"I get no respect" was the frequent lament of comedian Rodney Dangerfield. Considering some of his routines and movies, he didn't deserve any. But, in reality, none of us do, at least no more than anyone else. One of the most powerful pronouncements in the Law of Moses was that all judgment was supposed to lack any respect for persons. In Deuteronomy 1:16-17 Moses repeated the account of selecting judges to hear cases and make judgments that took place at Mt. Sinai (Exodus 18:25-26). In the Exodus account he stated these judges were to "fear God" and be "men of truth" who "hate unjust gain" (Exodus 18:21). In Deuteronomy he says something similar. "You shall not respect persons in judgment; but you shall hear the small as well as the great; you shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God's:” (Deuteronomy 1:17).

The best designed law allows no one to be above the law in its application. That was true of the Law of Moses and of any good legal system. American law was built on that principle. Unfortunately, the application can be twisted by judges choosing to give respect to select individuals. It has happened throughout history. We know that men pervert the law to their own benefit.

Even in the church it continues to be a problem (James 2:1) because we fail to meet the high standard of God's holiness (Romans 3:23). Let's not look around at the world and condemn it for perverting justice when we fail to treat each other with perfect holiness. Remember, only God is perfect in judgment and no respecter of persons; a hard learned lesson for Peter (Acts 10:34). Let's give our brethren, all of them, some respect.