Crime and Punishment, A Biblical Perspective (Providential Perspective) by Stephen McDowell

Author:Stephen McDowell [McDowell, Stephen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Providence Foundation
Published: 2011-10-01T07:00:00+00:00

What crimes merit the death penalty?

The law that God gave to ancient Israel had a number of crimes that were capital offenses. (Capital literally means head; hence, “punishable by loss of the head or of life; incurring the forfeiture of life; punishable with death; as, treason and murder are capital offenses or crimes,” Webster’s 1828 Dictionary.) These capital crimes (many of which, as we discuss below, have been altered by the New Covenant) include:

• Murder (Genesis 9:5-6; Numbers 35:16-21, 30-33; Deuteronomy 17:6; Leviticus 24:17)

• Kidnapping (Exodus 21:16; Deuteronomy 24:7)

• Offering human sacrifice (Leviticus 20:2-5)

• Incest (Leviticus 20:11-12, 14)

• Causing the death of an unborn child (Exodus 21:22-25)22

• Adultery (Leviticus 20:10; Deuteronomy 22:21-24)

• Bestiality (Exodus 22:19; Leviticus 20:15-16)

• Male homosexuality (Leviticus 18:22; 20:13)

• Rape of a betrothed virgin (Deuteronomy 22:25)

• False witness in a case involving a capital offense (Deuteronomy 19:16-20)

• A priest’s daughter who committed fornication (Leviticus 21:9)

• Witchcraft (Exodus 22:18)

• Striking or cursing father or mother (Exodus 21:15, 17; Leviticus 20:9)

• Incorrigibility or habitual criminality (Deuteronomy 21:18-21)

• Blasphemy (Leviticus 24:11-14, 16, 23)

• Sabbath desecration (Exodus 35:2; Numbers 15:32-36)

• Prophesying falsely or propagating false doctrines (Deuteronomy 13:1-10)

• Sacrificing to false gods (Exodus 22:20)

• Lawless refusal to abide by godly law and order, anti-law, anti-court attitudes and actions (Deuteronomy 17:21)

There were many capital crimes in ancient Israel that people today who reject Christianity use to declare that God is unjust, or they use to attempt to show the futility of having a Christian standard for society; however, a proper understanding of these, especially compared to man’s approach to establishing justice, reveals God’s wisdom in how to best establish a peaceful, secure, and prosperous society.

Israel had many capital crimes that do not apply to us today. Some come under the category of the ceremonial laws, which were superseded by the final sacrifice of Christ. While we can apply principles from these laws, the penalties are no longer applicable (for example, the penalties for violating the Sabbath). In addition, some laws were part of the “holiness code,” that is, those laws that set Israel apart as God’s physical nation. God’s people today are not a part of just one physical nation, so holiness code laws have been superseded the nature of the “new Israel.” Some Old Testament laws (and their penalties) have been altered by the New Covenant.

Israel’s capital crimes were given to preserve God’s covenant nation. Many of the crimes come under the category of treason against the state, for they were treason against God (and God’s civil and ecclesiastical order). God is the highest authority there is, and treason against Him would destroy the nation. [This includes things as witchcraft (Exodus 22:18); blasphemy (Leviticus 24:11-14, 16, 23); Sabbath desecration (Exodus 35:2; Numbers 15:32-36); prophesying falsely or propagating false doctrines (Deuteronomy 13:1-10); sacrificing to false gods (Exodus 22:20); lawless refusal to abide by godly law and order, anti-law, anti-court attitudes and actions (Deuteronomy 17:21).] Other capital crimes were given to preserve the family, for if the family was destroyed the nation would be destroyed.

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