
08/18/2025
Here’s a thoughtful commentary on Proverbs 17:15 (ESV):
“He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the Lord.”
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Commentary:
This proverb cuts directly to the heart of God’s concern for justice and truth. It presents two grave distortions of justice: justifying the wicked and condemning the righteous. Both represent perversions of judgment that God calls an “abomination.”
1. The Balance of Justice
• The proverb highlights the necessity of fairness in judgment. To call evil “good” or to punish the innocent is not simply a human error—it is something God detests. Justice is a reflection of His character, and when humans invert it, they directly oppose His holiness.
2. Justifying the Wicked
• To acquit the guilty is to excuse sin and enable further wrongdoing. This could happen through bribery, corruption, favoritism, or fear of man. When the wicked are cleared, the community suffers because sin gains strength and the weak remain vulnerable.
3. Condemning the Righteous
• On the other hand, to punish the innocent is equally destructive. It brings pain to those who do good, discourages righteousness, and mocks the very concept of truth. Scripture shows examples of this: Naboth condemned by false witnesses (1 Kings 21), Jesus condemned by corrupt leaders (Mark 14–15), and countless prophets silenced by unjust rulers.
4. Both Are Alike an Abomination
• The pairing is intentional: whether one promotes evil by excusing it, or suppresses good by punishing it, the end result is a world turned upside down. God is not neutral; He abhors both perversions equally. Human courts may fail, but His judgment will be perfect and final.
5. Christ as the Fulfillment
• Interestingly, at the cross we see this proverb turned inside out: Jesus, the Righteous One, was condemned as a sinner, while guilty humanity was justified through Him. But unlike corrupt human courts, this was God’s redemptive plan—where justice and mercy meet (Romans 3:26). What is abominable when done by men became the miracle of salvation when accomplished by God, because it was done on the basis of Christ’s sacrifice.
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✅ Application:
• For leaders, judges, and all who wield authority: seek integrity, never bending truth for gain or fear.
• For believers: avoid partiality in personal judgments of others. Speak truth even when inconvenient, defend the innocent, and oppose evil without compromise.
• Ultimately, look to Christ as the true Judge who will one day set all things right.