In the time of the Bible, when you wanted to buy or sell produce, the normal method was with the use of stones whose weights had been predetermined. One stone, for example, weighed a kilogram while another weighed half a kilogram, and so forth. Today we still see metal weights in use, and in some parts of the world stones are still used.
If the seller wanted to cheat a customer who came to him, he used a stone that weighed slightly less so that the buyer was paying for a certain weight but actually getting less than he paid for. There were even those who used one size stone for buying and another size for selling, so they could make even more money.
God warns us against having double standards, against behaving unjustly towards his creatures. Such behavior is in fact an abomination in the eyes of God. Let's take a moment to reflect. When we see someone who is well- dressed, do we treat him really nice, feel that he deserves respect because he has come into the congregation dressed in a nice suit, his wife in an expensive dress? Do we hurry to find them a seat, ask if they will need a translation, make an effort to get acquainted with them?
And what about the person who comes in wearing old, worn out clothes, perhaps having skin a different color from ours? Suppose that he is an Arab who comes into a congregation where only Hebrew is spoken, or an Israeli Jew who comes into a congregation where only Arabic is spoken, or a Russian- speaking congregation. Do we approach them happily and offer then a seat and a translation?
What a blessing it is to know that with Jesus there were no double standards. He sees each one of us the same, a creature of God, a sinner who needs forgiveness and grace. If that were not the case, then he would certainly prefer someone else rather than a sinner like me, and I would have no salvation.
I want to be like Jesus, behaving justly and pleasing God by seeing all people as equals, just as he created us.