Exodus 23:2 states “You shall not fall in with the many to do evil, nor shall you bear witness in a lawsuit, siding with the many, so as to pervert justice”. This verse teaches us an important lesson about not blindly following the crowd or majority opinion when it comes to moral issues. Here are some key points we can take away from this verse:
1. Don’t compromise your values or integrity to fit in
The verse warns against “falling in” or conforming with “the many” when it comes to doing evil. Peer pressure is a powerful force that can lead us to remain silent in the face of injustice or even participate in immoral behavior that goes against our values. Exodus 23:2 cautions us not to compromise our integrity or moral convictions just to follow the crowd. As Christians, our values and sense of right and wrong should come from God’s word, not from what happens to be popular at the time.
2. Be discerning – don’t assume the majority is right
This verse indicates that we should not assume that just because many people are doing something, that makes it right. The “many” in this verse were engaging in evil, indicating that the majority opinion was morally flawed. As Christ-followers, we are called to be discerning rather than blindly follow popular opinion or trends. We need to carefully evaluate issues in light of God’s word rather than make assumptions based on how many people stand on either side of the issue.
3. Be courageous – stand for truth when it’s unpopular
Since the “many” referenced in this verse were evidently on the wrong side of the moral issue at hand, following them would require swimming against the stream and standing up for God’s standards even when they are not popular. This takes moral courage and a willingness to go against the flow of mainstream thought and behavior patterns. Exodus 23:2 reminds us that conforming to what the majority is doing is not always the right choice. As Christians, we are called to stand for truth and justice even when it’s counter-cultural.
4. Don’t pervert justice to fit in
The second part of Exodus 23:2 deals specifically with not siding with the majority opinion in order to “pervert justice”. Mobs and majority opinion can sometimes overwhelm objective facts and lead to unjust outcomes. God calls his people to make righteous judgements based on truth, fairness, and mercy – not based on the loudest opinions. Christians in particular need to be careful not to compromise godly justice and morality by ignoring facts and wisdom in order to appease the crowd. Justice originates from God’s character, not the whims of man.
5. God cares about personal holiness more than popularity
At the heart of this verse is God’s concern for the personal morality and uprightness of His people. The injunction against following the crowd in sin shows that He cares more about the state of each individual’s heart than about pleasing people or going with the flow. As Christians, our chief concern should be living holy lives according to God’s standard, rather than winning a popularity contest. Pleasing God must take priority over pleasing people.
6. Being “counter-cultural” can be positive
While phrases like “counter-cultural” have negative connotations, Exodus 23:2 reminds us there is value in going against the grain of society when it conflicts with biblical values. Being counter-cultural means challenging blind conformity and questioning whether the dominant cultural narratives line up with God’s standards and priorities. Rather than accepting the status quo, Christians are called to bring about kingdom values in a fallen world.
7. Majority public opinion is often morally compromised
This verse indicates that majority opinion was morally flawed, indicating a sobering reminder that public opinion is often at odds with God’s truth and standards. Culture tends to shape crowd behavior and mainstream thought patterns in ways that conflict with biblical values. As salt and light, Christians must lead countercultural lives and point society back towards the fixed standards of God’s word rather than blindly following the crowd. Exodus 23:2 teaches vigilance.
8. Peer pressure needs to be resisted
The warning against “falling in with the many” is essentially an admonition against buckling under peer pressure. The desire to fit in and be like everyone else is powerful. Exodus 23:2 reminds us that believing and behaving differently than those around us is okay – in fact, it is often necessary in order to live according to God’s truth while the world follows more compromising paths. Christians need courage to stand out and resist the pull of peer pressure.
9. Integrity matters more than sticking with the herd
This verse uses the metaphor of a herd in referring to “the many” and warns against blindly following along with the herd. Herd mentality is strong in human nature, but Exodus 23:2 elevates integrity above thoughtless conformity. Sticking with the crowd can sometimes mean trampling over what we know in our conscience to be right. As Christians, we are called to exhibit integrity and godly character even when it means breaking from the herd to follow God’s higher standard.
10. Private convictions often conflict with public opinion
Exodus 23:2 recognizes that individuals often have personal moral standards that go against widespread public thought and behavior patterns. Being faithful to private convictions in the face of public opposition and scorn takes courage and discipline. As Christians we know that God’s ways and thoughts are higher than the world’s (Isaiah 55:9). We must live according to the inner guidance of the Spirit, not outward pressure from society.
11. Truth is not determined by majority vote
Ultimately this verse reminds us that bigger numbers don’t make something right. Truth and morality are not determined by majority vote or poll results. Christians serve a God who often works outside mainstream thought and practice to highlight the ways of the world versus His higher calling. We follow a Savior who made it clear the road less traveled – the narrow way – is the one that leads to life (Matthew 7:13-14). Exodus 23:2 calls us to nonprofit principles and God’s value system.
12. Sin has a corroborating effect when reinforced by groupthink
By warning against “falling in” with the sins of the majority, Exodus 23:2 recognizes the corroborating effect sin can have when it becomes part of a group mentality. Sinful ideas and behaviors can gain momentum, spread rapidly, and become normalized when reinforced by groupthink and mob mentality. This “peer power” effect compounds the danger of simply “going with the flow”. As Christians we must think carefully for ourselves rather than get swept along by crowd-fueled sin.
13. Christians face added pressure to compromise convictions
As the world increasingly drifts from biblical thought patterns, Christians today face added pressure to “fall in with the many” by compromising or hiding core convictions in order to fit cultural trends. Exodus 23:2 takes on renewed significance in such an environment as faith communities struggle to hold fast to beliefs that seem at odds with mainstream society. This verse offers wisdom and warning to remain anchored in God’s unchanging word.
14. Societal change often starts with individual conviction
Exodus 23:2 implies that positive change in society often starts at the individual level rather than with the crowd. One person embracing righteous conviction can spark a groundswell of moral and social change. Esther, Daniel, Noah, Moses and other bible heroes stood as individual voices of justice that God leveraged to transform nations. Not following corrupt majorities takes courage but breeds change.
15. Christians should lead and shape culture, not mirror it
This verse implies an injunction against blind cultural assimilation for God’s people. While we are to be “in the world but not of it” (John 17:14-16), too often Christians merely mirror the thought patterns and behaviors of society. Exodus 23:2 is a reminder that we are called to lead culture, not mirror it – to be salt and light shaping our world according to God’s kingdom values rather than passive conformists.
In summary, Exodus 23:2 powerfully demonstrates that truth is not defined by popular opinion or social consensus. God calls His people to moral courage in standing by their convictions to follow Him wholeheartedly, not be corrupted by the crowd. The stakes are high, but walking the narrow road leads to life in Christ.