In Critique of the Gotha Programme, Marx systematically critiqued Lasalle’s conception of distributive justice, revealing the theoretical flaws in the proposition of ‘the equitable distribution of the fruits of labour’. Taking the historical materialist principle that ‘production determines distribution’ as its starting point, this paper examines, in turn, the dominant role of production in distribution, the inherent contradictions of distribution according to labour, and the historical inevitability of the transition to distribution according to need. The study argues that Marx’s fundamental transcendence of Lasallianism lies not in proposing a fairer distribution scheme, but in accomplishing a paradigm shift from ‘distributive justice’ to ‘productive justice’. The ultimate resolution of distribution issues does not lie in technical adjustments within the sphere of distribution, but in the continuous transformation of relations of production and the ceaseless development of productive forces.