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Thoughts on Capital Punishment (27 minutes)
In the beginning
Genesis 9:6 “Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed, for in the image of God He made man.Gen 9:6 ”
Old Covenant death penalties
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- Adultery (Lev 20:11);
- Attacking parents (Exod 21:15);
- Bestiality (Exod 22:19, Lev 20:15)
- Blasphemy (Lev 24:16)
- Bull goring (Exod 21:29)
- Contempt of court (Deut 17:12)
- Cursing parents (Exod 21:17, Lev 20:9)
- Disobedient son — drunkard etc (Deut 21:21)
- Female promiscuity (Deut 22:21)
- Idolatry (Exod 22:20, Deut 13:5, 17:2)
- Incest (Lev 20:11+)
- Kidnapping (Exod 21:16, Deut 24:7)
- Malicious witness in capital case (Deut 19:16)
- Manslaughter (Gen 9:6, Exod 21:12, Lev 24:17, Num 35:16+)
- Priestly arrogation (Num 3:10, 18:7)
- Sabbath breaking (Num 15:35)
- Sodomy (Lev 20:13)
- Sorcery (Exod 22:18, Lev 20:17
- In most cases commuted to a financial penalty.
New Covenant justice
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- John 8:7 Jesus Christ: “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”
- The VENGEANCE belongs to God: Matthew 5:21-22, 39-48, Romans 12:17-21
- Martyrs: Acts 12 – Herod, Mark 6 – John the Baptist, Rev 20:4
- Early church rejected capital punishment (Constantine – references from Ante-Nicene):
- “He who reckons it a pleasure that a man—though justly condemned—should be slain in his sight, pollutes his conscience as much as if he should become a spectator and a sharer of a murder that is secretly committed. Yet, they call these “sports,” in which human blood is shed!” – Lactantius (c.304-313), 7.186.
- “When God forbids us to kill, He not only prohibits us from the open violence that is not even allowed by the public laws, but He also warns us against doing those things that are esteemed lawful among men. Thus it will not be lawful for a just man to engage in warfare, since his warfare is injustice itself. Nor is it lawful for him to accuse anyone of a capital crime. For it makes no difference whether you put a man to death by word or by the sword. For it is the act of putting to death itself that is prohibited. Therefore, with regard to the commandment of God, there should be no exception at all. Rather, it is always unlawful to put a man to death, whom God willed to be a sacred creature.” – Lactantius, 7.187.
CONCLUSION
- There is a strong biblical emphasis on mercy (Micah 6:8, Matthew 5:7, Numbers 32:23, 1 Timothy 5:24, etc).
- Bible urges us to follow the laws of the land, except where they violate the laws of God.
- The early church believed strongly in justice yet adamantly opposed the death penalty.
