According to the Biblical text, conveniently translated from four different languages to English. We are fortunate to have a comprehensive guide to understanding The Highest God’s view of the world. First there are rules originating from the Old Testament and evolving in the New Testament. Why these rules evolved is what we need to find out so that our faith cannot be shaken. “Thou shalt not kill” is a vague command that is partly explained in Numbers 35. Christ even elaborates even further on addressing dangerous thoughts that cause us to kill. But there are three other reasons for killing in the Bible. The Old Testament has two other reasons for killing. In the eyes of Biblical righteousness the act of killing is half of the time and act of executing justice through the death penalty.
Disclaimer:
Disclaimer: This article is not an advocation to practice any of the biblical death penalty laws. This artical is for edifying modern christians on how ugly some of our actions are to The Highest God. Do not use this as an excuse to kill someone. No one is given that authority accept The Highest God.
Some think this is cruel, in reality it is not. Even in the book of Revelation The Highest God unleashes his wrath and starts killing the wicked. Not to mention that all the wicked will die a final spiritual death. So eventually we all will see this Biblical death penalty carried out on humanity.. The Highest God condones the death penalty within his laws. At least after you know why he kills, we all can avoid the final judgement and death penalty. In this article I will be explaining phrases used to describe the reason for a death penalty punishment. First, God “delivers the into thine hands”. Second to execute judgement and lastly, to “put evil away from among you”.
“Deliver The Into Thine Hands”
Exodus 21:13 “And if a man lie not in wait, but God deliver him into his hand; then I will appoint thee a place whither he shall flee.”
There are multiple phrases similar to this in the Bible. It can mean to bring someone or a people into or out of trouble, and/or prosperity. Sometimes it means an act of receiving something. As for this topic of killing for judgment, we are examining it as an act of “justice”. Like I’ve mentioned in a previous article, there is a type of killer The Highest God calls a slayer. Which is one who accidentally, unexpectedly and was unaware of killing someone.
Sometimes people who have committed a death penalty sin get away from the priest, judges and officers of Israel. However, God knows about our hidden sins, and occasionally he will “deliver us into thine hands”. That way justice is served indirectly through someone innocent. The highest God is very aware that he caused an innocent individual to accidentally kill an “evil” person. Therefore he ordains a place of refuge for them.
Nation Against Nation.
This concept was widely accepted within ancient Israel due to them practicing The Laws of The Highest God. Most of the time ancient Israel believed that if they defeated another nation in battle, the Highest God “delivered them into their hands”. They felt as though they were given the authority to execute judgment on an “evil” nation. Deuteronomy 2: 32-37, Joshua 10:19. This concept was understood in reverse as well. Though Israel destroyed lots of wicked nations, The Highest God left some of them alive and flourishing to tempt Israel. Sometimes when Israel did wicked things in the sight of The Highest God they would end up being delivered into the hands of an “evil” nation. 2 Kings 21:14. Usually this was a divine punishment.
That being said, The Highest God uses all nations power for righteous judgement. Now there are many sins that are punishable by death in the Biblical law. I’ll list a few laws that are relatively easy to understand.
Death Penalty Crimes.
Exodus 21:12 He that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death.
15 And he that smiteth his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death.
16 And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.
17 And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death.
Exodus 24:16 And he that blasphemeth the name of the Lord, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the Lord, shall be put to death.
Crimes In Leviticus.
Leviticus 20: 10, 13, 15, 16, 27. 24:16
10 And the man that committeth adultery with another man’s wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.
13 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.
14 And if a man take a wife and her mother, it is wickedness: they shall be burnt with fire, both he and they; that there be no wickedness among you.
15 And if a man lie with a beast, he shall surely be put to death: and ye shall slay the beast.
16 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.
27 A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them.
Leviticus 31:15 Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.
Execute Judgement
These are just a few of the death penalty laws against the “wicked’. the Highest God operated according to these rules when ordering Israel to destroy other nations. These other nations were guilty of committing these atrocities in The Highest Gods eyes, and deserved to be put to death. Of course these actions worthy of death under the Highest Gods law deserve more interpretation than just taken at first glance. I promise to thoroughly explain another time.
Most people have some inner knowledge that these actions are evil. Killing someone, disrespecting parents, having sex with animals, having sex with married people, marrying two people close of kin and cursing The Highest Gods name is all bad. However some of us do these things as a cultural aspect. The Highest God doesn’t accept any of this, and clearly does not take it lightly. These actions are worthy of death to him. Therefore at the end of days, according to the biblical text, we all will be judged according to these set of rules. Are we worthy of death?
Romans 13:1-5
13 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
John 5: 26-27, Jude 1:14-16.
“Put Evil Away From Among You.”
The second reason for why the death penalty was allowed back in ancient Isreal, is because they truly believed that they needed to. They thought that they were getting rid of evil spirits by killing off the ones who did evil in the sight of the Highest God. Therefore “put evil away from among you” was a common and accepted thought and practice.
Deuteronomy 24:7 “If a man be found stealing any of his brethren of the children of Israel, and maketh merchandise of him, or selleth him; then that thief shall die; and thou shalt put evil away from among you.”
This particular verse deals with slavery. Stealing a man means to kidnap someone, then to sell that person as property. This is evil, whether it be traditional American slavery, child slavery or sex trafficking. It as evil in the eyes of The Highest God and he will put evil away from among us. Malachai 4:3-4.
Conclusion
It’s funny to me that though this seems cruel coming out of the old testament this concept is still alive in the new testament. Christ will come at the end of days to execute (this) Judgment on everyone with ten thousand of his holy ones. We all know that whoever is guilty will die an eternal death. Somehow popular Christianity is ok with that. Yet they can’t seem to agree with the words of the law in which we will be judged according to Christ. Then the question is, do we stand by christ law or not? His law is fully explained in the old testament and enhanced in the New Testament.