Rights

The basis of a claim to respect, and just and fair treatment. God has rights over his creation as a result of his sovereignty and authority. Through being the height of his creation, human beings also have rights, which are to be respected.

The rights that God gives

God gives rights to the poor and needy

Exodus 22:22 See also Exodus 22:25–27; Leviticus 19:9–10; Job 36:6

You must not mistreat any widow or orphan.

God gives rights to slaves

Leviticus 22:11 See also Exodus 21:2–6 parallel Deuteronomy 15:12–18; Exodus 21:7–11, Exodus 21:26–27

But if a priest buys a slave with his own money, or if a slave is born in his household, that slave may eat his food.

God gives rights to strangers

Leviticus 19:33–34 See also Exodus 22:21; Leviticus 19:10

When a foreigner resides with you in your land, you must not oppress him. You must treat the foreigner living among you as native-born and love him as yourself, for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.

God gives rights to those who commit manslaughter

Numbers 35:9–12 See also Deuteronomy 4:41–42; Joshua 20:1–6

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites and tell them: When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, designate cities to serve as your cities of refuge, so that a person who kills someone unintentionally may flee there. You are to have these cities as a refuge from the avenger, so that the manslayer will not die until he stands trial before the assembly.

God gives rights in marriage

1 Corinthians 7:3–5 See also Exodus 21:7–11; Deuteronomy 22:13–21; Ephesians 5:22–33

The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife. Do not deprive each other, except by mutual consent and for a time, so you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again, so that Satan will not tempt you through your lack of self-control.

God gives rights to parents

Colossians 3:20 parallel Ephesians 6:1 See also Exodus 20:12 parallel Deuteronomy 5:16; 1 Timothy 5:4

Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord.

God gives rights to children

Hebrews 12:16 See also Genesis 25:29–34; Deuteronomy 21:15–17; 1 Chronicles 5:1–2; Ephesians 6:4

See to it that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his birthright.

God gives rights to Christians

John 1:12 See also Galatians 3:26–4:7; Revelation 2:7, Revelation 3:21, Revelation 22:14

But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God —

God gives rights to leaders

1 Corinthians 9:18 See also 1 Corinthians 9:1–17; 1 Timothy 5:17–18

What then is my reward? That in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not use up my rights in preaching it.

Why God gives rights

God gives rights to keep an orderly society

Leviticus 19:29 See also Deuteronomy 15:1–6

You must not defile your daughter by making her a prostitute, or the land will be prostituted and filled with depravity.

God gives rights to protect people

Deuteronomy 19:15 See also Leviticus 25:23–43, Leviticus 25:47–55

A lone witness is not sufficient to establish any wrongdoing or sin against a man, regardless of what offense he may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.

The defence of rights

God, the defender of rights

Micah 7:8–10 The implied speaker here is Israel. See also Deuteronomy 10:18; Psalm 68:5; Proverbs 23:10–11

Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will arise; though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light. Because I have sinned against Him, I must endure the rage of the LORD, until He argues my case and executes justice for me. He will bring me into the light; I will see His righteousness. Then my enemy will see and will be covered with shame — she who said to me, “Where is the LORD your God?” My eyes will see her; at that time she will be trampled like mud in the streets.

Abuse of rights punished by God

Isaiah 10:1–4 See also Jeremiah 5:26–29; Amos 2:6–8

Woe to those who enact unjust statutes and issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of fair treatment and withhold justice from the oppressed of My people, to make widows their prey and orphans their plunder. What will you do on the day of reckoning when devastation comes from afar? To whom will you flee for help? Where will you leave your wealth? Nothing will remain but to crouch among the captives or fall among the slain. Despite all this, His anger is not turned away; His hand is still upraised.

Leaders are to protect the rights of others

Psalm 72:1–4 See also Proverbs 31:4–9; Ecclesiastes 5:8

Of Solomon. Endow the king with Your justice, O God, and the son of the king with Your righteousness. May he judge Your people with righteousness and Your afflicted with justice. May the mountains bring peace to the people, and the hills bring righteousness. May he vindicate the afflicted among the people; may he save the children of the needy and crush the oppressor.

The rights which God has

God has a right to be worshipped

2 Kings 17:36 See also Matthew 4:10 parallel Luke 4:8; Deuteronomy 6:13; John 4:24

Instead, worship the LORD, who brought you out of the land of Egypt with great power and an outstretched arm. You are to bow down to Him and offer sacrifices to Him.

God has a right to be obeyed

Deuteronomy 10:12–13 See also Deuteronomy 26:16–18, Deuteronomy 30:16

And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God by walking in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD that I am giving you this day for your own good?