Dictionary of Bible Themes » 5000 Humanity » 5760 Human attitudes and behaviour » 5882 impartiality
The ability to be unbiased towards any one race, class or person. This attitude is demonstrated by God and is to be emulated by the human race.
God is impartial
Deuteronomy 10:17 See also 2 Chronicles 19:7
God treats people impartially
Matthew 5:45 See also Job 25:3; Job 34:19; Proverbs 22:2; Romans 2:11; Ephesians 6:9
God judges impartially
Colossians 3:25 See also Job 34:11-12; Psalm 62:12; Jeremiah 17:10; Romans 2:9-11; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Peter 1:17; Revelation 22:12
God does not distinguish between people on the basis of external appearance
1 Samuel 16:7 See also Psalm 147:10-11; Jeremiah 9:25; Luke 16:15; Galatians 2:6; Revelation 2:23
God does not discriminate against different races or classes
Acts 10:34-35; Galatians 3:28 See also Deuteronomy 10:18; Job 34:19; Acts 10:28; Acts 15:7-9
The impartiality of Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ's teaching was impartial
Luke 20:21 pp Matthew 22:16 pp Mark 12:14 See also Matthew 20:1-16 a parable of Jesus Christ about divine impartiality
Jesus Christ showed impartiality in his dealings with people
John 4:9 Jesus Christ contravened accepted boundaries of partiality in this encounter. See also Matthew 9:10-12 pp Mark 2:15-17 pp Luke 5:29-31; Matthew 15:22-28 pp Mark 7:26-29; Matthew 20:20-23 pp Mark 10:35-40
Impartiality commended
James 2:1 See also Proverbs 28:21; 1 Corinthians 3:3-4; Corinthians 4:6-7; 1 Timothy 5:21; James 2:9
Humanity should judge impartially
Proverbs 24:23-25 See also Exodus 18:16; Deuteronomy 1:17; Deuteronomy 16:19; Deuteronomy 24:17; Proverbs 17:15; Proverbs 18:5; Malachi 2:9
Showing impartiality to all people is commanded
Impartiality to foreigners
Exodus 22:21 See also Exodus 23:9; Leviticus 19:33-34; Numbers 15:15-16; Romans 10:12
Impartiality to children
Deuteronomy 21:15-17
Impartiality to the poor
Exodus 23:6 See also Exodus 23:3; Leviticus 19:15; Proverbs 29:7; James 2:2-7
Ways to avoid partiality
By not accepting bribes
Exodus 23:8 See also Job 36:18; Proverbs 15:27; Isaiah 1:23
By not following the crowd
Exodus 23:2; Mark 15:15
Christians should be partial towards spiritual principles
Matthew 6:24 pp Luke 16:13 See also Matthew 12:30 pp Luke 11:23; Matthew 7:13-14; Mark 9:39-40 pp Luke 9:49-50
Examples where impartiality is absent
Genesis 25:27-28 Isaac and Rebekah to Jacob and Esau; Genesis 29:30-32 Jacob to Leah and Rachel; Genesis 37:3-4 Jacob to Joseph and his brothers; 1 Samuel 1:4-6 Elkanah to Hannah and Peninnah
See also
1020 God, all-knowing 1075 God, justice of 2042 Christ, justice of 5347 injustice 5359 justice 5448 poverty, attitudes to 8207 commitment 8277 innocence 8324 purity 8753 favouritism 8790 oppression 8800 prejudice
