Honesty

Does God really care how honest you are in the small things? Through Ezekiel He demanded honest scales—integrity in every dealing, not just the public ones.

“Enough, O princes of Israel! Remove violence and plundering, execute justice and righteousness” (Ezekiel 45:9 NKJV).

The rulers had gone too far, and God called them on it. The actions of Israel’s princes were filled with violence and plundering. It was time for a change. He demanded that they “stop dispossessing My people” (v. 9).

Then God hammered home the importance of honesty: “You shall have honest scales, an honest ephah, and an honest bath” (v. 10): A particular weight always was that weight. Dishonesty and cheating never were acceptable. God wanted them to be honest, all the time, with everyone.

When we think about these statements, it can be easy to focus on other people or on governments, politicians, or businesses that employ questionable practices. But these principles apply to all of us. God demands fairness, equality, and justice in our lives, just as He does in the lives of kings, princes, and governments. We must be honest.

The Lord wants us to be fair and have standards that are just and consistent. He wants us to avoid the kind of favoritism that leads to corruption. He wants us to recognize the poison that spreads when we’re self-centered. He wants us to realize how easily we can justify our actions, just to get ahead.

Commit yourself to live according to God’s Word. Seek to please Him, and be honest in your dealings with others. Be the kind of person who brings glory to God, serving Him, seeking first His Kingdom.

Reflection Question: Are there times you’ve been dishonest or taken advantage of others?

Frequently Asked Questions

What were the “honest scales, ephah, and bath” God required?

The ephah (a dry measure) and bath (a liquid measure) had to be standardized and truthful. Dishonest weights are condemned repeatedly (Proverbs 11:1; Leviticus 19:35–36) because cheating the vulnerable violates God’s justice.

Who were the “princes of Israel” Ezekiel rebuked?

They were the ruling leaders whose “violence and plundering” oppressed the people. Ezekiel, prophesying during the Babylonian exile, held leaders especially accountable as representatives of God’s standards.