Movatterモバイル変換

Deuteronomy 16:18-20
Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment…

Deuteronomy 17:8,9
If there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke,being matters of controversy within thy gates: then shalt thou arise, and get thee up into the place which the LORD thy God shall choose; …

Deuteronomy 19:17-19
Then both the men, between whom the controversyis, shall stand before the LORD, before the priests and the judges, which shall be in those days; …

they are to go to court
The court system in ancient Israel was established to ensure that disputes were resolved according to God's laws. Judges were appointed to interpret and apply the law, as seen inDeuteronomy 16:18. This system underscores the importance of order and justice in society, reflecting God's character as a God of justice (Isaiah 30:18).

to be judged
Judgment in this context involves discerning the truth and making a decision based on the law. The role of judges was crucial, as they were to be impartial and wise, as instructed inDeuteronomy 1:16-17. This process points to the ultimate judgment of God, who will judge all people with perfect justice (Psalm 9:7-8).

so that the innocent may be acquitted
The acquittal of the innocent is a fundamental principle of justice, ensuring that those who have not committed wrongdoing are not punished. This reflects God's desire for righteousness and fairness, as seen inProverbs 17:15, which condemns justifying the wicked and condemning the righteous.

and the guilty condemned
Condemning the guilty serves as a deterrent to wrongdoing and upholds the moral order established by God. This principle is echoed inRomans 13:4, where governing authorities are described as God's servants to execute wrath on wrongdoers. It also foreshadows the final judgment, where Christ will separate the righteous from the wicked (Matthew 25:31-46).

“If there is a dispute between men…” (Deuteronomy 25:1a)

• Scripture recognizes that conflicts are inevitable in a fallen world (James 4:1–2).

• The verse addresses disputes “between men,” signaling civil or legal disagreements rather than personal squabbles alone.

• God’s Law never ignores conflict; it provides orderly means to address it (Exodus 22:9;Proverbs 25:8).

• By acknowledging disputes, the Lord affirms that justice is a community responsibility, not merely an individual burden (Matthew 18:15–17).

“…they are to go to court to be judged…” (25:1b)

• The community’s judges represent God’s authority on earth (Deuteronomy 16:18; 17:8–13).

• Courts ensure impartial hearings, protecting both parties from mob rule or personal vengeance (2 Chronicles 19:5–7).

• Legal process reflects God’s character—orderly, rational, and righteous (1 Corinthians 14:40).

• Practical takeaways:

– Seek objective mediation when conflict escalates.

– Respect lawful authority as God’s servant for good (Romans 13:1–4).

“…so that the innocent may be acquitted…” (25:1c)

• God’s justice system aims first to protect the righteous (Exodus 23:7).

• Acquittal is more than legal freedom; it restores reputation and standing (Proverbs 18:5, 17).

• Judges must discern truth carefully, reflecting the Lord who “upholds the cause of the innocent” (Psalm 82:3).

• The principle foreshadows our ultimate acquittal in Christ, who justifies all who believe (Romans 5:1).

“…and the guilty condemned.” (25:1d)

• Condemnation of the guilty deters future wrongdoing (Deuteronomy 19:19–20).

• Equal weights: the same law that protects the innocent prosecutes the wicked (Proverbs 17:15;Isaiah 5:23).

• Punishment upholds the community’s moral fabric and honors victims (Numbers 35:33–34).

• This mirrors the final judgment where God will separate the unrighteous from the righteous (Matthew 25:31–46).

Deuteronomy 25:1 paints a concise picture of godly justice: conflicts are inevitable, but they must be submitted to lawful judgment; judges act under divine authority to clear the innocent and punish the guilty. The verse upholds fairness, deters sin, and previews the perfect judgment of God—calling us to embrace integrity, respect lawful processes, and trust the Lord who judges all things righteously.

Deuteronomy 25:1-3.HUMANITY IN PUNISHMENTS.

(1)They shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked.--"I will not justify the wicked" (Exodus 23:7). "He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the Lord" (Proverbs 17:15). It should be noticed thatjustifyis here used forensically, not meaning to make righteous, but totreat as righteous.Those who object to this sense in St. Paul's Epistles, will find it hard to put any other sense upon the word in the rest of Holy Scripture.

(2)If the wicked man be worthy to be beaten.--Literally,a son of beating, or of Haccoth,according to the Hebrew. The treatise calledMaccoth,in the Talmud, describes the infliction of the punishment in later times, when "of the Jews five times" St. Paul "received forty stripes save one." The details have been described by Canon Farrar in an appendix to hisLife of St. Paul.

Shall cause him to lie down.--The Talmud interprets the position as not sitting nor standing, nor exactly lying, but with the body inclined.

Before his face.--This is interpreted ason the front of his body.The thirty-nine stripes were given thirteen on one shoulder, thirteen on the other, and thirteen on the breast.

(3)Forty stripes.--The Talmud says that they considered first what a man could bear, and flogged him according to their estimate. In some cases, if the whole punishment could not be administered at once, it was divided. It is contemplated as possibly fatal, however. . . .