I, as a "religious Christian," believe that it is clear that Jesus would not have supported the death penalty in today's context. This is a pretty big topic that circles around what you think about the continuity of the various covenants and how Jesus' resurrection affected them. Some believe all covenants were abrogated by Jesus' resurrection and we are under a new form of the covenant (I count myself here,) and some believe that Jesus' resurrection only abrogated the covenants that were specific to Israel, and the Noahic covenant which was for all mankind is still binding (capital punishment supporters point toward
Genesis 9:6 for support.)
Unfortunately, Jesus did not speak directly toward this issue. So we are left to parse his words and interpret what we think he would have said. This should give Christians on both sides of the argument strong pause when they claim their position as *the* biblical position. I will, however, lay out why I think supporting the death penalty as a Christian is unconscionable.
1.
God hates hands that shed innocent blood. Unless one is willing to claim our judicial system as inerrant, it is simply a fact that the death penalty results in our government killing innocent people. Fathers, brothers, wives, husbands, sisters. People who don't deserve it. People who have young children relying on them for support and guidance. People who were convicted by a judicial system that failed them. Some may think that these people are a worthy sacrifice to enable the government to kill people who commit heinous crimes. God hates hands that shed innocent blood. His people should be careful not to enable hands to shed innocent blood.
2. The strongest arguments (like Gen 9:6) for the death penalty straight from scripture come out of the OT. For the Israeli people under the law that god had enacted specifically for them in their time and context, there were capital crimes. Here are some examples from the OT:
“When men strive together and hit a pregnant woman, so that her children come out, but there is no harm, the one who hit her shall surely be fined, as the woman's husband shall impose on him, and he shall pay as the judges determine. But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.
(Exodus 21:22-25 ESV)
“Whoever takes a human life shall surely be put to death. Whoever takes an animal's life shall make it good, life for life. If anyone injures his neighbor, as he has done it shall be done to him, fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; whatever injury he has given a person shall be given to him. Whoever kills an animal shall make it good, and whoever kills a person shall be put to death.
(Leviticus 24:17-21 ESV
Your eye shall not pity. It shall be life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.
(Deuteronomy 19:21 ESV
These are the three times (in the ESV anyway) that the phrase "eye for eye" occurs in the Old Testament. Jesus, being an OT scholar, knew exactly what he was saying when he said, in Matthew 5
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. (Matthew 5:38-42 ESV)
Every single mention of "eye for eye" in the OT also mentioned capital punishment. It seems to me that Jesus, being the one who fulfilled the law so that we are no longer bound by it, is telling us that, as of now, things change. They are different. We no longer take an eye for an eye, and by extension, a life for a life.
3. The new testament authors speak about repaying evil for evil
Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.
(1 Peter 3:9 ESV)
Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
(Romans 12:17-19 ESV)
See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.
(1 Thessalonians 5:15 ESV)
I may have more to say, but it will have to wait. Things to do.
around here.
