - we cannot render fair and just decisions.  When we start recognizing "faces" that come before us in the justice system, we face the danger of favoritism. 

A wise man learns to administer justice blindly, without recognizing a face and without the favoritism that comes with it.  He learns to act according to the wisdom of God's Word in rendering judgment and decisions on matters of right and wrong.