Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
"Anyone who strikes a man and kills him shall surely be put to death. However, if he does not do it intentionally, but God lets it happen, he is to flee to a place I will designate. But if a man schemes and kills another man deliberately, take him away from my altar and put him to death.
"Anyone who attacks his father or his mother must be put to death. "Anyone who kidnaps another and either sells him or still has him when he is caught must be put to death. "Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death. "If men quarrel and one hits the other with a stone or with his fist and he does not die but is confined to bed, the one who struck the blow will not be held responsible if the other gets up and walks around outside with his staff; however, he must pay the injured man for the loss of his time and see that he is completely healed. "If a man beats his male or female slave with a rod and the slave dies as a direct result, he must be punished, but he is not to be punished if the slave gets up after a day or two, since the slave is his property. "If men who are fighting hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely but there is no serious injury, the offender must be fined whatever the woman's husband demands and the court allows. But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise. "If a man hits a manservant or maidservant in the eye and destroys it, he must let the servant go free to compensate for the eye. And if he knocks out the tooth of a manservant or maidservant, he must let the servant go free to compensate for the tooth." Exodus 21:12-27
"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth. 'But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also." Matthew 5:38-39
We live in a world filled with potential for conflict. It seems rarely a day goes by when we don’t see, read or hear about confrontations between others that often results in injury or death. To deal with these matters, we have justice systems which serve to protect those who are victimized and punish their offenders. These justice systems share a purpose of maintaining balance and fairness within the societies we live in while acting as a deterrent to future crimes. What they don’t share is their process of doing this.
For example, the United States has a system that was designed to ensure everyone gets a fair trial, sometimes by a jury of their peers who are carefully selected to ensure they can make an impartial decision based on the evidence presented in the case. And in regard to the matter of murder, individual states are allowed to determine whether or not they want to have the death penalty as a possible option when murder is involved in a case.
Japan, Singapore and Kenya are just a few of the nations that hang criminals and the charge doesn’t necessarily have to be murder. In Iran, people can be stoned to death as punishment for offenses like adultery. Nations have executed people for embezzlement, political offences, abduction, religious affiliation, and homosexuality.
One thing is certain…there is no world standard when it comes to handling justice and especially matters of capital punishment. That’s why it’s so important to turn to God’s word on the matter. If we place His word first as we consider matters of justice, we can ensure we are universally consistent and equitable.
So what does the word say? Well, God instructs the Israelites in Exodus on the subject and starts by addressing the matter of murder. The law provided by God stated that any act of premeditated murder would be met with the death penalty in return. In cases when a person ended up killing someone accidentally, they would be allowed to flee to a city of refuge (Numbers 35:6-34) God’s law also put some teeth into the fifth commandment ("Honor your father and your mother") by saying one would be put to death for cursing their father or mother.
The matter of compensation is also addressed in this passage as God does not mandate the death penalty for incidents where the victim survives. What God does mandate is appropriate compensation for the victim from the offender. This includes one of the most common utterances amongst people who demand justice in society…"And eye for an eye". God word in Exodus authorizes it when warranted saying, "But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise." Indeed in the days of the Old Testament, family retribution was widely practiced as family members felt they had just cause to avenge either the death or violation of their loved ones. We saw an example of this taken to extremes when Simeon and Levi avenged the rape of their sister by killing every man in Shechem. Indeed, in their case, it was an eye for an eye and then some.
So we see where the bible endorses the death penalty in the Old Testament and this law remained in effect until the New Testament days when Jesus came to take pre-conceived ideals on justice and turn them upside down. Interestingly enough though, He didn’t change the law in regard to capital punishment. Murder was not tolerated and was to result in death in return. What Jesus struck out at was the principle of an eye for an eye as well as other prominent injustices the people were dealing with.
So Jesus took the subject of "an eye for an eye" and said this, "You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth. 'But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also." OK…so how many of us could carry this out? After all, our human nature (a.k.a. the flesh) leads us to defend ourselves and exact like damages on the person who is attacking us but Jesus told us to not fight back but turn the other cheek. And remember…He didn’t just tell us this, He showed us. Need an example?
Return to the garden of Gethsemane where Jesus prayed prior to His arrest. As Judas appeared with the crowd sent by the chief priests and elders of the people, you’ll remember that Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss which was the signal for the crowd to take Jesus into custody. And as they grabbed Him, you’ll recall that one of Jesus’ men drew his sword and cut off one man’s ear. So how did Jesus respond? He took the man’s ear and put it back on his face and healed him instantly. He then said this, "Put your sword back in its place," Jesus said to him, "for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?" At that time Jesus said to the crowd, "Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me. But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled." (Matthew 26:52-56) Jesus knew that what was happening to Him was unjust but He still went forward because He knew His destiny…that He would have to die for all of us, bearing our sins on the cross. Instead of being the Prince of Retaliation, Jesus showed us He was truly the Prince of Peace. Let’s look at one other example.
Once arrested, we read where Jesus went before the Sanhedrin and then Pontius Pilate who had Jesus flogged before His crucifixion. Recall these events. Did Jesus lash out when He was being beaten and flogged before being forced to carry His own cross to His execution place? I haven’t seen anything in scripture that indicated that. No…Jesus practiced what He had preached. He turned the other cheek to His assailants…and he did so to show us we can do it as well, not by our own strength and judgment but rather through His strength and the comforting, reassuring guidance for the Holy Spirit.
So next time you feel violated in some way and want to scream out for justice or seek revenge (i.e. an eye for an eye, etc)…remember the words and actions of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior…the Prince of Peace, Lord of Lords, and King of Kings. The One who suffered and died for all of us…and did so by practicing what He preached. Through Him…and only through Him, can we do likewise.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
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