The term "lawful" in the biblical context refers to that which is permitted or sanctioned by God's law. It encompasses both the moral and ceremonial laws given in the Scriptures. The concept of what is lawful is deeply rooted in the understanding of God's commandments and the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, the law (Hebrew: Torah) given to Moses on Mount Sinai serves as the foundation for what is considered lawful. The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17) are central to this law, providing a moral framework for the Israelites. The law also includes various ceremonial and civil regulations found in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. These laws were intended to set Israel apart as God's chosen people and to guide them in righteous living.

The Psalms and Proverbs frequently reflect on the beauty and righteousness of God's law. Psalm 19:7 states, "The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is trustworthy, making wise the simple." This verse highlights the law's role in guiding believers toward wisdom and spiritual renewal.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the concept of what is lawful is often discussed in relation to the teachings of Jesus and the apostles. Jesus emphasized the spirit of the law over the letter, focusing on love and mercy as the fulfillment of the law. In Matthew 22:37-40 , Jesus summarizes the law: "‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commandments."

The Apostle Paul further elaborates on the concept of lawful behavior in his epistles. In 1 Corinthians 6:12 , Paul writes, "Everything is permissible for me, but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible for me, but I will not be mastered by anything." Here, Paul acknowledges Christian liberty but cautions against actions that may not be beneficial or that could lead to spiritual bondage.

Lawful and Christian Liberty

The New Testament introduces the idea of Christian liberty, where believers are no longer under the strict ceremonial laws of the Old Testament but are guided by the Holy Spirit. This liberty, however, is not a license to sin. Galatians 5:13 warns, "For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love."

The early church grappled with questions of what was lawful, especially concerning Gentile converts. The Jerusalem Council in Acts 15 addressed these issues, determining that Gentile believers were not required to follow all Jewish ceremonial laws but should abstain from practices particularly offensive to Jewish Christians.

Conclusion

The biblical understanding of what is lawful is deeply intertwined with the character of God and His desire for His people to live in a way that reflects His holiness and love. While the specifics of what is considered lawful may have evolved from the Old to the New Testament, the underlying principle remains the same: to love God and love others, fulfilling the law through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.1. (a.) Conformable to law; allowed by law; legitimate; competent.

2. (a.) Constituted or authorized by law; rightful; as, the lawful owner of lands.

LAWFUL

lo'-fool (usually mishpaT, "relating to judgment," or "a pronounced judgment" tsaddiq, "relating to that which is righteous" or "just"; exesti, eunomos, "that which is authorized according to law," or "a privilege according to legitimate custom" (compare Ezekiel 18:5, 19, 21, 27 Isaiah 49:24 Matthew 12:10 Acts 16:21; Acts 19:39)): Used of persons: of God, as being righteous both in the punishment of the wicked and the rewarding of the righteous (Psalm 145:17 Hebrew); of man, as being just and equitable in all his dealings with his fellow-man (Ezekiel 33:19). It is used of things when the same are in accord with a pronounced judgment or a declared will of God, and thus pleasing in His sight (Mark 3:4). When the course of individual conduct is according to God's law of righteousness, it is declared to be "lawful" (Ezekiel 33:19). The word is used in a forensic sense as declaring the legal status of a person conforming to law. The idea of straighthess, rigid adherence to God's law, whether religious, civil or ceremonial, cannot be excluded from the definition of the word "lawful."

Neither the King James Version nor the American Standard Revised Version is consistent in its translation of the Hebrew and Greek words translated "lawful." Ofttimes the words "just" and "righteous" are used. To arrive at the full and proper meaning of "lawful," therefore, it is necessary that we study the passages containing these synonymous terms. The written Law of God is the recognized standard by which things, actions and persons are to be judged as being lawful or unlawful.

William Evans

1832. exesti -- it is permitted, lawful
... it is permitted, lawful. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: exesti Phonetic Spelling:
(ex'-es-tee) Short Definition: it is permitted, lawful, possible ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1832.htm - 6k

1772. ennomos -- legal, subject to (law)
... Word Origin from en and nomos Definition legal, subject to (law) NASB Word
Usage lawful (1), under the law (1). lawful, under law. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1772.htm - 6k

3892. paranomia -- lawbreaking
... 3892 -- properly, what is in direct contradiction to what is lawful; (literally,
"beside the law"); law-breaking, violation of divine justice. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3892.htm - 6k

7990. shallit -- having mastery, ruling
... captain, be lawful, ruler. (Aramaic) corresponding to shalliyt; mighty; abstractly,
permission; concretely, a premier -- captain, be lawful, rule(- r). ...
/hebrew/7990.htm - 6k

6662. tsaddiq -- just, righteous
... just, lawful, righteous man. From tsadaq; just -- just, lawful, righteous (man).
see HEBREW tsadaq. 6661, 6662. tsaddiq. 6663 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/6662.htm - 6k

Whether it is Lawful for the Accused to Defend Himself with ...
... OF SINS COMMITTED AGAINST JUSTICE ON THE PART OF THE DEFENDANT (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether
it is lawful for the accused to defend himself with calumnies? ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether it is lawful for 7.htm

Whether it is Lawful for a Man to Kill his Wife if She be ...
... OF WIFE-MURDER (TWO ARTICLES) Whether it is lawful for a man to kill his
wife if she be discovered in the act of adultery? Objection ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether it is lawful for 21.htm

Whether it is Lawful for the Accused to Escape Judgment by ...
... OF SINS COMMITTED AGAINST JUSTICE ON THE PART OF THE DEFENDANT (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether
it is lawful for the accused to escape judgment by appealing? ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether it is lawful for 8.htm

Whether Vengeance is Lawful?
... OF VENGEANCE (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether vengeance is lawful? Objection 1: It seems
that vengeance is not lawful. For whoever usurps what is God's sins. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether vengeance is lawful.htm

Whether it is Lawful to Swear?
... OF OATHS (TEN ARTICLES) Whether it is lawful to swear? Objection 1: It would
seem that it is not lawful to swear. Nothing forbidden ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether it is lawful to 18.htm

Whether it is Lawful for a Priest to Refrain Entirely from ...
... OF THE MINISTER OF THIS SACRAMENT (TEN ARTICLES) Whether it is lawful for a
priest to refrain entirely from consecrating the Eucharist? ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether it is lawful for 18.htm

Whether it is Lawful for a Man to Confess a Sin which He Has not ...
... OF CONFESSION, AS REGARDS ITS NECESSITY (SIX ARTICLES) Whether it is lawful
for a man to confess a sin which he has not committed? ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether it is lawful for 19.htm

Whether it is Lawful to Judge?
... OF JUDGMENT (SIX ARTICLES) Whether it is lawful to judge? Objection 1: It would
seem unlawful to judge. ... Therefore to no man is it lawful to judge. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether it is lawful to 6.htm

Whether it is Lawful to be Solicitous About Temporal Matters?
... OF VICES OPPOSED TO PRUDENCE BY WAY OF RESEMBLANCE (EIGHT ARTICLES) Whether
it is lawful to be solicitous about temporal matters? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether it is lawful to 5.htm

Whether it is Lawful for an Advocate to Take a Fee for Pleading?
... OF INJUSTICE IN JUDGMENT ON THE PART OF COUNSEL (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether
it is lawful for an advocate to take a fee for pleading? ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether it is lawful for 9.htm

Lawful (38 Occurrences)
... 1. (a.) Conformable to law; allowed by law; legitimate; competent. 2. (a.) Constituted
or authorized by law; rightful; as, the lawful owner of lands. ...LAWFUL. ...
/l/lawful.htm - 20k

Sabbaths (53 Occurrences)
... Matthew 12:10 and lo, there was a man having the hand withered, and they questioned
him, saying, 'Is it lawful to heal on the sabbaths?' that they might accuse ...
/s/sabbaths.htm - 24k

Permissible (3 Occurrences)
... It is not lawful for you to carry the mat." (See NAS). 1 Corinthians 6:12 "All
things are lawful for me," but not all things are expedient. ...
/p/permissible.htm - 7k

Unlawful (9 Occurrences)
... (a.) Not lawful; contrary to law. ... Luke 6:2 But some of the Pharisees said to them,
"Why do you do that which is not lawful to do on the Sabbath day?" (See NIV). ...
/u/unlawful.htm - 9k

Taxes (19 Occurrences)
... them. In the New Testament the payment of taxes, imposed by lawful rulers,
is enjoined as a duty (Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:13, 14). ...
/t/taxes.htm - 14k

Expedient (8 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV WEY DBY YLT NAS). 1 Corinthians 6:12 "All things are lawful for me,"
but not all things are expedient. "All things are lawful...
/e/expedient.htm - 10k

Beneficial (3 Occurrences)
... 1 Corinthians 6:12 "All things are lawful for me," but not all things are expedient. ...
"All things are lawful for me," but not all things build up. ...
/b/beneficial.htm - 7k

Helpful (6 Occurrences)
... 1 Corinthians 6:12 "All things are lawful for me," but not all things are expedient. ...
"All things are lawful for me," but not all things build up. ...
/h/helpful.htm - 8k

Presentation (3 Occurrences)
... Matthew 12:4 how he went into the house of God, and the loaves of the presentation
did eat, which it is not lawful to him to eat, nor to those with him, except ...
/p/presentation.htm - 8k

Cesar (20 Occurrences)
... thou? Is it lawful to give tribute to Cesar, or not? (WBS). ... WBS). Luke 20:22
Is it lawful for us to give tribute to Cesar, or not? (WBS). ...
/c/cesar.htm - 12k

What does it mean that “all things are lawful unto me” (1 Corinthians 6:12; 10:23)? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean that everything is permissible in 1 Corinthians 6:12 and 1 Corinthians 10:23? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean that “a bruised reed He will not break” in Matthew 12:20? | GotQuestions.org

Lawful: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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