MacArthur on God’s impartiality

From MacArthur’s commentary on Rm 2.11, “A fifth element related to God’s judgment is His impartiality. Prosōpolēmptēs (partiality) means literally “to receive a face,” that is, to give consideration to a person because of who he is. That exact idea is seen in the popular symbolic statue of justice as a woman blindfolded, signifying that she is unable to see who is before her to be judged and therefore is not tempted to be partial either for or against the accused. Sometimes she is also pictured with her hands tied, suggesting she cannot receive a bribe.

Unfortunately, there is partiality even in the best of human courts, but there will be none in God’s day of judgment. Because of His perfect knowledge of every detail and because of His perfect righteousness, it is not possible for His justice to be anything but perfectly impartial. Such things as position, education, influence, popularity, or physical appearance will have absolutely no bearing on God’s decision concerning a person’s eternal destiny.

The most magnificent and exalted creature God made was Lucifer, the “star of the morning, son of the dawn.” But because of his prideful ambition to raise himself even above his Creator, to make himself “like the Most High,” even the high-ranking, majestic Lucifer was cast out of heaven by God to Sheol (Isa. 14:12–15). The most exalted became the most debased. If ever there was a being whose position merited special favor before God it was Lucifer. But his high position instead made him more accountable for his evil rebellion and he therefore will receive the greatest punishment of any creature in hell.

When Peter saw how God was working in the life of Cornelius, he was finally able to surmount his Jewish prejudice against Gentiles and confess, “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality” (Acts 10:34). Like his Lord, Paul was not impressed by a person’s elevated religious position (Gal. 2:6). That quality of justice is also implied in the apostle’s declaration that “God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap” (Gal. 6:7). Who a person is will have no bearing at all on what he reaps at God’s judgment. “The one who sows to his own flesh shall from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit shall from the Spirit reap eternal life” (v. 8).

In warning masters to be considerate of their slaves, Paul reminds them that “both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him” (Eph. 6:9). “He who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done,” the apostle assured the Colossians, “and that without partiality” (Col. 3:25). Peter admonished his readers, “If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each man’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay upon earth” (1 Pet. 1:17).”

John F. MacArthur Jr., Romans, vol. 1, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1991), 135–136.