In this study

Situational ethics only work when the founding principles are soundA thorny Bible issue: SlaveryHeart of the matter on servitudeTorah’s poison pill for slavery reaps its due of wicked hearts (Jeremiah 34:8-22)Philemon: Prime cuts of TorahThe Master came as the LORD’s Servant

The Torah portion מִּשְׁפָּטִים Mishpatim (Exodus 21–24) contains the “Book of the Covenant” (Ex. 24:7), which runs from Exodus 21–23. God’s directions are often referred to as מִצְוֹתָיו וּמִשְׁפָּטָיו וְחֻקֹּתָיו mitsvateiv umishpateiv v’khuqoteiv (Deut. 8:11, “His commands, His statutes and His ordinances”).

The word משפט mishpat can be understood to mean judgment, decision or case. Here are key examples the Bible of mishpat:

* Moshe (Moses) settled the משפט mishpat — case — on Zelophehad’s daughters’ inheritance (Num. 27:5).* Yehoshua (Joshua) took over משפט before Eleazar the priest and Urim from Moshe (Num 27:21).* Shlomo (Solomon) builds a אוּלָם הַמִּשְׁפָּט ulam ha-mishpat (hall of justice), i.e., a courthouse. We have also halls of justice in our country, which are set up to communicate fairness, continuity, impartiality and wisdom. * Psalm 119 uses משפט in 22 places together with תורה torah. This could point to decisions that come from God also being as weighty and instructive as His commands and instructions.

Situational ethics only work when the founding principles are sound

Just as it was then, it is true today that it requires wisdom to put the Torah and the mishpat into practice in our daily lives. 

The mishpatim (משפטים) are first situational, but principles underlie them. So, we must be careful in the Torah to determine what is for a given situation or for all situations. 

Even today, it’s important to figure out whether a higher court’s ruling is “narrow,” only for a given case or specific situations, or “broad,” creating precedent for application of legal principle to other cases.

We see this with the writings of the apostle Paul as well. There are issues that he addresses that apply on a very narrow basis, but other issues he address that establish a precedent that should be followed by all communities that acknowledge Yeshua as Messiah. 

Case law is wise situational application of principles: “If [insert bad situation], then do this.” That’s different from, “I want you to [insert bad situation].”

But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully, realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching. 1Timothy 1:8-10 NASB

There are some in the body of Messiah who say that all of the Torah has been thrown out and are totally irrelevant to believers in Messiah. But fortunately, there are also many believers who understand that without the Torah,