The Judge

Two men were brought before a judge. The first man had stolen $10,000 in jewels, and was using the money to buy and sell drugs. The judge, on hearing what he had done, sentenced the man to five years in prison.

The second man had stolen $200 in food, and was using the food to feed his family and his neighbor’s family because they were starving. The judge, on hearing what he had done, sentenced the man to five years in prison.

Which man’s sentence was worse?

One might say that it was the man who had stolen the food, but his sentence was the easiest, because he knew that he had broken the law, but that he had done so for noble intensions.

Others might say that it was the man who stole the jewels, but his sentence was still not the worst, because although he had broken the law, he was paying for his crime.

The worst sentence was reserved for the judge, because although he upheld the law, he did so without mercy or justice. So in the end, his sentence was five thousand times 5 years.

Seek mercy and justice in everything, lest you bear the greatest sentence of all.