In order to be a just judge one needs more than knowledge of the law and whether or not someone has transgressed the law. Looking both at a transgressor’s motivations as well as any mitigating factors that help understand the transgressor’s behavior are equally crucial to dispensing justice. God shows himself just such a just judge in his assessment of the deeds of Chorazin and Bethsaida versus the deeds of Tyre, Sidon, and the land of Sodom. For, if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. As far as Jesus is concerned, the fact that comparable mighty deeds were not done in Sodom, Tyre, or Sidon, is one significant mitigating factor. This true justice of God has two important implications for us: In our relationship with God, we can trust that God is fully aware of our weaknesses as well as any mitigating factors that help explain our sinful behaviors and choices, and that he will treat us accordingly. But the second implication is that we need to strive to extend a similar justice to those who sin against us and be willing to consider the other’s weaknesses and any mitigating factors that call for greater compassion and understanding. Of course, in certain situations, there are no mitigating factors—as with Chorazin and Bethsaida—and in such cases certain forms of compassion would only condone sin and reinforce injustice. Accordingly, we need not only compassion but also wisdom and insight to guide our responses towards those who offend us and sin against us. Let us pray that our compassion will always be wedded to this wisdom and insight, and wisdom and insight support and inform our compassion.