Injustice, nature and source of

Characterised by deception, dishonesty and heartlessness, injustice is the oppression of the needy and the weak. Its origin is Satan and it works through the sinful hearts of men and women. Psalm 64:6

They devise injustice and say, “We have perfected a secret plan.” For the inner man and the heart are mysterious.

The nature of injustice

Injustice seen in false accusation

See also Genesis 39:19–20; 1 Kings 21:8–10

Injustice seen in dishonesty

1 Samuel 8:3; Isaiah 59:14; Matthew 26:59–61; Acts 24:26–27

Injustice seen in pain inficted on the innocent

Matthew 2:16–18, Matthew 27:26; Acts 4:3, Acts 23:3

Injustice seen in oppression of the poor, the needy and the helpless

Exodus 1:11–14; 1 Samuel 8:11; 2 Chronicles 10:14; Job 31:13–14; Psalm 10:2, Psalm 10:8–11, Psalm 105:17–18; Proverbs 22:16; Isaiah 5:8; Jeremiah 22:13; Amos 5:11; Mark 12:38–40; James 5:4–6

The sources of injustice

The devil

1 John 3:10 The word “devil” means “slanderer”. See also John 8:44; Revelation 2:10; 2 Thessalonians 2:9–11 The word “Satan” means “adversary”--the same person as the devil; James 3:14–15; Revelation 2:13

By this the children of God are distinguished from the children of the devil: Anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is anyone who does not love his brother.

The world

1 John 2:16 “the world” here means society without God and hostile to him. See also Exodus 23:2; Psalm 69:4; Proverbs 31:4–5; Ezekiel 22:12; Matthew 5:11–12; John 15:18–19

For all that is in the world — the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life — is not from the Father but from the world.

Sinful hearts

Matthew 15:19 See also Psalm 140:2; Jeremiah 6:13–15; Micah 2:2; Galatians 5:19–21

For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander.