"Is It Lawful?"

The question, “Is it lawful?” is asked nine times in the New Testament (Matthew 12:10; 19:3; 22:17;  Mark 3:4; 12:14;  Luke 6:9; 14:3; 20:22;  Acts 22:25). The question is essentially seeking authorization for doing—or not doing—a certain thing: whether it is about healing on the Sabbath, divorcing one’s spouse for any reason at all, or scourging a Roman citizen.

The question, “Is it lawful?” seems to be asked a lot less than it should be, especially when it comes to worshiping God. For example, when Nadab and Abihu offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded (Leviticus 10:1–11), they were consumed by fire which came out from the Lord. They did not stop to think about what they were doing because they didn’t care, and they were therefore severely punished.

In asking, “What’s wrong with _____?” we’re really asking the wrong question because we are basically coming at establishing authority backward—we’re already doing what we’re weakly questioning. It’s the same as asserting that since the Bible does not forbid a practice that it is somehow divinely-acceptable. But again, consider Nadab and Abihu.

When we ask “Is it lawful?” or “What makes this right?” we are seeking authority first and foremost rather than as an afterthought.

Another important phrase we find used throughout the New Testament by Jesus Himself and His holy apostles is: “It is written.”

This phrase is found 64 times —Matthew 2:5; 4:4, 6–7, 10; 11:10; 21:13; 26:24,31;  Mark 1:2; 7:6; 9:13; 14:21, 27;  Luke 2:23; 3:4; 4:4, 8, 10; 7:27; 19:46; 24:46;  John 6:31, 45; 8:17; 12:14;  Acts 1:20; 7:42; 13:33; 15:15; 23:5;  Romans 1:17; 2:24; 3:4,10; 4:17; 8:36; 9:13, 33; 10:15; 11:8, 26; 12:19; 14:11; 15:3,9,21;  1 Corinthians 1:19, 31; 2:9; 3:19; 6:16; 9:9; 10:7; 14:21; 15:45; 2 Corinthians 8:15; 9:9;  Galatians 3:10, 13; 4:22, 27; Hebrews 10:7;  1 Peter 1:16.

Seeing this lengthy list of scripture references underscores the importance of this phrase because it manifests an attitude of reverence toward God’s word as the source of our authority for doing what we do and how we do it. As Jesus said, “Take heed what you hear … Take heed how you hear” (Mark 4:24;  Luke 8:18).

In the words of King David—“Oh how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. … Great peace have those who love Your law; nothing can make them stumble” (Psalm 119:97, 165).

In all worship and holy conduct we need to possess this attitude toward the word of God because His word brings life (John 6:68;  1 John 5:11–13). “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak” (John 12:48–50).

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16–17).

“Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:11–13).

Knowing how important the word of God is in distinguishing between what is acceptable and what is not, we read of our adversary’s interest in removing or distorting the word: “The sower sows the word. And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them” (Mark 4:14–15;  Galatians 1:7).

“Put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:21–22).

“That which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete” (1 John 1:3–4).

Before we offer worship to God, let us be sure that it is lawful (Romans 12:1–2).