Proverbs 21.3 says to do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. An important question that one might ask when reading this proverb is how do we do justice? What exactly does that mean? In the most simple terms, to do justice simply means to be just in all your dealings. But the English language can become a bit entangled in the minds of men because words mean different things according to the context in which they appear. For this reason, the discussion of justice can become quite involved. Noah Webster addresses this as he wrote in his dictionary that we first have to consider the use of the word just. There are six different uses for the word justice alone. So, we need to point out that in our proverb, the word justice is referring to in Webster's words, quote, the virtue which consists in giving to everyone what is his due, practical conformity to the laws and to principles of rectitude in the dealings of men with each other, honesty, integrity in commerce or mutual intercourse, end quote. It's the idea of being fair. Be reasonable. Be correct. Be lawful. Be honest. Just. That's what it means. But there are two types of justice at play here. Number one, there is distributive justice. And there is, number two, commutative justice. And I admit to you that I don't always remember those two words and those exact terms. But the first type, number one, distributive justice. is that of the justice of the peace or the judge, the magistrate, or other government ruler, authority, or agent. Now, few of us ever sit in a robe with a gavel or carry a badge like Matt Dillon or issue government directives like that, but you do We do have Christians who do that. And if you happen to be one of those, then the Lord expects you to do so in a just and biblical manner. If you're bribed or in any way hedge on what truly is right and fair, then your church attendance and tithing and praying and all that will not remove the stain of sin that will hinder your relationship with the Lord. To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. But the second type of justice, number two, commutative justice, applies to us all, every one of us, as it consists in fair dealing in trade and mutual intercourse between man and man, as Webster put it. In other words, it's about how you treat your neighbor. Matthew 22, 37-40, Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and prophets. And we're told that if we do not love our neighbor, then all of our talk about loving God is meaningless. In the inspired words written by the Apostle Paul in 1 John 4, 20, if a man say, I love God and hate his brother, he is a liar. For he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And loving others means treating them with justice. How would you want to be treated? That's what Jesus said in Luke 6 31. And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. That's how simple this matter of justice really is. Just do what is right. Put yourself in the place of the person you're dealing with. and treat them with the treatment you would expect from them if the roles were reversed. I remember as a young Christian, someone gave me a booklet and it had a Bob Jones Senior sermon titled, Do Right. Man, that was very helpful. And I hope this has been just as clear and helpful to you. And always keep in mind that to do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. Amen.