Prejudice (5)

Prejudice against places

John 1:46 NKJV

And Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”

See also Jn 7:41; Jn 7:52

Prejudice against people

Prejudice due to an attitude of superiority

John 7:49 NKJV

But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.”

See also 1 Sa 10:27; 1 Sa 25:10–11; Job 30:1–10; Is 65:5; Lk 18:11

Prejudice based on fear or jealousy

Ex 1:9–10; Ex 1:12–13; 1 Sa 18:8–9; 1 Sa 18:29

Prejudice against Jesus Christ

John 12:37 NKJV

But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him,

See also Mt 9:34; Mk 6:2–3; Jn 9:29; Jn 10:20

Prejudice may be based on false assumptions about people’s behaviour

Hostility incorrectly assumed

Genesis 12:11–12 NKJV

And it came to pass, when he was close to entering Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, “Indeed I know that you are a woman of beautiful countenance. Therefore it will happen, when the Egyptians see you, that they will say, ‘This is his wife’; and they will kill me, but they will let you live.

See also Ge 20:1–2; Ge 26:1–11

Motives misunderstood

Nu 32:5–9 The leaders of Reuben and Gad chose to inhabit the fertile land in Transjordan but they were also prepared to cross the Jordan to help their brothers conquer the land.

See also Nu 32:14; Nu 32:17; Jos 22:10–24; 2 Sa 10:3

Prejudice in terms of partiality

Favouritism

Ge 25:28; Ge 37:3; Ge 44:20; Ge 44:27–29

People are often prejudiced in favour of their own kind

Matthew 5:46–47 NKJV

For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?

See also Lk 7:29; Lk 17:16; Ac 10:45; Lk 11:18

Prejudice on grounds of outward appearance or behaviour

James 2:3–4 NKJV

and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there,” or, “Sit here at my footstool,” have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?

See also 1 Sa 16:7; 2 Sa 14:25; Ec 9:16; Jn 8:15; Ro 14:1; Ro 14:3; Ro 14:10; Ro 14:13; 1 Co 4:5; Ga 2:6

Prejudice due to race

Esther 3:5–6 NKJV

When Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow or pay him homage, Haman was filled with wrath. But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone, for they had told him of the people of Mordecai. Instead, Haman sought to destroy all the Jews who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus—the people of Mordecai.

See also Ezr 4:15–16; Ne 4:1–4; Es 3:8–14; Es 7:4; Da 3:8–12; Da 6:3–9; Da 6:13

Partiality forbidden

Exodus 23:3 NKJV

You shall not show partiality to a poor man in his dispute.

See also Le 19:15; Jas 2:9

God is not prejudiced

God is impartial

Acts 10:34 NKJV

Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality.

See also Ro 2:11; Eph 6:9; Col 3:25

Job falsely accuses God of partiality

Job 9:16; Job 9:20; Job 9:30–31; Job 10:15–17

Prejudice which no contrary evidence would change

Luke 16:31 NKJV

But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’ ”

See also 1 Sa 22:13–15; Mt 11:21–23; Mt 21:32; Ac 7:52; Ac 13:41

The Sadducees’ prejudice against the resurrection

Matthew 22:23 NKJV

The same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him and asked Him,

See also Ac 4:1–3; Ac 23:8