Lawyer
Summary
A Jewish religious expert skilled in interpreting and teaching the Mosaic law, essentially synonymous with 'scribe' though emphasizing their function as legal authorities rather than their scribal office.
☩Definition and Function
The term 'lawyer' (Greek nomikos, 'one pertaining to law') denotes one skilled in the laws of Moses, which he taught in schools and synagogues. While 'scribe' (grammateus) was the official legal designation, 'lawyer' described their function as legal experts. The same person called a 'lawyer' in Matthew 22:35 is termed a 'scribe' in the parallel passage Mark 12:28, demonstrating the terms' interchangeability. Some suggest scribes were public expounders while lawyers were private teachers, but this distinction is conjectural. The title 'doctor of the law' (nomodidaskalos) represents the highest designation for such experts (Luke 5:17; Acts 5:34).
☩Three-Fold Work
The lawyers' responsibilities were threefold: to study and interpret the law, to instruct youth in the law, and to decide questions of law. Through their interpretive work they developed extensive case law, since the Mosaic code's provisions were general and required detailed application. This judicial interpretation had to be memorized since recording was forbidden, requiring protracted study. Regular meetings of legal experts discussed points of law, and the majority opinion became authoritative. Young students attended these gatherings to learn the formulas and ask questions of recognized doctors (Luke 2:46). When doubts arose regarding the law's application, questions were referred to lawyers, then to companies of lawyers or ultimately to the Sanhedrin.
☩Jesus and the Lawyers
Lawyers appear in several Gospel narratives testing Jesus or receiving His rebuke. A lawyer tested Jesus by asking 'Which is the great commandment in the law?' (Matthew 22:35), to which Jesus responded with the commands to love God and neighbor. Another lawyer, seeking to justify himself, prompted Jesus' parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). Jesus pronounced woes upon the lawyers for loading men with burdens they would not touch themselves, for hindering those entering the kingdom, and for building tombs for prophets their fathers killed while themselves rejecting God's messengers (Luke 11:45-52). Zenas, mentioned in Titus 3:13, is called 'the lawyer,' possibly indicating either Jewish legal expertise or Roman legal training.
Related Verses8 mentions
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Lawyer," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. V (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Lawyer," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. III (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).