Capitol Punishment (8-5-12)

Exodus 20:13 - "You shall not murder."

Having looked at the way that God sees murder, we'll now continue to consider the killing of human beings in certain circumstances and whether or not the Bible classifies it as murder. We've already considered the subject of abortion and we saw that the Bible classifies the killing of unborn babies as murder. Now we're going to look at another issue which has become somewhat controversial in the church. That is the issue of capital punishment.

What does the Bible say about capital punishment? Right after the Lord gives the command "you shall not murder." He says this in Exodus 21:12 - "He who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death." The Lord makes provision for capital punishment. Murder is a personal crime. It is one person acting out against another because of something that they did to them. Capital punishment, on the other hand, is righteously admitted judicial punishment. God never gives the individual permission to administer capital punishment. Capital punishment is something that God has given to a society or a culture, in this case to the nation of Israel, in order to administer justice. There are people who will use this sixth commandment, "You shall not murder." to say that capital punishment is wrong, but this verse would have to be isolated from several other passages in order to make such a conclusion.

The Old Testament is obviously in favor of capital punishment, but can we apply it to ourselves today in the church age? After all Ephesians 2:14-15 says - "For He Himself is our peace, who made both one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace." Christ fulfilled and abolished the Old Testament law, so we are no longer under the law, but under grace.
This is true, but this, again, speaks to the individual not to society. When considering such subjects in Scripture we need to keep this distinction in mind. The New Testament is clear that we are to be subject to governing authorities, and these authorities are the ones who have the responsibility to determine whether or not capital punishment is necessary in a given situation. Obviously there are times when capital punishment should be avoided and there are also times when capital punishment should be implemented.

Some people will use verses from the New Testament to argue against capital punishment, such as John chapter 8. In this chapter when a woman caught in adultery is brought to Jesus, we read in verses 4-5 - "they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?”" And Jesus answered in verse 7 - "He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." So some will say that Jesus did away with capital punishment and replaced it with forgiveness. I don't think Jesus was opposed to the Old Testament law, considering He's the one who wrote it. But at this time in Israels history, Israel was under Roman control. To the Romans such a sin was not punishable by death, and if Jesus had permitted those people to stone that woman He would have been taking justice into His own hands rather than leaving it to the governing authorities, and He also would have been guilty, before the Roman government, of murder. The Lord Jesus used such wisdom in answering those who were testing Him. We see in this account Gods amazing love for sinners. The law demanded death, but Christ fulfilled the law in order that He might offer grace to a bunch of sinners like us. We need to realize a key distinction between the Old Testament and the New. The Old Testament was written primarily to Israel living as a nation among nations, and the Lord gave His people instruction as to how to govern themselves as a nation. In the New Testament however the focus switches from Israel to the church and the Lord gives us instruction as to how we are to live as an international organization. 
Another passage commonly used to say that Jesus was opposed to capital punishment is Matthew 5:38-39 which says - "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 an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also." But this passage is, again, talking about the individual not society. Romans 12:19 says - "Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “ Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord." The governing authorities have the responsibility to administer justice, the individual does not. The book of Romans goes on to say in chapter 13 verses 3-4 when talking about being subject to the governing authorities - "For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil." The apostle Paul is talking about the government bearing the sword, not in the case of war but in the case of punishment being carried out on it's own citizens.
 Even in the Old Testament, in the nation of Israel, the individual did not have the right to administer his own justice. Even then the governing authorities were responsible for administering justice. But the government is not always fair, and the government does not always administer judgment in a righteous manner. That was also true in Israels history, but Gods word still stands.