Shoftim: Pursue Justice

Parashat Shoftim inspires us to pursue justice, calling us in particular toward a fair judicial system. Before entering the Promised Land, Moses instructs the people: “Appoint judges and officials for each of your tribes in every town the Lord your God is giving you, and they shall judge the people fairly.” He continues, “Do not pervert justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the innocent.” (Deuteronomy 16:18-19)

Moses understands that even with the best intentions, we remain susceptible to bias and unfairness. Even the wise and innocent can stumble, which is precisely why we’re reminded to align our choices with God’s vision for a righteous society.

Powerful Repetition

The heart of Moses’ call to justice resonates in the famous command, “Follow justice and justice alone.” (Deuteronomy 16:20) In Hebrew, this phrase reads, “Tzedek, tzedek tirdof.” While the repetition of the word ‘justice’ might sound redundant at first glance, the Torah’s phrasing is intentional, inviting us to look deeper.

One possible explanation is that we should pursue justice with justice. In other words, achieving a right outcome isn’t enough if the path we take to get there lacks integrity.

With this in mind, the second half of the verse stands out, “that you may live and inherit the land that the Lord your God is giving you.” (Deuteronomy 16:20)

As the Israelites prepare to enter the Land, God establishes a higher moral standard, one where justice isn’t merely an outcome, but rather a way of life. God longs for justice to be tangible: both in a judicial system where everyone receives a fair chance in court, and in a leadership that can be trusted to act responsibly.

This pursuit of justice also relates to our daily interactions with others, including those we might find difficult to love. This concept aligns with what’s called derech eretz (literally: “the way of the land”), which speaks to the high ethical standard that should characterize our relationships. We should be known among our neighbors for our integrity in business and for speech that builds others up.

Starting At Home

That life-style begins at home. Over the last few weeks we considered Joshua’s declaration, “as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15) We then explored how others recognize that service, which brought us to John 13:35, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Ultimately, it all flows from love.

Surpassing Righteousness

“For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:20) Deeply familiar with the Torah, Yeshua frequently engaged with other scholars about its core essence, which Yeshua sums up as love for God and love for neighbor (Matthew 22:37-39). Because true justice centers on loving our neighbor, Yeshua challenges Pharisees whose application of the Torah lacked genuine love.

While Yeshua took the letter of the Torah seriously, honoring the importance of keeping the Word of God, He called His disciples to go deeper. He invites us to look inward, reflecting on Scripture, so that we keep it intentionally and from a transformed heart aligned with God’s will.

Reflection

Is there an area in life where I treat someone unfairly (work, congregation, family)? Is there a way for me to pursue justice and show them kindness, even in a simple way?