The question of whether the ends justify the means is an ancient ethical dilemma that continues to challenge us today. At its core, it asks if achieving a desired outcome is enough to ethically justify using questionable or immoral actions to reach that goal. The Bible offers wisdom and perspective on this complex issue.
In examining what the Bible says about the ends justifying the means, we find that Scripture emphasizes righteous motives and just actions. God cares not only about what we do but why we do it. 1 Samuel 16:7 reminds us that “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” Our intentions and methods matter to God.
The Bible contains many examples where characters try to justify wrong actions by the outcome. Genesis 16 tells the story of Sarah giving her servant Hagar to Abraham in an effort to produce an heir. Their intention was valid – to fulfill God’s promise of offspring – but the method was outside of God’s design for marriage and led to long-term consequences and familial discord. The end result did not justify the means used to get there. Genesis 27 describes Jacob deceiving his father Isaac in order to steal his brother’s blessing as the firstborn son. Jacob ends up receiving the blessing, but the deceitful way he went about it resulted in familial conflict, pain, and lasting enmity between the brothers. Again, the ends did not justify the questionable means used.
The book of Exodus provides another example. In Exodus 1, the Egyptian midwives are commanded to kill all newborn Hebrew boys but they refuse and let the babies live. “So God was good to the midwives…And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own” (Exodus 1:20-21). In this case, their noble ends of wanting to preserve life justified their disobedience of an unjust decree.
The Ten Commandments provide clear ethical boundaries that are not nullified in pursuance of some greater good. God makes clear that worshipping idols, murder, adultery, theft, dishonesty, and coveting are always wrong, despite potential outcomes. Upholding what is ethical and righteous according to God’s standards should be our motivation and guide.
Jesus emphasized that obeying God’s commands is more important than any earthly purpose, even very good ones. When Jesus was extremely hungry after fasting 40 days in the wilderness, the devil tried to tempt him to turn stones into bread. Despite his intense physical need, Jesus rebuked the temptation and instead quoted Deuteronomy 8:3 saying, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God'” (Matthew 4:4). Obeying and honoring God was more important to Jesus than even desperate hunger.
Jesus also made clear that the greatest commandments are to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” and to “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-39). Any actions that violate these foundational commandments cannot be justified, no matter the potential outcomes.
The apostle Paul instructs in Romans 12:21, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” We are called to defeat injustice and sin through moral courage and integrity, not compromise.
All humans have a sin nature that can rationalize and justify wrong actions if it suits our purposes. Jeremiah 17:9 warns, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” We are prone to self-deception and moral compromise if not guided by righteous principles.
In his letter to the Romans, Paul addresses the hypothetical question – “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?” (Romans 6:1). In other words, can we justify more sin to bring about more grace? “By no means!” Paul declares. “We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?” (Romans 6:2). Good purposes like grace do not validate wrong behavior.
Paul further teaches in Romans 6:23 that “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Sin and unrighteousness always lead to harm, while righteousness offered through Christ leads to life. The ends do not justify sinful means.
In examining perhaps the ultimate “ends justify the means” scenario, we look at the crucifixion of Jesus. The greatest good ever achieved – the salvation of mankind through Christ’s sacrificial death and resurrection – was brought about by the greatest injustice ever committed – the torture and murder of the sinless Son of God. God worked through evil actions by sinful people to accomplish an eternally good end, yet those who put Jesus to death were still held morally culpable. As Acts 2:23 declares, “This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.” Though necessary for the supreme good of redemption, their actions were still wicked.
What guidance does all this provide on the ethical dilemma – do the ends justify the means? Scripture cautions strongly against justifying wrong or questionable actions because of perceived good outcomes. Our intentions and methods matter greatly to God. We are to do the right thing in the right way, upholding biblical principles of honesty, justice, compassion and integrity. Results are in God’s hands. We are simply called to focus on living righteously by his standards.
At the same time, the Bible offers hope and redemption when we fall short. While we cannot justify or excuse wrong behavior because of its outcomes, God can work even through our sins and mistakes to bring about something good in ways we cannot foresee. As Joseph told his brothers who had sold him into slavery, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives” (Genesis 50:20). But Joseph’s brothers still had to confront the wrongness of their actions despite the good outcome.
In summary, the ends do not justify unethical means according to biblical standards. Yet in his grace and sovereignty God can bring good from wrong actions. Our role is to focus on living righteously according to God’s principles. He will take care of the results.
The Bible serves as an invaluable guide on complex moral issues. It provides wisdom and perspective on navigating difficult ethical dilemmas like whether outcomes can ever justify questionable methods. Scripture calls us to righteous living through just actions and pure motives. When we live ethically and leave outcomes to God, we can have confidence that his purposes will be accomplished through our lives in the way that brings him the most glory.