“On the testimony of two or three witnesses a man shall be put to death, but no one shall be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.” (Deuteronomy 17:6)
The major story in my community this week was the trial of a young father who was convicted of murder for twice slamming his child headfirst into the pavement while holding him by the legs.
The child’s mother, several members of her family, and law enforcement officers watched it all happen in disbelief.
The jury had all the evidence it needed to give him the death penalty, but one lone juror held out, which meant life without parole.
Just about every individual with whom I have spoken agreed that the jury should have voted for the death penalty, which begs the question, does God’s Word support the death sentence in this case? I believe it does.
Most Christians who support the death penalty cite two Old Testament verses in their efforts to justify its use, Genesis 9:6 and Exodus 21:23. “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man.” (Genesis 9:6) “But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth…” (Exodus 21:23-24)
While there is no doubt that God believes justice should be served, neither verse concerns the administration of the death penalty. Instead, they emphasize that public justice should exact and calculated. God’s point with what many call the Law of Retaliation is that the punishment should always fit the crime. He never intended for these two verses to be used in support of the death penalty.
Christians who support the death penalty, and use an Old Testament verse like I used at the beginning of this column to justify their point of view, fail to realize that a lot of Christians believe that Old Testament verses have no application today, especially if it appears in any one of the first five books of the Bible. “That’s the story of God’s covenant with the Jew,” they will say. “It’s the New Testament that should govern our lives.”
Well that’s not what Jesus said. In fact, Jesus told us that he did not come to abolish the Law, what we know today as the first five books of the Bible. He said, “I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them.” (Matthew 5:17) In other words, God’s instructions through the Old Testament continue to have application today. That’s why our Lord warns, “I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.” (Matthew 5:18)
Jesus also clarified the Law of Retaliation. “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)
Why would Jesus say that when he just told us that he did not come to abolish anything in the first five books of the Bible? Didn’t we just agree that the Old Testament, letter for letter, word for word is still valid? God’s point here is that the Law of Retaliation is for the courts and should never be used for personal revenge.
I believe that the Bible supports capital punishment, but only where there are two or more witnesses. Jesus said, “…every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.” (Matthew 18:16) That includes capital punishment.
Wendell Allen White’s jury had sufficient evidence to support the death penalty and I believe that God’s Word would have supported such a decision.
After all, mercy and justice go hand in hand. They’re just opposite sides of the same coin.
Share on Facebook