The Bible in a Year
“Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked.” Exodus 23:7
As we move steadily through the Scriptures in this year-long journey, passages like Exodus 23:7 remind us that not every Old Testament command functions in the same way for believers today. Some laws given to Israel were ceremonial, pointing forward to Christ and finding their fulfillment in Him. Once the substance has come, the shadow is no longer required. Yet Scripture itself makes clear that other laws speak not to ritual but to moral reality. They reveal God’s unchanging concern for truth, justice, and righteousness in human conduct. Exodus 23:7 belongs firmly in that category. It addresses how God’s people are to live before Him and before one another, and its relevance has not diminished with time.
The verse unfolds with remarkable clarity, touching on three enduring concerns that shape faithful living: distance from falsehood, protection of the innocent, and God’s unwavering refusal to excuse wickedness. Each of these themes presses against the grain of fallen human instinct, which is precisely why they remain necessary. God begins with distance: “Keep thee far from a false matter.” Notice the language. We are not told merely to avoid lies when convenient, but to keep far from them. Truthfulness is not a situational ethic; it is a posture of life. Scripture consistently presents truth as essential to covenant faithfulness. Jesus Himself declared, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). To follow Him, then, is to order our lives around truth—in speech, in business, in relationships, and in private integrity. As John Calvin observed, “Falsehood is not only to be avoided, but to be detested, because it dissolves all mutual confidence.” A life shaped by Scripture cannot treat honesty as optional.
The second concern is even weightier: “The innocent and righteous slay thou not.” God’s law consistently places special protection around the vulnerable—those without power, voice, or defense. Throughout the Old Testament, the shedding of innocent blood cries out for judgment, not because God is harsh, but because He is just. Human societies often rationalize harm when it is inconvenient to protect life, but Scripture refuses to allow such calculations. This command calls God’s people to resist any system or personal choice that devalues innocent life. It also invites sober reflection on how easily societies drift into moral blindness when convenience overrides conscience. The biblical witness insists that righteousness includes active restraint from harm, not merely the absence of overt violence.
The final word of the verse brings everything into sharp focus: “I will not justify the wicked.” This statement stands in direct contrast to humanity’s endless capacity for self-justification. From the garden onward, people have excelled at explaining away wrongdoing. We rename sin, excuse motives, and compare ourselves favorably to others. Yet God is clear. Moral relativism may prevail in human courts and public opinion, but it collapses before divine judgment. The Hebrew word behind “justify” carries legal weight. God is saying He will not declare the guilty innocent. As Charles Spurgeon once wrote, “God’s mercy is never at the expense of His justice.” This truth sobers us, but it also steadies us. A world that often rewards corruption is not the final court of appeal.
Read devotionally, Exodus 23:7 calls us not into despair, but into alignment. It reminds us that faithfulness is lived out in everyday decisions—choosing truth when deceit would be easier, protecting life when silence would be safer, and trusting God’s judgment rather than inventing our own moral standards. It also drives us back to grace. The same God who will not justify the wicked has provided justification through Christ for those who repent and believe. That tension—justice upheld, mercy extended—is at the heart of the Gospel and gives this ancient law its enduring power.
For further reflection on the moral continuity of God’s law, see this article from Ligonier Ministries:
https://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/threefold-use-law
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