Bible Passages About Court and Legal Matters

Old Testament Guidance

The Old Testament provides several principles regarding courts, judges, and legal proceedings:

Exodus 23:1-3 - "Do not spread false reports. Do not help a guilty person by being a malicious witness. Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you give testimony in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd, and do not show favoritism to a poor person in a lawsuit."
Deuteronomy 16:18-20 - "Appoint judges and officials for each of your tribes in every town the Lord your God is giving you, and they shall judge the people fairly. Do not pervert justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the innocent. Follow justice and justice alone, so that you may live and possess the land the Lord your God is giving you."
Deuteronomy 19:15-19 - "One witness is not enough to convict anyone accused of any crime or offense they may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. If a malicious witness takes the stand to accuse someone of a crime, the two people involved in the dispute must stand in the presence of the Lord before the priests and the judges who are in office at the time. The judges must make a thorough investigation, and if the witness proves to be a liar, giving false testimony against a fellow Israelite, then do to the false witness as that witness intended to do to the other party."
Proverbs 18:17 - "In a lawsuit the first to speak seems right, until someone comes forward and cross-examines."
Proverbs 24:23-25 - "These also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judging is not good. Whoever says to the guilty, 'You are innocent,' will be cursed by peoples and denounced by nations. But it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and rich blessing will come on them."

New Testament Teachings

The New Testament addresses Christians and their relationship to courts and disputes:

Matthew 5:25-26 - "Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny."
1 Corinthians 6:1-8 - “When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? 2 Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life! 4 So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church? 5 I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers, 6 but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers? 7 To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? 8 But you yourselves wrong and defraud—even your own brothers!”
Romans 12:14-21 - "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.' To the contrary, 'if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.' Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

President Newman’s (Second) Report to the 2025 Texas District Convention:

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In my role as district president, I have offered counsel (bylaw 3.10.1.2) to the LCMS President and Board of Directors regarding the lawsuit. I have encouraged all involved to embark on a Scriptural and Confessional course for resolution of the issue. I’ve highlighted the Scriptural injunctions of 1 Corinthians 6:1-8, Matthew 5:38-42, and Romans 12:14-21 (“When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life! So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church? I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers, but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers? To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded?” 1 Corinthians 6:1-7)

I’ve noted a key section from the Apology to the Augsburg Confession that states regarding our conduct in public affairs, “Private remedy is prohibited not by advice, but by a command (Matthew 5:39; Romans 12:19)” (AP XVI, 58-59).

In addition, I have shared key sections from Martin Luther’s Admonition to Peace, written 500 years ago (1525, Luther’s Works, AE, Vol 46, 28-32). Luther notes in part:

In Romans 12 [:19] Paul says, “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God.” In this same sense he praises the Corinthians for gladly suffering if someone hits or robs them, Il Corinthians 11 [:20]. And in I Corinthians 6 [:1-2] he condemns them for going to court for the sake of property rather than suffering injustice. Indeed, our leader, Jesus Christ, says in Matthew 7 [5:44] that we should bless those who insult us, pray for our persecutors, love our enemies, and do good to those who do evil to us. These, dear friends, are our Christian laws.

I say all this, dear friends, as a faithful warning. In this case you should stop calling yourselves Christians and stop claiming that you have the Christian law on your side. For no matter how right you are, it is not right for a Christian to appeal to law, or to fight, but rather to suffer wrong and endure evil; and there is no other way (I Corinthians 6 [:1-8]).

I rejoice that mediation efforts have been taking place between the LCMS and CTX. I also give thanks that the LCMS Board of Directors approached the CTX regents for the purpose of entering into discussion about settling the lawsuit. With the lawsuit in place, however, legal teams must take the lead and conversation between parties is limited until the lawsuit is dropped or settled.

Texas District Convention Workbook, 2025, p. 30-31

(https://txlcms.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/FINAL-2025-Convention-Workbook-REV.-06.01.25.pdf)

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