Technicalities: Legal
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In the context of biblical law, "technicalities" refer to the specific details and stipulations within the legal codes and commandments given by God to His people. These technicalities are often seen in the Mosaic Law, which was given to the Israelites as a comprehensive guide for living a life that is pleasing to God. The law encompasses moral, ceremonial, and civil aspects, each with its own set of technical requirements.

Mosaic Law and Legal Technicalities

The Mosaic Law, as outlined in the first five books of the Bible, contains numerous legal technicalities that governed the daily lives of the Israelites. These laws were not merely arbitrary rules but were designed to reflect God's holiness and justice. For example, the laws concerning sacrifices (Leviticus 1-7) include detailed instructions on how offerings should be made, emphasizing the importance of following God's commands precisely.

In Leviticus 19:35-36 , the law addresses fairness in trade: "You must not use dishonest measures of length, weight, or volume. You shall maintain honest scales and weights, an honest ephah, and an honest hin. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt." This passage highlights the technicalities involved in ensuring justice and integrity in economic transactions.

Legal Technicalities in Judicial Proceedings

The Bible also addresses legal technicalities in judicial proceedings. Deuteronomy 19:15 states, "A lone witness is not sufficient to establish any wrongdoing or sin against a man, regardless of what offense he may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses." This requirement underscores the importance of corroborating evidence in legal matters, ensuring that justice is served and false accusations are minimized.

Jesus and Legal Technicalities

In the New Testament, Jesus often confronted the Pharisees and religious leaders who focused on the legal technicalities of the law while neglecting its spirit. In Matthew 23:23 , Jesus rebukes them: "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint, dill, and cumin, but you have disregarded the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former." Here, Jesus emphasizes that while legal technicalities are important, they should not overshadow the fundamental principles of justice and mercy.

Paul's Use of Legal Technicalities

The Apostle Paul, a former Pharisee well-versed in the law, also navigated legal technicalities in his ministry. In Acts 25:11 , Paul appeals to Caesar, utilizing his rights as a Roman citizen: "If, however, I am guilty of anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die. But if there is nothing to their accusations against me, no one can hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!" Paul's understanding of legal technicalities allowed him to further the gospel and protect his mission.

Conclusion

Throughout the Bible, legal technicalities serve as a means to uphold justice, maintain order, and reflect God's character. While the specifics of these laws may no longer be directly applicable under the New Covenant, the principles they embody continue to inform Christian ethics and legal thought.
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Matthew 12:2,10
But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, Behold, your disciples do that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath day.
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Luke 6:2,7
And certain of the Pharisees said to them, Why do you that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days?
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Library

This Liberty vindicated in Respect of Its Original Creation ...
... The language here is full of legal technicalities, derived from the Roman usage
in conveyance of property. "Libripens quasi arbiter mancipationis" (Rigalt.). ...
/.../the five books against marcion/chapter vi this liberty vindicated in.htm

The Scotch Confession of Faith. AD 1560.
... appears to be at the root of most of the legal difficulties that ... Though decidedly
Calvinistic, it is yet free from the scholastic technicalities and angular ...
/.../ 89 the scotch confession.htm

Justification.
... 1. The legal maxim just repeated does not apply, except in cases where ... in the Bible,
without going into labored speculations or to theological technicalities. ...
/.../finney/systematic theology/lecture xxxvi justification.htm

Miscellaneous Phrases
... Endless and intricate technicalities. Endowed with undreamed-of powers. ... The inflexible
serenity of the wheeling sun. The ingenuities of legal verbiage. ...
/.../kleiser/fifteen thousand useful phrases/section xi miscellaneous phrases.htm

The Saybrook Platform and the Toleration Act
... it the crown's expressed approval, she had secured from the best legal talent a ... he
was ordered to return to America and, because of technicalities, to retake ...
/.../chapter vii the saybrook platform.htm

Church Fabrics and Services.
... took place in Oxford, and to the intricacies and technicalities of the ... of the chief
provisions of which persons who frequented a legal dissenting congregation ...
/.../the english church in the eighteenth century/chapter x church fabrics and.htm

Resources
What are the courts of heaven? | GotQuestions.org

Should a Christian tithe off miscellaneous income, e.g. inheritance, gifts, winnings, tax refunds, legal settlements, etc.? | GotQuestions.org

What items should be included in a church constitution? | GotQuestions.org

Legal: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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