18 'Judges and authorities thou dost make to thee within all thy gates which Jehovah thy God is giving to thee, for thy tribes; and they have judged the people—a righteous judgment. 19 Thou dost not turn aside judgment; thou dost not discern faces, nor take a bribe, for the bribe blindeth the eyes of the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous. 20 Righteousness—righteousness thou dost pursue, so that thou livest, and hast possessed the land which Jehovah thy God is giving to thee. 21 'Thou dost not plant for thee a shrine of any trees near the altar of Jehovah thy God, which thou makest for thyself, 22 and thou dost not raise up to thee any standing image which Jehovah thy God is hating.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Deuteronomy 16:18-22
Commentary on Deuteronomy 16:18-22
(Read Deuteronomy 16:18-22)
Care is taken for the due administration of justice. All personal regards must be laid aside, so that right is done to all, and wrong to none. Care is taken to prevent following the idolatrous customs of the heathen. Nothing belies God more, or tends more to corrupt the minds of men, than representing and worshipping, by an image, that God, who is an almighty and eternal Spirit, present every where. Alas! even in gospel days, and under a better dispensation, established upon better promises, there is a tendency to set up idols, under one form or another, in the human heart.