Just as holiness is His core attribute, YHWH’s justice shows who He is. Everything God does is just and upright, and His judgments come from His righteousness. The way of YHWH is to do righteousness and justice, and these are the foundation of His throne (Gen. 18:19; Psa. 97:2). He will redeem Zion by His justice and those of her who repent, by His righteousness (Isa. 1:27, LEB). The Judge will establish and rest His justice for a light to the nations (Isa. 51:4). Yom Teruah memorializes YHWH’s coming as King to execute His divine justice, making quietness for the earth. Those judges sharing His throne also defend righteousness by condemning evil. In six steps John’s fifth sign discourse discusses how to administer divine judgments that yield justice’s peace.

Section one predetermined that upon Yeshua’s return, He will teach and judge, guide, and govern Israel and the world, showing that only those without sin can judge righteous judgment (Jhn. 8:1-12). Yeshua’s return to the Mount of Olives with His firstfruits—without sin, priests of God and Christ with judgment committed to them (Rev. 20:4–6), presupposes His sacrifice. His judgments attract all to life. Using the story of the woman caught in adultery, John contrasts the Father’s judgment with its justice, favor, and mercy to the cruel judgment of Satan and his seed, who delight in unsparing death. Marking Yeshua’s return in judgment to pull down and cause unrest to the inhabitants of Babylon while bringing justice to the peoples, the Feast of Trumpets involves the Mount of Olives, the census site where He divides sheep from the goats.

John’s second section tells how to be identified with and filled with all God’s fullness according to the power that works in us (vv. 13-20). Linking one’s identity to the fruits borne, Yeshua intended His disciples to observe the Father’s power in Him and be likewise directed by the same passion in them. By walking in Yeshua’s light of life, His disciples come into the unity of the faith and knowledge of all the richness of God. Like Yeshua, we also bear witness to the Father by the works He does in us, revealing our paternity. As Jesus was never alone but always with the Father, those in the second Adam are never alone. Yeshua, the lawyer of the law, instructed many concerning the kingdom of heaven, as do the members of His body, bringing things new and old out of His treasury (Mat. 13:52).

John continued addressing the confusion over the Messiah’s identity (vv. 21-29), contrasting the flawed judgment of Israel’s leaders with the Son of Man’s committing all judgment to the Father. The chief priests and Pharisees lacked all the requirements of a just judge. They were not sinless, had no fellowship with the Father, and were barren of good works. Because of these things, they did not apply scriptural knowledge (wisdom), had no discernment (understanding) from which righteous judgment could flow, and had no experience in walking with their Creator (being known by God through suffering). Without the basic qualities required to judge justly, the leaders of Judah feared men instead of God, not realizing that judgment belonged to God (Deu. 1:17). Blinded by their prideful hearts, they committed the hideous sin of blasphemy in calling God’s work evil. Yeshua, the sum of all wisdom and knowledge, had many things to say and judge concerning them (v. 20). They would die in their sins if they did not believe that He was the Messiah. Yeshua came as light at a time of great darkness (dark moon of Yom Teruah) to conquer His adversaries and prepare His throne for judgment.

Then, in the next six verses (vv. 30-36), Yeshua gave us the terms of discipleship. In hearing God’s Word, we must live the truth, knowing it through experience and in connection with the Father. Abiding in truth is the key to being free from the first Adam’s bondage to sin and living according to the new Adam. Knowledge is not learned unless it is used. He, Truth, makes us free by setting us right through forgiveness and grace to live as His legitimate offspring. Living a life of overcoming and becoming all God meant us to be by learning the wisdom of His righteous judgments is a work of faith, walking in Abraham’s steps. Slavery to sin will not exist in God’s kingdom, for no slave shackled to evil will receive an inheritance. Using the strongest affirmation possible, Yeshua contrasted whoever sins is a slave of sin with whoever does the Father’s works is free and a true son, remaining forever in His house.

We who seek YHWH and follow after righteousness are to look to our father Abraham and mother Sarah’s lives, seeing how God called him alone, blessed him, and increased him, for we are the seed of Abraham and Sarah in whom He will establish and settle His justice as a light of the nations. His arms will judge the peoples and cause them to trust in Him (Isa. 51:1-5). We, like Isaac, are miraculously brought to birth by God’s will. Paternity matters; it influences a child’s behavior (Jhn. 8:37-47). Like little children growing up in the image of their parents, who we worship affects our conduct. Our behavior becomes the basis of our judgments. Living faith in the word of God produces good works that show forth His love. Satan infuses his children with his corrupt fruit of intellectual righteousness and skewed sense of justice, calling good evil and evil good. Abraham’s God is love, and all His decisions express love. The “Apostle of Love” encouraged us to love one another so that we may judge as He judges.

Was Yeshua the Messiah or a heretic? (Jhn. 8:48-59). Israel’s leaders accused Jesus, charging Him with idolatry and apostasy, even though they knew from His works that He was a “teacher come from God.” To protect their own (self) righteousness and standing in the Hebrew and Roman community, they labeled their Creator God a demonic liar. By holding on to their honor, the Jews dishonored the holy God, their unbelief skewing their perceptions and judgments. As a righteous judge, Yeshua did not justify, exalt, or vindicate Himself but committed His reputation to the Father. His example of endured loathing and reviling is vital to judging righteously. A righteous judge values others. He esteemed others better than Himself, paying the highest price possible by His willingness to die for them. The Feast of Trumpets’ discourse ends with Yeshua revealing Himself as “I AM” (Jhn. 8:57, Rev. 1:1).

Takeaway:
John 8’s discourse lays out six principles of righteous judgment. Yeshua’s sacrifice on the Mount of Olives, the place of the skull counting, provided justice for us to have our names written in the Book of Life. As the Father’s express image, He was one in judgment and doctrine, building God’s house with children. Our Judge without sin suffered so we might know the wisdom and discernment of God. We are to live as Abraham and Sarah’s children, not slaves to sin but to righteousness. As children of the new Adam, we think and act like Him. Yeshua left vindication to the Father and valued all people, leading us to life and honor in fellowship with God and each other.

Fun Factors:
In Hebrew, the concept of judgment and justice is mostly commonly expressed with the term שׁפט (šāpaṭ), which means “to govern” or “to administer justice,” and its related noun מִשְׁפָט (mišpāṭ, “judgment”). Another set of Hebrew terms related to justice in the OT includes the noun צֶדֶק (ṣedeq, “righteousness”) and its related verb צָדֹק (ṣādōq, “to be or make righteous”).¹  The sum of righteousness (194) and justice (389), the foundation of His throne, is 583, 11 x 53, the center (11) of the garden (53), 11(7² + 2²), walking with God in the wisdom of His house. His righteous (194) judgment (429) equals 623, 7(8² + 5²), a complete (7) new beginning (8) beholding mercy (5).

Hebrew Word Pictures explains, “A judge is the door of life. A judge was not the person who condemned; the judge was the one who protected. This Judge will Himself be a refuge for the oppressed if they put their trust in Him. He will not forget them when they cry nor forsake them” (Seekins, p. 175). It is of no surprise then to find the Hebrew word picture for “Eden” is “to see the Judge,” the door to eternal life on the Mountain of the East (Seekins, p. 124). The portal to the Garden of Eden is the Judge, Yeshua, and those who believe in and know His sacrificial work accomplished on the Mount of Olives are made righteous and may enter the City. Hebrew שׁפט (šopaṭ), judge, has a numeric value of 389, the 77^th prime and 36^th Pythagorean prime, the sum of two squares, 17² + 10², the power of victory (17) in all generations (10), completed (77) in His dwelling (36, tent). The upright Judge of all the earth is represented by that which is perpendicular (90°) and indivisible (prime and Pythagorean).