ALL THE RULES OF JURISPRUDENCE
BROKEN OR IGNORED BY THE JEWISH LEADERS
No trials were to occur during the night hours before morning sacrifice. (Mishnah: Sanhedrin 4:1)
Trials
were not to occur on the eve of a Sabbath or during festivals. (Mishnah: Sanhedrin 4:1)
All
trials were to be public; secret trials were forbidden. (Mishnah:
Sanhedrin 1:6)
All
trials were to be held in the Hall of Judgement in
the temple area. (Mishnah: Sanhedrin 11:2)
Capital
cases required a minimum of twenty-three judges. (Mishnah:
Sanhedrin 4:1)
An
accused could not testify against himself. (Mishnah: Sanhedrin 3:3-4)
Someone
was required to speak on behalf of the accused. (Mishnah:
Sanhedrin 3:3-4)
Conviction
required the testimony of two or three witnesses to be in perfect alignment.
(Deuteronomy 17:6-7, 19:15-20)
Witnesses
for the prosecution were to be examined and cross-examined extensively. (Mishnah: Sanhedrin 4:1)
Capital
cases were to follow a strict order, beginning with arguments by the defence, then arguments for conviction. (Mishnah: Sanhedrin
4:1)
All
Sanhedrin judges could argue for acquittal, but not all could argue for
conviction. (Mishnah: Sanhedrin 4:1)
The
high priest should not participate in the questioning. (Mishnah:
Sanhedrin 3:6)
Each
witness in a capital case was to be examined individually, not in the presence
of the other witness. (Mishnah: Sanhedrin 3:6)
The
testimony of two witnesses found to be in contradiction rendered them both
invalid. (Mishnah: Sanhedrin 5:2)
Voting
for conviction and sentencing in a capital case was to be conducted
individually, beginning with the youngest, so younger
members would not be influenced by the voting of the elder members.
(Mishnah: Sanhedrin 4:2)
Verdicts
in capital cases were to be handed down only during daylight hours. (Mishnah: Sanhedrin 4:1)
The
members of the Sanhedrin were to meet in pairs all night to discuss the case,
and reconvene for the purpose of confirming the
final verdict and imposing sentence (Mishnah: Sanhedrin
4:1)
Sentencing
in a capital case was not to occur until the following day. (Mishnah: Sanhedrin 4:1)
From The New Covenant Newsletter
(
They Kept Watch over Him
Then they crucified him, and divided his garments, casting lots, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the
prophet: They divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots
and sitting down, they kept watch over him there.
Mathew 27:35-36
Here, in marked contrast, are seen the glory of moral perfection and
the depth of human depravity ~ the most sublime heroism and self-renunciation,
the most exalted benevolence and devoted loyalty; in contrast with vilest
hypocrisy, cold-blooded hate and abject cowardice. The meanest selfishness and pride delivered
to ignominy and death the fairest flower of virtue that ever bloomed on
earth. Wicked hands and hearts executed
their dark designs of envy and hatred, taking pleasure in the dying agonies of
the Son of God, while He, as a sheep before His shearers is dumb, opened not
His mouth but meekly submitted to the terrible ordeal of suffering and death
for the world of lost sinners, none of whom could then appreciate or understand
His motives or work. Truly, the
contrast of such virtue, in comparison with such depravity, encircles the Cross
of Christ with a halo of ineffable glory, the broken rays of which, falling
upon us, express all there is of moral perfection.