7 Death Penalty

The death penalty: Christians do have different opinions about it. What does the Bible say?

In the Old Testament we find several verses on the capital punishment of f.i. thieves, murderers, adulterers and the likes.

An example:
“For every one that curseth his father or his mother shall be surely put to death. He hath cursed his father or his mother: his blood shall be upon him. And the man that committeth adultery with another man’s wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbor’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death. And the man that lieth with his father’s wife hath uncovered his father’s nakedness. Both of them shall surely be put to death: their blood shall be upon them. And if a man lie with his daughter-in-law, both of them shall surely be put to death. They have wrought confusion: their blood shall be upon them. If a man also lie with mankind as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death: their blood shall be upon them. And if a man take a wife and her mother, it is wickedness. They shall be burned with fire, both he and they, that there be no wickedness among you. And if a man lie with a beast, he shall surely be put to death; and ye shall slay the beast. And if a woman approach unto any beast and lie down thereto, thou shalt kill the woman and the beast. They shall surely be put to death: their blood shall be upon them.” (Leviticus 20:9-16 KJ21)

It wasn't unusual among the Jews that men and/or women were executed.
Therefore, on a certain day “...the scribes and Pharisees brought unto Him (=Jesus) a woman taken in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, they said unto Him, "Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us that such should be stoned but what sayest thou?" This they said testing Him, that they might have cause to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground, as though He heard them not.” (John 8:3-6 KJ21)

They wanted to hear the rabbi of Nazareth's opinion, because they noticed several times that He had a different view on the Mosaic law: He healed people on Sabbath (John 5:2-16). He also confronted them with their own shortcomings:
“Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill Me?"” (John 7:19 KJ21)

At first Jesus did not respond to their question, but “...when they continued asking Him, He lifted Himself up and said unto them, "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her." And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground.” (John 8:7-8 KJ21)

These words forced the Pharisees to act honestly. They had the power nor the authority to resist Him. Although they did not know at the moment, Jesus was the only one who had the right to cast the stones:
“And they who heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the eldest even unto the last, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had lifted Himself up and saw none but the woman, He said unto her, "Woman, where are those thine accusers? Hath no man condemned thee?" She said, "No man, Lord." And Jesus said unto her, "Neither do I condemn thee; go, and sin no more.” (John 8:9-11 KJ21)

The Pharisees slipped away one by one without casting stones. Our Saviour did not cast stones either, instead He pardoned the adulteress.

At this moment the real meaning of the Law became painfully clear: to convince any man or woman of sin and need of salvation “for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23 KJ21)

Those who wanted to condemn could not, He who had the authority to condemn would not, but showed mercy.

What can we learn from this?
Was this the moment in time where the death penalty no longer was demanded by the Word of God?
Christ came in the world to save sinners, not to condemn them:
“For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:17 KJ21)

Do we, being sinners ourselves, have the right to end someone's life because he/she has sinned? Don't we deserve the same punishment?
“Ye have heard that it was said by them of old, ‘Thou shalt not kill,’ and ‘Whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment.’ But I say unto you, that whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment; and whosoever shall say to his brother, ‘Raca,’ shall be in danger of the council; but whosoever shall say, ‘Thou fool,’ shall be in danger of hell fire.” (Matthew 5:21-22 KJ21)

Isn't it best to leave the decision about life and death to the Almighty?
He knows who will turn to Him for salvation and when that will happen:
“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9 KJ21)

Isn't Paul an example of a unmerciful murderer, yet chosen by our Saviour?
“I am verily a man who am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city of Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day. And I persecuted this Way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women, as also the high priest doth bear me witness and all the council of the elders. From them I also received letters unto the brethren, and I went to Damascus to bring those who were there bound unto Jerusalem to be punished. "And it came to pass that, as I made my journey and had come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me. And I fell unto the ground and heard a voice saying unto me, ‘Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me?’ And I answered, ‘Who art Thou, Lord?’ And He said unto me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.’ And those who were with me saw indeed the light and were afraid, but they heard not the voice of Him that spoke to me. And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said unto me, ‘Arise and go into Damascus, and there it shall be told thee of all the things which are appointed for thee to do.” (Acts 22:3-10 KJ21)

Ofcourse offenders and criminals need to be punished but let's not deny our fellow sinners the opportunity to "turn their eyes upon Jesus" by ending their life willingly.

“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath; for it is written: "Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."” (Romans 12:19 KJ21)
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