The Sin Of Partiality Has Many Faces
I. Introduction: Partiality means: “unfair bias in favor of one thing or person compared with another; favoritism” (New Oxford American Dictionary). In the KJV, the phrase that often appears is “respect of persons.”
A. The Scriptures are our standard for all things (Luke 4:4, II Timothy 3:15-17, and II Peter 1:3-4).
1. Our judgment must be righteous judgment rather than judgment based upon appearances (John 7:24).
2. Therefore, who the person is cannot determine how we apply what God has said (Leviticus 19:15).
B. Many will agree that the Scriptures are the standard, but partiality changes how they apply the Scriptures.
1. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment (Proverbs 24:23).
2. When respect of persons occurs, judgment is flawed even when the Scriptures are used (Malachi 2:9).
II. Body: Doing Nothing By Partiality (I Timothy 5:20-21).
A. Partiality has many faces (the following is not a complete list):
1. It shows up in classes of people, even in churches (James 2:1-13).
2. Respect of persons can affect whether we confront someone's sin or not (I Samuel 2:22-29).
3. Respect of persons can affect whose teaching we accept and whose we reject (John 7:45-52).
a. Familiarity can cause one to be rejected as a teacher (Matthew 13:53-58).
b. On the other hand, commonality with someone can cause us to favor that person over others (Matthew 5:46-47; cf. Galatians 2:11-14).
4. Partiality can be motivated by what we stand to gain from another person (Jude 1:16; cf. Proverbs 28:21).
5. Partiality can cause a person to justify the wicked or condemn the just. Both are wrong (Proverbs 17:15).
6. A self-examination question: Do I use the Scriptures and the facts to make a just judgment, or do I have prejudices that cause me to lean one way or the other before I even consider the facts (Proverbs 18:13)?
B. Don’t mistake partiality for something it is not. There are times wherein it is Scripturally right to prefer someone over another.
1. There is Scriptural preference that is to be shown among your own family in certain circumstances (Ephesians 5:22-25, Ephesians 6:1-4, I Timothy 5:3-4, I Timothy 5:8, and I Timothy 5:16).
2. When we consider our doing good, brethren are to receive preferential treatment over the world (Galatians 6:10).
3. Preferring another person is not inherently sinful; brethren are commanded to prefer one another in honor (Romans 12:10).
a. Differences in spiritual strength can rightly result in different treatment (Romans 15:1-3).
b. Differences among members of the body can rightly result in greater honor being given where it is needed (I Corinthians 12:22-25).
4. Righteous judgment requires recognizing legitimate differences among people. All people do not have equal abilities, strengths, responsibilities, knowledge, etc. (Matthew 25:14-30; cf. Luke 12:47-48).
C. Thankfully, God is not a respecter of persons (Deuteronomy 10:17-18, II Chronicles 19:7, Acts 10:34-35, Romans 2:11, and Ephesians 6:9).
1. We are to imitate God (Ephesians 5:1-2).
2. Regardless of man's partiality, be thankful that we will ultimately be judged without respect of persons being a factor (I Peter 1:17).
III. Conclusion: In contrast to the wisdom of this world, godly wisdom is without partiality (James 3:13-17). There has to be a proper understanding of that. Different treatment based upon a Scripturally relevant difference is not partiality. Be sure that you walk according to godly wisdom (Ephesians 5:15-17).