RIGHTEOUSNESS AS EQUITY (Revised)
(CHARACTER IN THE BALANCES)
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Outline
Overview
Translation
I. Facts about Balances
II. Bible Facts About Balances
III. Bible Facts in Weighing Character
IV. The Weight’s Standard
V. Equity and uprightness
VI. Iniquity and crookedness or imbalance
VII. The judgment—Righteousness in the balances
VIII.Christ’s Righteousness, our Hope in the Balances
Reflection
OVERVIEW
In the heavenly judgment, God weighs our character in the balances. His law is the weigh, the
standard in which our thought and action, the character will be gauged. Our only hope to pass
this judgment is to have the righteousness of Christ. With Him, we have the equity—the
righteousness that meets the balance. Without His righteousness, the iniquity will be found—will
be found wanting. The Bible translations often uses the word righteousness in place of the word
just or equity instead of using the word evenhandedness. To understand the original meaning is
to understand the balance use to weigh money or other things. Balance is also a symbol of
judgment. The balance is a weighing tool composing of two hangers in each side with the scales
at the middle. The weights are the important components, the standard in judging the weight.
TRANSLATION: RIGHTEOUSNESS—EQUITY—BALANCE—EQUALITY--IMPARTIAL
TsDQ or tsedek (Hebrew)—right, even, equity, just, (impartial)
tsed-aw-kaw' (Hebrew)—righteousness (impartiality or equity)
Δικαιος—dikaios (Greek)—equitable, holy, just, meet, right
dikaiosune (Greek)--equity, righteousness
HEBREW:
Deu 6:25 And it shall beH1961 our righteousness,H6666 ifH3588 we observeH8104 to doH6213 (H853) allH3605
theseH2063 commandmentsH4687 beforeH6440 the LORDH3068 our God,H430 asH834 he hath
commandedH6680 us.
Lev 19:15 Ye shall doH6213 noH3808 unrighteousnessH5766 in judgment:H4941 thou shalt notH3808
respectH5375 the personH6440 of the poor,H1800 norH3808 honourH1921 the personH6440 of the mighty:H1419
but in righteousnessH6664 shalt thou judgeH8199 thy neighbour.H5997
Lev 19:36 JustH6664 balances,H3976 justH6664 weights,H68 a justH6664 ephah,H374 and a justH6664
hin,H1969 shall ye have:H1961 IH589 am the LORDH3068 your God,H430 whichH834 brought you outH3318
(H853) of the landH4480 H776 of Egypt.H4714
Gen 38:26 And JudahH3063 acknowledgedH5234 them, and said,H559 She hath been more
righteousH6663 thanH4480 I; becauseH3588 thatH5921 H3651 I gaveH5414 her notH3808 to ShelahH7956 my
son.H1121 And he knewH3045 her againH3254 noH3808 more.H5750
Gen 6:9 TheseH428 are the generationsH8435 of Noah:H5146 NoahH5146 wasH1961 a justH6662 manH376
and perfectH8549 in his generations,H1755 and NoahH5146 walkedH1980 withH854 God.H430
H6662
‫צדיק‬
tsaddıı_yq
tsad-deek'
From H6663; just: - just, lawful, righteous (man).
H6663
‫צדק‬
tsadaq
tsaw-dak'
A primitive root; to be (causatively make) right (in a moral or forensic sense): - cleanse, clear
self, (be, do) just (-ice, -ify, -ify self), (be, turn to) righteous (-ness).
H6664
‫צדק‬
tsedeq
tseh'-dek
From H6663; the right (natural, moral or legal); also (abstractly) equity or (figuratively)
prosperity: - X even, (X that which is altogether) just (-ice), ([un-]) right (-eous) (cause, -ly,
-ness).
H6665
‫צדקה‬
tsidqah
tsid-kaw'
(Chaldee); corresponding to H6666; beneficence: - righteousness.
H6666
‫צדקה‬
tsedaqah
tsed-aw-kaw'
From H6663; rightness (abstractly), subjectively (rectitude), objectively (justice), morally
(virtue) or figuratively (prosperity): - justice, moderately, right (-eous) (act, -ly, -ness).
GREEK:
Mat 3:15 AndG1161 JesusG2424 answeringG611 saidG2036 untoG4314 him,G846 SufferG863 it to be so now:G737
forG1063 thusG3779 it(G2076) becomethG4241 usG2254 to fulfilG4137 allG3956 righteousness.G1343 ThenG5119 he
sufferedG863 him.G846
G1343
δικαιοσυνη
dikaiosune
dik-ah-yos-oo'-nay
From G1342; equity (of character or act); specifically (Christian) justification: - righteousness.
G1344
δικαιοω
dikaioo
dik-ah-yo'-o
From G1342; to render (that is, show or regard as) just or innocent: - free, justify (-ier), be
righteous
G1342
δικαιος
dikaios
dik'-ah-yos
From G1349; equitable (in character or act); by implication innocent, holy (absolutely or
relatively): - just, meet, right (-eous).
G1345
δικαιωμα
dikaioma
dik-ah'-yo-mah
From G1344; an equitable deed; by implication a statute or decision: - judgment, justification,
ordinance, righteousness.
I. FACTS ABOUT BALANCES
“The balance (also balance scale, beam balance and laboratory balance) was the first mass measuring
instrument invented. In its traditional form, it consists of a pivoted horizontal lever of equal length arms,
called the beam, with a weighing pan, also called scale, scalepan, or bason (obsolete [1]), suspended from
each arm (hence the plural term "scales" for the entire instrument). The unknown mass is placed in one
pan, and standard masses are added to the other pan until the beam is as close to equilibrium as possible.
In precision balances, a slider weight is moved along a graduated scale. The slider position gives a fine
correction to the weight value. Although a balance technically compares weights, not masses, the weight
of an object is proportional to its mass, and the standard weights used with balances are usually labeled in
mass units.” —Wikipedia
“A traditional mechanical balance consists of a symmetric lever called a balance beam, two pans
suspended from its ends, and a pivotal axis (fulcrum) at its center (see illustration). The object to be
weighed is placed on one pan, whereupon the balance is brought into equilibrium by placing the
required amount of weights on the opposite pan. Thus the weight of an object is defined as the amount
represented by the calibrated standard masses that will exactly counterbalance the object on a classic
equal-arm balance. Although this is not self-evident with modern balances and scales, the measurement
of weight continues to be based on this original understanding.” —Answers.com
pivot; C, center of gravity.">
Mechanical balance design. (a) Critical design aspects for an equal-arm balance. (b) Weighing small
weight differentials with an equal-arm balance. (c) Top-loading equal-arm balance. F, fulcrum; E, end
pivot; C, center of gravity.—Answers.com
II. BIBLE FACTS ABOUT BALANCES
Leviticus 19:35-37 Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in meteyard, in weight, or in measure.
Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have: I [am] the LORD your God, which
brought you out of the land of Egypt. Therefore shall ye observe all my statutes, and all my judgments,
and do them: I [am] the LORD.
Jeremiah 45:10 Ye shall have just balances, and a just ephah, and a just bath.
Proverbs 11:1 A false balance [is] abomination to the LORD: but a just weight [is] his delight.
JUST OR FAIR BALANCES
Lev 19:36 JustH6664 balances,H3976 justH6664 weights,H68 a justH6664 ephah,H374 and a justH6664
hin,H1969 shall ye have:H1961 IH589 am the LORDH3068 your God,H430 whichH834 brought you outH3318
(H853)
of the landH4480 H776 of Egypt.H4714
H3976
‫מאזן‬
mo'zen
BDB Definition:
1) scales, balances
Part of Speech: noun masculine
A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: from H239
Same Word by TWOT Number: 58a
H3976
‫מאזן‬
mo'zen
mo-zane'
From H239; (only in the dual) a pair of scales: - balances.
--PUBLISHED BY E-SWORD
Honest Weights and Measures.--An honest man, according to Christ's measurement, is one who will
manifest unbending integrity. Deceitful weights and false balances, with which many seek to advance
their interests in the world, are abomination in the sight of God. . . . Firm integrity shines forth as gold
amid the dross and rubbish of the world. Deceit, falsehood, and unfaithfulness may be glossed over and
hidden from the eyes of man, but not from the eyes of God. The angels of God, who watch the
development of character and weigh moral worth, record in the books of heaven these minor transactions
which reveal character. {CG 152.4}
Honest With Time and Money.--Men are wanted whose sense of justice, even in the smallest matters, will
not allow them to make an entry of their time that is not minute and correct--men who will realize that
they are handling means that belong to God, and who would not unjustly appropriate one cent to their
own use; men who will be just as faithful and exact, careful and diligent, in their labor, in the absence of
their employer as in his presence, proving by their faithfulness that they are not merely men-pleasers,
eyeservants, but are conscientious, faithful, true workmen, doing right, not for human praise, but because
they love and choose the right from a high sense of their obligation to God. {CG 153.1}
III. BIBLE FACTS IN WEIGHING CHARACTER
1Samuel 2:3 Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let [not] arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the
LORD [is] a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.
Job 31:5,6 If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit; Let me be weighed in an even
balance that God may know mine integrity.
Daniel 5:24-28 Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written. And this [is]
the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. This [is] the interpretation of the
thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the
balances, and art found wanting. PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.
Note: King Belshazzar lifted Himself against God and hardened his heart. He ventured to desecrate the
holy things from the temple of God during their revelry and drunkenness. They glorified the idols and did
not give glory to God. Then the judgment came, the writing on the wall by the hand of the unseen one
signals the probation for Babylon was closed. God numbered the kingdom of Babylon and finished it. Its
time is over. The king in representing Babylon was judged according to the balances and was found
wanting—the iniquity was found in him. The judgment was; the kingdom fell into the hands of the Medes
and the Persians.
Little did Belshazzar think that an unseen Watcher beheld his idolatrous revelry. But there is nothing said
or done that is not recorded on the books of heaven. The mystic characters traced by the bloodless hand
testify that God is a witness to all we do, and that He is dishonored by feasting and reveling. We cannot
hide anything from God. We cannot escape from our accountability to Him. Wherever we are and
whatever we do, we are responsible to Him whose we are by creation and by redemption.--Manuscript
50,1893. {Te 49.2}
Those who are unfaithful to the work of God are lacking in principle; their motives are not of a
character to lead them to choose the right under all circumstances. The servants of God are to feel at all
times that they are under the eye of their employer. He who watched the sacrilegious feast of Belshazzar
is present in all our institutions, in the counting-room of the merchant, in the private workshop; and the
bloodless hand is as surely recording your neglect as it recorded the awful judgment of the blasphemous
king. Belshazzar's condemnation was written in words of fire, "Thou art weighed in the balances, and art
found wanting"; and if you fail to fulfill your God-given obligations your condemnation will be the same.
{MYP 229.1}
IV. THE WEIGHT’S STANDARD
The Lord requires weights and balances which meet the standard
Leviticus 19:35-37 Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in meteyard, in weight, or in measure.
Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have: I [am] the LORD your God, which
brought you out of the land of Egypt. Therefore shall ye observe all my statutes, and all my judgments,
and do them: I [am] the LORD.
God’s commandments, His words—the standard of weighing every thought and action
Ecclesiastes 12:13, 14 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his
commandments: for this [is] the whole [duty] of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with
every secret thing, whether [it be] good, or whether [it be] evil.
The word of God will judge every one of us at the last great day. Young men talk about science and are
wise above that which is written; they seek to explain the ways and work of God to meet their finite
comprehension; but it is all a miserable failure. True science and Inspiration are in perfect harmony. False
science is a something independent of God. It is pretentious ignorance. This deceptive power has
captivated and enslaved the minds of many, and they have chosen darkness rather than light. They have
taken their position on the side of unbelief, as though it were a virtue and the sign of a great mind to
doubt, when it is the sign of a mind too weak and narrow to perceive God in His created works. They
could not fathom the mystery of His providence should they study with all their power for a lifetime. And
because the works of God cannot be explained by finite minds, Satan brings his sophistry to bear upon
them and entangles them in the meshes of unbelief. If these doubting ones will come into close
connection with God, He will make His purposes clear to their understanding. {4T 584.2}
You who have erred and have made crooked paths for your feet, so that others who look to you for an
example have been turned out of the way, have you no confession to make? You who have sowed doubts
and unbelief in the hearts of others, have you nothing to say to God or to your brethren? Review your
course for years in the past, you who have not formed a habit of confessing your sins. Consider your
words, your attitude, you whose influence has counteracted the message of the Spirit of God, you that
have despised both the message and the messenger. After seeing the fruit borne by the message, what
have you to say? Weigh your spirit, your actions, in the balance of eternal justice, the law of God: "Thou
shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, . . . and thy neighbor as thyself." Unless your sins are
canceled, they will testify against you at that day when every work shall pass in review before God. {RH,
December 16, 1890 par. 23}
V. EQUITY AND UPRIGHTNESS
Equity—righteousness, obedience, impartiality, balance, evenness (antonym of iniquity)
Psalms 98:9 Before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the
world, and the people with equity.
Psalms 99:4 The king's strength also loveth judgment; thou dost establish equity, thou executest judgment
and righteousness in Jacob.
Proverbs 1:2-4 To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; To receive the
instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; To give subtlety to the simple, to the young man
knowledge and discretion.
Proverbs 2:9 Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; [yea], every good path.
Proverbs 17:26 Also to punish the just [is] not good, [nor] to strike princes for equity.
Ecclesiastes 2:21 For there is a man whose labour [is] in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to
a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it [for] his portion. This also [is] vanity and a great
evil.
Isaiah 11:4,5 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the
earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay
the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.
Micah 2:5, 6 My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him [for] the fear
wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name. The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity
was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity.
UPRIGHT OR PERFECT
H8549
‫תמים‬
tamıı ym
taw-meem'
From H8552; entire (literally, figuratively or morally); also (as noun) integrity, truth: without blemish, complete, full, perfect, sincerely (-ity), sound, without spot, undefiled, upright
(-ly), whole.
H8552
‫תמם‬
tamam
taw-mam'
A primitive root; to complete, in a good or a bad sense, literally or figuratively, transitively or
intransitively: - accomplish, cease, be clean [pass-] ed, consume, have done, (come to an, make
an) end, fail, come to the full, be all gone, X be all here, be (make) perfect, be spent, sum, be
(shew self) upright, be wasted, whole.
2Sa 22:24 I wasH1961 also uprightH8549 before him, and have kept myselfH8104 from mine
iniquity.H4480 H5771
2Sa 22:26 WithH5973 the mercifulH2623 thou wilt shew thyself merciful,H2616 and withH5973 the
uprightH8549 manH1368 thou wilt shew thyself upright.H8552
Psa 19:13 Keep backH2820 thy servantH5650 alsoH1571 from presumptuousH4480 H2086 sins; let them
notH408 have dominionH4910 over me: thenH227 shall I be upright,H8552 and I shall be innocentH5352
from the greatH7227 transgression.H4480 H6588
RIGHTEOUS AS UPRIGHT OR STRAIGHT (SYNONYMOUS)
H3477
‫ישר‬
yashar
yaw-shawr'
From H3474; straight (literally or figuratively): - convenient, equity, Jasher, just, meet (-est), +
pleased well right (-eous), straight, (most) upright (-ly, -ness).
Isa 26:7 The wayH734 of the justH6662 is uprightness:H4339 thou, most upright,H3477 dost weighH6424
the pathH4570 of the just.H6662
Job 1:1 There wasH1961 a manH376 in the landH776 of Uz,H5780 whose nameH8034 was Job;H347 and
thatH1931 manH376 wasH1961 perfectH8535 and upright,H3477 and one that fearedH3373 God,H430 and
eschewedH5493 evil.H4480 H745
Job 8:6 IfH518 thouH859 wert pureH2134 and upright;H3477 surelyH3588 nowH6258 he would awakeH5782
for
thee, and make the habitationH5116 of thy righteousnessH6664 prosperous.H7999
H5921
Psa 11:7 ForH3588 the righteousH6662 LORDH3068 lovethH157 righteousness;H6666 his
countenanceH6440 doth beholdH2372 the upright.H3477
He who would build up a strong, symmetrical character, he who would be a well-balanced Christian, must
give all and do all for Christ; for the Redeemer will not accept divided service. Daily he must learn the
meaning of self-surrender. He must study the word of God, learning its meaning and obeying its precepts.
Thus he may reach the standard of Christian excellence. Day by day God works with him, perfecting the
character that is to stand in the time of final test. And day by day the believer is working out before men
and angels a sublime experiment, showing what the gospel can do for fallen human beings. {AA 483.1}
Vigilance and Diligence to Be Blended.--When we give ourselves unreservedly to the Lord, the
simple, commonplace duties of home life will be seen in their true importance, and we shall perform them
in accordance with the will of God. We are to be vigilant, watching for the coming of the Son of man; and
we must also be diligent; working as well as waiting is required; there must be a union of the two. This
will balance the Christian character, making it well developed, symmetrical. We should not feel that we
are to neglect everything else, and give ourselves up to meditation, study, or prayer; neither are we to be
full of bustle and hurry and work, to the neglect of personal piety. Waiting and watching and working are
to be blended. "Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord." {AH 23.1}
VI. INIQUITY AND CROOKEDNESS OR IMBALANCE
Definition: Iniquity—partiality, sin, transgression, unrighteousness, perverseness, wickedness,
unbalance, unjust, uneven (antonym of equity).
Isaiah 59:13-15 In transgressing and lying against the LORD, and departing away from our
God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.
And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the
street, and equity cannot enter. Yea, truth faileth; and he [that] departeth from evil maketh
himself a prey: and the LORD saw [it], and it displeased him that [there was] no judgment.
Micah 3:9,10 Hear this, I pray you, ye heads of the house of Jacob, and princes of the house of
Israel, that abhor judgment, and pervert all equity. They build up Zion with blood, and
Jerusalem with iniquity.
H5766
‫עלה עולה עולה עול עול‬
‛evel ‛avel ‛avlah ‛olah ‛olah
eh'-vel, aw'-vel, av-law', o-law', o-law'
From H5765; (moral) evil: - iniquity, perverseness, unjust (-ly), unrighteousness (-ly), wicked (ness).
H5771
‫עוון עון‬
‛avon ‛avon
aw-vone', aw-vone'
From H5753; perversity, that is, (moral) evil: - fault, iniquity, mischief, punishment (of
iniquity), sin.
H5773
‫עועה‬
‛av‛eh
av-eh'
From H5753; perversity: - X perverse.
Exo 34:9 And he said,H559 IfH518 nowH4994 I have foundH4672 graceH2580 in thy sight,H5869 O Lord,H136
let my Lord,H136 I pray thee,H4994 goH1980 amongH7130 us; forH3588 itH1931 is a stiffneckedH7186 H6203
people;H5971 and pardonH5545 our iniquityH5771 and our sin,H2403 and take us for thine
inheritance.H5157
Num 15:31 BecauseH3588 he hath despisedH959 the wordH1697 of the LORD,H3068 and hath
brokenH6565 his commandment,H4687 thatH1931 soulH5315 shall utterly be cut off;H3772 H3772 his
iniquityH5771 shall be upon him.
Deu 19:15 OneH259 witnessH5707 shall notH3808 rise upH6965 against a manH376 for anyH3605
iniquity,H5771 or for anyH3605 sin,H2403 in anyH3605 sinH2399 thatH834 he sinneth:H2398 atH5921 the
mouthH6310 of twoH8147 witnesses,H5707 orH176 atH5921 the mouthH6310 of threeH7969 witnesses,H5707 shall
the matterH1697 be established.H6965
Deu 32:4 He is the Rock,H6697 his workH6467 is perfect:H8549 forH3588 allH3605 his waysH1870 are
judgment:H4941 a GodH410 of truthH530 and withoutH369 iniquity,H5766 justH6662 and rightH3477 is he.H1931
1Sa 15:23 ForH3588 rebellionH4805 is as the sinH2403 of witchcraft,H7081 and stubbornnessH6484 is as
iniquityH205 and idolatry.H8655 BecauseH3282 thou hast rejectedH3988 (H853) the wordH1697 of the
LORD,H3068 he hath also rejectedH3988 thee from being king.H4480 H4428
2Sa 19:19 And saidH559 untoH413 the king,H4428 Let notH408 my lordH113 imputeH2803 iniquityH5771
unto me, neitherH408 do thou rememberH2142 (H853) that whichH834 thy servantH5650 did perverselyH5753
the dayH3117 thatH834 my lordH113 the kingH4428 went outH3318 of Jerusalem,H4480 H3389 that the kingH4428
should takeH7760 it toH413 his heart.H3820
Job 10:6 ThatH3588 thou enquirestH1245 after mine iniquity,H5771 and searchestH1875 after my sin?
H2403
Psa 32:1 A Psalm of David,H1732 Maschil.H4905 BlessedH835 is he whose transgressionH6588 is
forgiven,H5375 whose sinH2401 is covered.H3680
Psa 32:2 BlessedH835 is the manH120 unto whom the LORDH3068 imputethH2803 notH3808
iniquity,H5771 and in whose spiritH7307 there is noH369 guile.H7423
Psa 51:5 Behold,H2005 I was shapenH2342 in iniquity;H5771 and in sinH2399 did my motherH517
conceiveH3179 me.
Psa 51:6 Behold,H2005 thou desirestH2654 truthH571 in the inward parts:H2910 and in the hiddenH5640
part thou shalt make me to knowH3045 wisdom.H2451
Psa 51:7 PurgeH2398 me with hyssop,H231 and I shall be clean:H2891 washH3526 me, and I shall be
whiterH3835 than snow.H4480 H7950
Psa 51:8 Make me to hearH8085 joyH8342 and gladness;H8057 that the bonesH6106 which thou hast
brokenH1794 may rejoice.H1523
Isa 13:11 And I will punishH6485 the worldH8398 forH5921 their evil,H7451 and the wickedH7563 forH5921
their iniquity;H5771 and I will cause the arrogancyH1347 of the proudH2086 to cease,H7673 and will lay
lowH8213 the haughtinessH1346 of the terrible.H6184
Eze 33:13 When I shall sayH559 to the righteous,H6662 that he shall surely live;H2421 H2421 if heH1931
trustH982 toH5921 his own righteousness,H6666 and commitH6213 iniquity,H5766 allH3605 his
righteousnessesH6666 shall notH3808 be remembered;H2142 but for his iniquityH5766 thatH834 he hath
committed,H6213 he shall dieH4191 for it.
Dan 9:24 SeventyH7657 weeksH7620 are determinedH2852 uponH5921 thy peopleH5971 and uponH5921 thy
holyH6944 city,H5892 to finishH3607 the transgression,H6588 and to make an endH2856 of sins,H2403 and to
make reconciliationH3722 for iniquity,H5771 and to bring inH935 everlastingH5769 righteousness,H6664
and to seal upH2856 the visionH2377 and prophecy,H5030 and to anointH4886 the most Holy.H6944 H6944
Zec 3:4 And he answeredH6030 and spakeH559 untoH413 those that stoodH5975 beforeH6440 him,
saying,H559 Take awayH5493 the filthyH6674 garmentsH899 fromH4480 H5921 him. And untoH413 him he
said,H559 Behold,H7200 I have caused thine iniquityH5771 to passH5674 fromH4480 H5921 thee, and I will
clotheH3847 thee with change of raiment.H4254
Mal 2:6 The lawH8451 of truthH571 wasH1961 in his mouth,H6310 and iniquityH5766 was notH3808
foundH4672 in his lips:H8193 he walkedH1980 withH854 me in peaceH7965 and equity,H4334 and did turn
many awayH7725 H7227 from iniquity.H4480 H5771
Mat 7:22 ManyG4183 will sayG2046 to meG3427 inG1722 thatG1565 day,G2250 Lord,G2962 Lord,G2962 have we
notG3756 prophesiedG4395 in thyG4674 name?G3686 andG2532 in thyG4674 nameG3686 have cast outG1544
devils?G1140 andG2532 in thyG4674 nameG3686 doneG4160 manyG4183 wonderful works?G1411
Mat 7:23 AndG2532 thenG5119 will I professG3670 unto them,G846 I neverG3763 knewG1097 you:G5209
departG672 fromG575 me,G1700 ye that workG2038 iniquity.G458
Mat 23:28 Even soG3779 yeG5210 alsoG2532 outwardlyG1855 (G3303) appearG5316 righteousG1342 unto
men,G444 butG1161 withinG2081 ye areG2075 fullG3324 of hypocrisyG5272 andG2532 iniquity.G458
Lev 19:15 Ye shall doH6213 noH3808 unrighteousnessH5766 in judgment:H4941 thou shalt notH3808
respectH5375 the personH6440 of the poor,H1800 norH3808 honourH1921 the personH6440 of the mighty:H1419
but in righteousnessH6664 shalt thou judgeH8199 thy neighbour.H5997
Psalm 58:2 Yea, in heart ye work wickedness; ye weigh the violence of your hands in the earth.
Isaiah 46:6 They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, [and] hire a goldsmith; and
he maketh it a god: they fall down, yea, they worship.
Hab 2:4 Behold,H2009 his soulH5315 which is lifted upH6075 is not uprightH3474 H3808 in him: but the
justH6662 shall liveH2421 by his faith.H530
Exodus 34:6, 7 And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God,
merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for
thousands,forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear [the guilty];
visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to
the fourth [generation].
INIQUITY AS WANTING AND CROOKED
Dan 5:27 TEKEL;H8625 Thou art weighedH8625 in the balances,H3977 and art foundH7912
wanting.H2627
Ecc 1:15 That which is crookedH5791 cannotH3201 H3808 be made straight:H8626 and that which is
wantingH2642 cannotH3201 H3808 be numbered.H4487
H2627
‫חסיר‬
chassıı yr
khas-seer'
(Chaldee); from a root corresponding to H2637; deficient: - wanting.
No man who is dishonest with God or with his fellow men can truly prosper. The most high God, the
possessor of heaven and earth, says, "Thou shalt not have in thy bag divers weights, a great and a small.
Thou shalt not have in thine house divers measures, a great and a small. But thou shalt have a perfect and
just weight, a perfect and just measure shalt thou have: that thy days may be lengthened in the land which
the Lord thy God giveth thee. For all that do such things, and all that do unrighteously, are an abomination
unto the Lord thy God." Through the prophet Micah, the Lord again expresses His abhorrence of
dishonesty: "Are there yet the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure
that is abominable? Shall I count them pure with the wicked balances? . . . Therefore also will I make thee
sick in smiting thee, in making thee desolate because of thy sins."--R. & H., Dec. 17, 1889. {CS 77.3}
"And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and
against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages,
the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the
Lord of hosts." There are those who have obtained means by dishonest practices or by oppression of the
poor, and then to ease their conscience they bring an offering to God. In so doing they dishonor the Lord.
He cannot accept their gifts. The prophet Micah declares: "Wherewith shall I come before the Lord, and
bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?
will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my
firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He hath showed thee, O man,
what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk
humbly with thy God?" "Are there yet the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the
scant measure that is abominable? Shall I count them pure with the wicked balances, and with the bag of
deceitful weights?" Money acquired by doing wrong to your neighbor, whether believer or unbeliever, is
registered in the books of heaven as unlawful gain. And those who think to make a compromise with God
by bringing this means to his treasury are deceiving their own souls. {RH, May 9, 1893 par. 10}
"Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are
corrupted, and your garments are moth eaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall
be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the
last days. Behold, the hire of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by
fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. Ye
have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton: ye have nourished your hearts, as in the day of
slaughter." {RH, May 9, 1893 par. 11}
The prophet Malachi continues: "Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine
ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts.
But ye said, Wherein shall we return? Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein
have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this
whole nation. Bring ye all [the full amount required by God. Let there be no withholding part of the price
because the selfish heart desires to do this, and will even take from the Lord that which he claims as his
own.] the tithes into the store-house, that there may be meat in mine house." {RH, May 9, 1893 par. 12}
God has made men his stewards, and from all to whom he has intrusted his gifts he asks for a return. As
he has blessed us, he asks of us a gift to bless others. The revenue thus brought into his treasury, to supply
the needs of his cause, he calls "meat in mine house." {RH, May 9, 1893 par. 13}
VII. THE JUDGMENT—RIGHTEOUSNESS IN THE BALANCES
Isaiah 26:7-9 The way of the just [is] uprightness: thou, most upright, dost weigh the path of the just. Yea,
in the way of thy judgments, O LORD, have we waited for thee; the desire of [our] soul [is] to thy name,
and to the remembrance of thee. With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within
me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments [are] in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn
righteousness.
Those who are unfaithful to the work of God are lacking in principle; their motives are not of a
character to lead them to choose the right under all circumstances. The servants of God are to feel at all
times that they are under the eye of their employer. He who watched the sacrilegious feast of Belshazzar
is present in all our institutions, in the counting-room of the merchant, in the private workshop; and the
bloodless hand is as surely recording your neglect as it recorded the awful judgment of the blasphemous
king. Belshazzar's condemnation was written in words of fire, "Thou art weighed in the balances, and art
found wanting"; and if you fail to fulfill your God-given obligations your condemnation will be the same.
{MYP 229.1}
The words spoken to these were most solemn: "You are weighed in the balances, and found wanting. You
have neglected spiritual responsibilities because of busy activity in temporal matters, while your very
position of trust made necessary that you should have more than human wisdom and greater than finite
judgment. This you needed in order to perform even the mechanical part of your labor; and when you
disconnected God and His glory from your business, you turned from His blessing." {4T 386.3}
While there are not a few who conscientiously give of their annual increase of substance and business
prosperity to God in tithes and offerings to pass into the Lord's treasury for the support of the gospel and
for missionary work in different parts of the land, it is a lamentable fact that so large a number
deliberately rob God by withholding the portion which God claims. We must all be tested in God's
balances whereby He weighs character. Then decide to be honest, whatever may be your circumstances,
and let no temptation of Satan force you to be dishonest with your fellow men or to be dishonest with
God. {13MR 235.2}
VIII.CHRIST’S RIGHTEOUSNESS, OUR HOPE IN THE BALANCES
Galatians 5:5, 6 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Jesus Christ
neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
Philippians 3:8, 9 Yea doubtless, and I count all things [but] loss for the excellency of the knowledge of
Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them [but] dung, that I
may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that
which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: God takes none to heaven
but those who are first made saints in this world through the grace of Christ, those in whom He can see
Christ exemplified. When the love of Christ is an abiding principle in the soul, we shall realize that we are
hid with Christ in God. . . . {ML 273.2}
These only who, by prayer and watchfulness and love, work the works of Christ, can God rejoice over
with singing. The more fully the Lord sees the character of His beloved Son revealed in His people, the
greater is His satisfaction and delight in them. God Himself and the heavenly angels rejoice over them
with singing. The believing sinner is pronounced innocent, while the guilt is placed on Christ. The
righteousness of Christ is placed on the debtor's account, and against his name on the balance sheet is
written: Pardoned. Eternal Life. . . . {ML 273.3}
"None are too high to fall. Sin originated with Satan, who was next to Christ. Lucifer became the
destroyer of those whom heaven had committed to his guardianship. Satan has a church in our world
today. In his church are all the disaffected ones and the disloyal. All who harbor pride, ambition,
vainglory, or selfishness, will be found wanting when weighed in the balance of the Lord. We cannot of
ourselves perfect a true moral character, but we can accept the righteousness of Christ. 'He that saith he
abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked.'" {AUCR, October 1, 1906 par. 2}
REFLECTION
By their words, their works, and their spirit those who pursue such a course are making a record in the
books of heaven which they will not care to meet; for God does not value them as they value themselves.
They are abusing their probationary opportunities and are grievously neglecting the high privileges
conferred upon them. Though finding nothing in the word of God to vindicate their actions or
countenance their opinions, yet they persist in their own way. In that day when judgment is passed upon
all, the sentence will be pronounced against them, "Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found
wanting." {TM 286.1}
In this world we have temporal duties to perform, and in the performance of these duties we are
forming characters that will either stand the test of the judgment or be weighed in the balances and found
wanting. We may do the smallest duties nobly, firmly, faithfully, as if seeing the whole heavenly host
looking upon us. Take a lesson from the gardener. If he wishes a plant to grow he cultivates and trims it;
he gives water, he digs about its roots, plants it where the sunshine will fall upon it, and day by day he
works about it; and not by violent efforts, but by acts constantly repeated, he trains the shrub until its form
is perfect and its bloom is full. {TMK 157.2}
Prophecy about Christ: Weighed for thirty pieces of silver
Zechariah 11:12 And I said unto them, If ye think good, give [me] my price; and if not, forbear. So they
weighed for my price thirty [pieces] of silver.
Matthew 26:14-16 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, And said
[unto them], What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for
thirty pieces of silver. And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.