Jess Whitlock
This is a highly controversial subject and tugs at the heartstrings. One factor that many choose to ignore is that where there is no fear of the “death penalty” there is no respect for the law. There are three ages of the world:
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Patriarchal age,
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Mosaical age, and
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the Christian age.
The Patriarchal age lasted from creation to Sinai, a period of 2,513 years. In Genesis 4 Cain killed his brother, Abel. God did not put Cain to death. After the flood of Noah’s day God instituted a universal law: “Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man” (Gen. 9:6). God actually instituted the penalty of death for that person who murders another person.
The Mosaical age lasted from Mount Sinai until the cross of Christ, a period of 1,491 years. In Exodus 20:13 God commanded: “Thou shalt not kill.” The Hebrew word for kill here is literally murder. Not all killing is murder, but all murder is killing.
Exodus contains numerous acts for which God’s law demanded the “death penalty.” If you strike one to cause him to die you “shall surely be put to death” (Exo. 21:12-15). One guilty of kidnapping “shall surely be put to death” (Exo. 21:16). Deuteronomy 21:22 states: “If a man have committed a sin worthy of death…” The book of Numbers relates God’s arrangement for six “cities of refuge” i.e., protection. “Then ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you that the manslayer that killeth any person unwittingly may flee thither” (Num. 35:11). The Hebrew word “unwittingly” means through error or accident. God distinguished between murder and man-slaughter, as does our judicial system.
The Christian age covers the events from the establishment of Christ’s church to the final coming of Christ, which age continues until this day. Romans 13 shows that civil government is ordained of God. Jesus Christ recognized such when He appeared before Pilate. “Pilate therefore saith unto Him, speakest thou not unto me? Knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee? Jesus answered him, thou wouldest have no power against Me, except it were given thee from above: therefore, he that delivered Me unto thee hath greater sin” (John 19:10-11).
The apostle Paul recognized that capital punishment was ordained of God. In his defense Paul stated, “If then I am a wrong-doer, and have committed anything worthy of death, I refuse not to die…” (Acts 25:11). Paul wrote the letter to the Romans, including chapter 13. Peter admonished, “Be subject to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake…” (1 Pet. 2:13).
Some argue against the “death penalty” saying that it does not work. I wonder how they can know? In the old west a bank robber or cattle rustler was generally put to death rather quickly. We know why the argument is often made and we also know why it is frequently heard. The wise man wrote centuries ago, “Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil” (Eccl. 8:11). Genesis 9:6 ever remains God’s final word on this subject!
