How Is God “Not a Respecter of People”?
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Respect. It is what we all want from others and what we hope to offer everyone in return. It is the belief that the other person values your opinion, morals, and understandings of life, even if it differs greatly from their own. Respect means “to consider worthy of high regard; to have reference to,” or seeing someone as more worthy than others.
Sometimes we can believe that certain people deserve respect more than others, like celebrities, employers, and even our family members. This can often cause issues and lead to conflict.
However in Scripture, God’s mindset toward respect is that He sees us all in the same way, loved and cherished by Him. And several times, the Bible mentions how God doesn’t have more respect for some people and less for others, such as in Acts 10:34:
“Then Peter opened his mouth and said, ‘Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons.’”
This verse reveals that, although some may feel that God owes them more respect than others (think the Sanhedrin and those who based their faith on their works), God sees everyone equally and doesn’t hold the lives of anyone over another. We are all sinners who have fallen short of God’s glory (Rom. 3:23) and are need of a savior, Jesus Christ, to be freed from sin and one with God.
Where Does It Say God Is Not a Respecter of People?
The situation surrounding Acts 10:34 was the apostle Simon Peter meeting with Cornelius, a centurion who was a believer of God. Cornelius had received a vision that he wanted Simon Peter to discern for him. His vision included an angel of the Lord visiting him and directing him to locate Peter to find out more of what his vision meant (Acts 10:1-8).
Peter had also heard from the Spirit that three men would be coming to seek him and that God had sent them (Acts 10:19-20). When the men arrived and announced they were from Cornelius and were looking for Peter, he willingly went with them and met Cornelius.
Cornelius began worshipping Peter upon his arrival, which Peter asked him to stop. Peter told him that he was just a man (Acts 10:26) and instead listened as Cornelius detailed the vision from God about his prayer being heard and his alms remembered (Acts 10:31). Peter went on to tell Cornelius that God was not a respecter of people but “but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him” (Acts 10:35).
This truth was to show Cornelius, and all those among his court listening, that God doesn’t view some as above others but that anyone, no matter where they are from, is accepted by God if they fear Him and work toward righteousness. Whether it’s a centurion or a widow with two mites, God sees them the same way when they love Him and witness to others.
Keep in mind that this doesn’t mean our works get us into heaven or God’s good graces, but that when we love Him, we will want to live lives pleasing to Him, instead of lives selfishly looking out for ourselves.
What Are Other Examples of God’s Impartiality?
Acts 10:34 is not the only example of God’s impartiality or lack of favoritism. The apostle Paul wrote about this truth in the book of Romans, stating that “For there is no respect of persons with God. For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law” (Rom. 2:11-12). He also goes on to say in Romans 10:12, “For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.”
Even the Old Testament lists examples of God’s love and appreciation for all instead of the select few. Deuteronomy 10:17 says “the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe.” 2 Chronicles 19:7 also mentions no partiality with God: “Now therefore, let the fear of the Lord be upon you; take care and do it, for there is no iniquity with the Lord our God, no partiality, nor taking of bribes.”
These verses show that God doesn’t look at people differently or give blessings and guidance based on who pleases Him most. Look at Job; he was very pleasing to the Lord, but God knew there was more to Job than even Job himself knew. God saw that he would stay true even if all the blessings were removed from his life. And just as everything Job worked for – even his own health – slipped through his fingers, he stayed true to God and was abundantly blessed for his faith.
What is revealed is that no one is more deserving of God’s blessings than another. We are all His children, made equally in His image and all to be blessed equally. God isn’t impressed with your case that you should be given blessings that others have been, or will soon be, given, because He sees all as in need of His love, attention, and guidance, no matter who they are in life.
How Should We Live Knowing God Is No Respecter of People?
I’ll admit that when I would read this Scripture on occasion, I would at first think that it meant God didn’t respect anyone, that God didn’t think anyone was worthy of His gifts or love. And with the ways our society views showing respect, often due to favoritism, it is easy to think that God could follow the same pattern of giving to some and withholding from others.
However, this verse clearly shows that God doesn’t put anyone above another, but loves us and cares for us equally. This truth should affect not only how we view God, but how we view others.
God shows He loves us unconditionally, so we don’t have to worry about proving ourselves to Him or doing enough to warrant blessings from Him. Even when we are the worst versions of ourselves, He still will bless us, love us, and direct us without ridicule. So, we should live knowing God already loves us, but it brings Him joy when we pursue righteousness, representing His love to others. We all are on different journeys that, when guided by God, will lead to blessings for us individually.
Now, some may wonder how this mindset impacts how we interact with others. Although we will have people we like or favor more than others (it happens), what God wants us to remember is to show His love to everyone. That means we value everyone the same way God does, worthy of His love.
It’s not easy to do, loving people the way God loves us. But knowing that God doesn’t hold anyone more valuable of His love over us should show it is possible to still love someone even when they are not being their best self.
Showing God's Impartiality to Others
Respect is something that all of us like to receive from others we admire and mutually respect. We go to great lengths to make sure we have their respect in order to feel we are important and worthy.
However, as the Bible shows, God is not a respecter of people, but loves everyone equally and directs us equally if we allow Him into our lives. It doesn’t matter to Him if you are the richest person in the world or the biggest celebrity; God loves everyone equally and is more adept to add that unconditional, never-ending love when we seek more of Him and less of ourselves.
As we make efforts to love God’s people as we love and value ourselves, we open the door to God bringing more into our lives than previously expected. That’s a respect we can all appreciate.
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