It’s likely that you have seen an artistic rendering of Lady Justice at some point in your life. It’s an important icon in American history and culture. She serves as a personification of the concept of justice and judgement. She is usually blindfolded and holding a set of scales in one hand and a sword in the other.
A lot of information is being communicated through this image. In our current understanding, the blindfold communicates impartiality. True justice is not based upon nationality, skin color, or financial or social status. (Interestingly, the blindfold was originally intended satirically, communicating that Lady Justice was blind to the injustice around her.) The scales in her hand communicate the ability to weigh out the weight of an argument for or against to determine what is best. And, the sword communicates authority and the ability to deliver justice swiftly and with finality.
It’s a very poignant and effective picture that captures how we usually think of judgement, punishment, and reward. Of particular interest are the scales and the sword. Rather than the scales weighing one argument against another, we see them as weighing the good and bad deeds of a person’s life. If the good deeds outweigh the bad deeds, a person is rewarded; If the bad deeds outweigh the good, a person is punished. It seems fair enough on the surface. It is noteworthy, however, that this quintessential picture of justice only has a sword, the power to punish, and no clear means of reward.
Rather than holding scales and a sword, the hands of Jesus hold scars.
Interestingly enough, this image, which is based on a Roman goddess, actually does a good job of depicting the truth of our position before God in our own strength. If we were to stand before the holy God of the universe on the quality of our own actions, the only potential outcome is punishment. The Bible lays out the bad news for us in pretty clear terms. Romans 3:23 says, “…all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” And, Romans 6:23 tells us, “…the wages of sin is death…” When weighed in the balances, we are all found wanting (Daniel 5:27).
The good news is our end is not in the hands of Lady Justice, but in the hands of Jesus. Rather than holding scales and a sword, the hands of Jesus hold scars. Make no mistake, the potential for punishment is there, but rather than threatening us with the punishment we earn, Jesus offers mercy that He purchased through His sacrifice. The good news of the gospel is that we don’t achieve salvation through our goodness, but through God’s goodness. Salvation and forgiveness are gifts of God’s grace and outworkings of divine mercy.
Still, I think there is value in remembering the scales. Jesus said as much in Matthew 7:1-2, we read these words from Jesus: “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the same measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Jesus wasn’t telling His followers to ignore sin in their lives or the lives of others. Rather, Jesus was telling them, and us, to be slow to swing the sword and quick to mete out mercy.
As we survey the state of our world, however, we should hold onto the scales of justice and we should put down the sword of punishment and retribution. We should work to tip the scales in favor of mercy and grace, just as Jesus has done for us.
We need to look out on the mess of humanity and be honest about what we see. Putting on the blindfold does nothing to bring about justice and instead causes us to act with ignorance and indifference. As we survey the state of our world, however, we should hold onto the scales of justice and we should put down the sword of punishment and retribution. We should work to tip the scales in favor of mercy and grace, just as Jesus has done for us. Jesus once said, “But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Perhaps more often than not, mercy itself is the sacrifice God wants from us as we seek to serve the world He died to save. We don’t work to earn God’s grace and mercy through our good deeds, but we should do good deeds to reflect the glory of His grace and mercy for us as we share them with others.
