It is important to recognize the origin and purpose of capital punishment. It is of equal importance to know the restrictions that God has placed on the enforcement of this law. Numbers 35:30 warns that no one is to be put to death on the testimony of one witness. Numbers 35:19, 24 note that the actual execution of a person for murder is restricted to the “avenger of blood,” that is, the victim’s next kin who bears that responsibility. Romans 13:1-7, in a similar way, restricts the enforcement of the death penalty to civil authorities. Number 35:9-15 tells us that a distinction was made in case of an accident. Cities of refuge were required to be provided for a person who killed someone else accidentally. Most of all, it is important to know that Christ did not abolish any of God’s law (Matthew 5:17) and for that matter capital punishment. However, it is not to be motivated by an attitude of revenge on the part of individuals. In Matthew 5:38-42 Jesus notes that the Jews had heard it said, “An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.” Jesus responds to this misuse of Scripture by commanding people to turn the other cheek. The saying that people were using to justify their revenge was based on Exodus 21:22-25. This passage did require life for life, eye for eye and tooth for tooth. However, the decision to execute such judgment was restricted to the judges. TGLM
Posted on: Sat, 04 Oct 2014 23:35:47 +0000
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