The ability to be unbiased towards any one race, class or person. This attitude is demonstrated by God and is to be emulated by the human race.
God is impartial
Deuteronomy 10:17 See also 2 Chronicles 19:7
For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, mighty, and awesome God, showing no partiality and accepting no bribe.
God treats people impartially
Matthew 5:45 See also Job 25:3, Job 34:19; Proverbs 22:2; Romans 2:11; Ephesians 6:9
that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
God judges impartially
Colossians 3:25 See also Job 34:11–12; Psalm 62:12; Jeremiah 17:10; Romans 2:9–11; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Peter 1:17; Revelation 22:12
Whoever does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.
God does not distinguish between people on the basis of external appearance
1 Samuel 16:7 See also Psalm 147:10–11; Jeremiah 9:25; Luke 16:15; Galatians 2:6; Revelation 2:23
But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or height, for I have rejected him; the LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart.”
God does not discriminate against different races or classes
Acts 10:34–35; Galatians 3:28 See also Deuteronomy 10:18; Job 34:19; Acts 10:28, Acts 15:7–9
Then Peter began to speak: “I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism, but welcomes those from every nation who fear Him and do what is right.
There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
The impartiality of Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ's teaching was impartial
Luke 20:21 parallels Matthew 22:16, Mark 12:14 See also Matthew 20:1–16 a parable of Jesus Christ about divine impartiality
“Teacher,” they inquired, “we know that You speak and teach correctly. You show no partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.
Jesus Christ showed impartiality in his dealings with people
John 4:9 Jesus Christ contravened accepted boundaries of partiality in this encounter. See also Matthew 9:10–12 parallels Mark 2:15–17, Luke 5:29–31; Matthew 15:22–28 parallel Mark 7:26–29; Matthew 20:20–23 parallel Mark 10:35–40
“You are a Jew,” said the woman. “How can You ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)
Impartiality commended
James 2:1 See also Proverbs 28:21; 1 Corinthians 3:3–4, 1 Corinthians 4:6–7; 1 Timothy 5:21; James 2:9
My brothers, as you hold out your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, do not show favoritism.
Humanity should judge impartially
Proverbs 24:23–25 See also Exodus 18:16; Deuteronomy 1:17, Deuteronomy 16:19, Deuteronomy 24:17; Proverbs 17:15, Proverbs 18:5; Malachi 2:9
These also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judgment is not good. Whoever tells the guilty, “You are innocent”— peoples will curse him, and nations will denounce him; but it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and rich blessing will come upon them.
Showing impartiality to all people is commanded
Impartiality to foreigners
Exodus 22:21 See also Exodus 23:9; Leviticus 19:33–34; Numbers 15:15–16; Romans 10:12
You must not exploit or oppress a foreign resident, for you yourselves were foreigners in the land of Egypt.
Impartiality to children
Impartiality to the poor
Exodus 23:6 See also Exodus 23:3; Leviticus 19:15; Proverbs 29:7; James 2:2–7
You shall not deny justice to the poor in their lawsuits.
Ways to avoid partiality
By not accepting bribes
Exodus 23:8 See also Job 36:18; Proverbs 15:27; Isaiah 1:23
Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the righteous.
By not following the crowd
Christians should be partial towards spiritual principles
Matthew 6:24 parallel Luke 16:13 See also Matthew 12:30 parallel Luke 11:23; Matthew 7:13–14; Mark 9:39–40 parallel Luke 9:49–50
No one can serve two masters: Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
Examples where impartiality is absent
Genesis 25:27–28 Isaac and Rebekah to Jacob and Esau; Genesis 29:30–32 Jacob to Leah and Rachel; Genesis 37:3–4 Jacob to Joseph and his brothers; 1 Samuel 1:4–6 Elkanah to Hannah and Peninnah
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.