Bible Verses About Favoritism

What does the Bible say about favoritism or showing partiality? The Bible clearly teaches that favoritism is forbidden. As believers we must do our best to treat everyone equally with dignity and respect. God himself does not show favoritism and as followers we must do likewise. The following Bible verses provide a biblical concept of favoritism. Feel free to use the list for a Bible study or group discussion.

Here's a list of Bible verses about favoritism.

Exodus 23:2-4
"Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you give testimony in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd, and do not show favoritism to a poor man in his lawsuit.

Leviticus 19:15
Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.

Deuteronomy 10:17
For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes.

Deuteronomy 16:19
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 righteous

Luke 20:21
So the spies questioned him: "Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.

Acts 10:34-35
Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.

Romans 2:11-12
For God does not show favoritism. All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law.

Ephesians 6:9
And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.

Colossians 3:25
Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.

1 Timothy 5:21
I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism.

James 2:1-4
My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

Feel free to use these verses for a Bible study or short devotional. For more related articles click on the links below.

Bible verses about selfishness
Bible verses about our identity in Christ: God's view of us
Bible verses about bitterness
Bible verses about discernment
Bible verses about respect
Bible verses about friendship

Source:
Holy Bible, New International Version
Biblegateway.com