Murder in The Bible

[Yeshua1]

Murder in the Holy Bible is a very serious crime, which is the unlawful, deliberate, taking of another human life. Because humans have been created in the "Image of God", it is one of the highest crimes against the Lord, and other humans. The Bible's punishment for murder, has been from the Book of Genesis, to Revelation, death. The passage in Revalation show the seriousness of this crime, and its punishment is, "the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death”, which is a far more severe punishment than the death penalty, that humans are to administer on behalf of the Lord. There is no evidence anywhere in the Bible (unless I have missed it), where murder is punishable by anything less than death.

Rather than posting our own personal views, or, what we think what the Bible should say, I would like to see from the Scriptures, if there is any reason why this high crime, should not be punished by death.

Genesis 9:6, "Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man."

Exodus 24:14, "But if a man acts with premeditation against his neighbor, to kill him by treachery, you shall take him from My altar, that he may die"

Leviticus 21:17, “Whoever takes a human life shall surely be put to death."

Numbers 35:20-21, " And if he pushed him out of hatred or hurled something at him, lying in wait, so that he died, or in enmity struck him down with his hand, so that he died, then he who struck the blow shall be put to death. He is a murderer. The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death when he meets him"

Numbers 35:31, “Moreover, you shall accept no ransom for the life of a murderer, who is guilty of death, but he shall be put to death”

Matthew 5:21-22, “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the punishment.’ Moreover, I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the punishment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire. .”

Revelation 21:8, "But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

I would see God permitting this for Murder 1 cases, if there is absolute proof of their guilt!

 

[SavedByGrace]

God may ordain the secular authorities to act

so, are you saying that if a state in the US, for example, which has a Christian Governor, and the death penalty is carried out for captial crimes, in accordance with the explicit Word of God, that the Governor is not "ordained" by the Lord as an authority to take this action? Your argument seems moot!

 

[Yeshua1]

your reasoning is human-minded and very faulty. Lets take your reasoning to another issue, adultery. In John chapter 8 we have the famous account of the woman caught in the act of adultery, Jesus says to her, "Neither do I condemn thee: go thy way; from henceforth sin no more" (8:11). So, because of this account are we to conclude at all acts of adultery are not to be "condemned"?

Not guilty of death penalty!

 

[SavedByGrace]

Not guilty of death penalty!

was not adultery punishable by death under the Law of Moses, as directed by the Lord Himself?

"You shall not commit adultery" (Exodus 20:14)

"If a man commits adultery with the wife of his neighbor, both the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death." (Leviticus 20:10)

“If a man is found lying with the wife of another man, both of them shall die, the man who lay with the woman, and the woman. So you shall purge the evil from Israel." (Deuteronomy 22:22)

 

[Yeshua1]

was not adultery punishable by death under the Law of Moses, as directed by the Lord Himself?

"You shall not commit adultery" (Exodus 20:14)

"If a man commits adultery with the wife of his neighbor, both the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death." (Leviticus 20:10)

“If a man is found lying with the wife of another man, both of them shall die, the man who lay with the woman, and the woman. So you shall purge the evil from Israel." (Deuteronomy 22:22)

No longer under Mosaic law and penalty!

 

[SavedByGrace]

No longer under Mosaic law and penalty!

you are VERY WRONG!

ONLY the sacrificial part of the Law of Moses was nailed to the cross of Jesus, as He is the Lamb of God. Are you suggesting the all the Ten Commandments no longer apply to Christians? Very dangerous thinking!

 

[Yeshua1]

you are VERY WRONG!

ONLY the sacrificial part of the Law of Moses was nailed to the cross of Jesus, as He is the Lamb of God. Are you suggesting the all the Ten Commandments no longer apply to Christians? Very dangerous thinking!

No, we are still under Moral law of God, but NOT the death penalties for sin given to Israel by God!

 

[SavedByGrace]

No, we are still under Moral law of God, but NOT the death penalties for sin given to Israel by God!

Huh? that IS part of the MORAL LAW!

 

[Yeshua1]

Huh? that IS part of the MORAL LAW!

That part was just given to israel!

 

[SavedByGrace]

That part was just given to israel!

and your Bible support is?

 

[Yeshua1]

and your Bible support is?

Under Grace, not law now!

 

[Van]

Clearly governments acting according to biblical instruction can impose the death penalty for the willful taking of another's life.
But, as in California, the death penalty can be reserved for crimes with "special circumstances" and not be applied in other cases.
And so, I agree with Canadyjd, I voted against the death penalty (and as usual lost) because too many times it is the poor or black or feeble minded that get sentenced with the needle. Since we make mistakes in our pursuit of justice, erring on the side of mercy seems wise.

 

[SavedByGrace]

Under Grace, not law now!

meaning what? brutal rape, murder, etc, should no longer be punished? I think that this "Under Grace" thing is a smokescreen! Are you and others who follow this thinking, suggesting that we do not punish anyone for crimes? So, by using one passage in the Bible, for example, John 7:53-8:11, where Jesus "forgives" (Grace) this woman, that all adultery should no longer be punished in our society? And murder should also simply be "forgiven"? We will then have a more lawless world!

 

[canadyjd]

...... I won't fault a Christian for supporting the death penalty, being a judge and sentencing someone to death, or sitting on a jury for a capital crime. These are things that unfortunately must occur to keep society running.

But as a Christian, I am commanded to forgive. God may ordain the secular authorities to act, but He may also break them and throw them aside. Vengeance belongs to the Lord.

In the US, Christians have a civic responsibility to serve on juries. Some Christians also serve in capacities as judges. Both could hear cases involving the death penalty.

The 1 Tim. 1:15-16 passage seems clear to me. As stated by someone else, we err on side of mercy. God doesn’t need to use Christians to implement the death penalty.

Personally, if on jury duty hearing a death penalty case, I would ask to be excused.

peace to you

 

[SavedByGrace]

Clearly governments acting according to biblical instruction can impose the death penalty for the willful taking of another's life.
But, as in California, the death penalty can be reserved for crimes with "special circumstances" and not be applied in other cases.
And so, I agree with Canadyjd, I voted against the death penalty (and as usual lost) because too many times it is the poor or black or feeble minded that get sentenced with the needle. Since we make mistakes in our pursuit of justice, erring on the side of mercy seems wise.

injustices should not be what guides us. When the Bible is very clear on anything, as it is on murder, then as Christians we are obliged by the Lord to carry out His Just demands, or else we are guilty of ignoring the Word of God, because of some faults with society!

 

[Van]

injustices should not be what guides us. When the Bible is very clear on anything, as it is on murder, then as Christians we are obliged by the Lord to carry out His Just demands, or else we are guilty of ignoring the Word of God, because of some faults with society!

Since some murderers were granted mercy (David) to claim mercy is not allowed by scripture is twaddle.

 

[Rob_BW]

so, are you saying that if a state in the US, for example, which has a Christian Governor, and the death penalty is carried out for captial crimes, in accordance with the explicit Word of God, that the Governor is not "ordained" by the Lord as an authority to take this action? Your argument seems moot!

I said what I said. Feel free to "what if?" it to death.

I am saying that civil authority exists, though it is not perfect. The rod God uses one day may be broken and cast aside the next day. Like Assyria, for the obvious example.

 

[SavedByGrace]

Since some murderers were granted mercy (David) to claim mercy is not allowed by scripture is twaddle.

God can choose to do anything that He wants to, because He IS God. He has told us in His Word in both Testaments what the penalty is for crimes like murder, which the Bible verses in the OP affirm. Anyone who disregards or excuses this from misapplication of the Bible, will be held accountable by the Lord!

 

[SavedByGrace]

The rod God uses one day may be broken and cast aside the next day

that is your personal opinion, the Bible very clearly says what it does, as shown in the texts in the OP.

 

[SavedByGrace]

1 Timothy 1

15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.

NOTHING here is against God's own punishment for murder. This passage is being misused to justify peoples private views which go against the Word of God.