Daily Scripture Reading Exodus 21:12-32
There is a debate in the modern world as to whether or not we should use the death penalty. Some people claim putting criminals to death is too cruel and harsh. They do not even think capital punishment is appropriate for murderers.
Today, we resume reading in Exodus 21. This was part of the Mosaic Law, and does not apply to our lives today. However, the precepts of the law give us an insight into God’s thinking about whether or not the death penalty is too cruel and harsh.
After arriving at Mount Sinai, Yahweh came down on the mountain, called Moses up onto the mountain, and began giving Moses a long list of rules and regulations.
Ex. 21:12 ¶ “He who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death.
The ten commandments, found in Exodus 20, prohibited murder. This verse spelled out the consequence for murder. Anyone who committed murder needed to be put to death. This was a repeat of the command given to all humanity after the flood that “Whoever sheds man’s blood, By man his blood shall be shed” (Genesis 9:6).
Today, there is some debate as to whether or not modern society should have a death penalty. The death penalty found in Exodus 21:12 was part of the Mosaic Law and only applied to the Israelites. However, the death penalty found in Genesis 9:6 applied to all humanity, and has never been rescinded; therefore, modern societies should have a death penalty for people who commit murder.
The death penalty is certainly final and irreversible. It should not be done lightly. However, it is not too cruel nor too harsh to put a murderer to death. In fact, it is cruel to the families of the victims to not put murderers to death. Also, allowing murderers to live is cruel to society because it creates an atmosphere that does not treat murder as the reprehensible act that it is; thus, leading to more murder.
Ex. 21:13 But if he did not lie in wait for him, but God let him fall into his hand, then I will appoint you a place to which he may flee.
The Mosaic Law differentiated between deliberate murder and accidental death.
Ex. 21:14 If, however, a man acts presumptuously toward his neighbor, so as to kill him by deceit, you shall take him even from My altar, that he may die.
In the case of pre-meditated murder, there was to be no exception to the death penalty. No place was to be a safe haven from being put to death.
Ex. 21:15 ¶ “And he who strikes his father or his mother shall surely be put to death.
Ex. 21:16 ¶ “He who kidnaps a man, whether he sells him or he is found in his hand, shall surely be put to death.
The punishment for enslaving a man was death. Again, this only applied to Israel, but it gives an insight into God’s thoughts and priorities.
Ex. 21:17 ¶ “And he who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death.
Ex. 21:18 ¶ “And if men contend with each other and one strikes the other with a stone or with his fist, and he does not die but remains in bed,
Ex. 21:19 if he gets up and walks around outside on his staff, then he who struck him shall go unpunished; he shall only pay for his loss of time, and he shall take care of him until he is completely healed.
If one man injured another man, then the man who caused the injury had to pay for injured man for his loss of time.
Ex. 21:20 ¶ “And if a man strikes his male or female slave with a rod and he dies at his hand, he shall surely be punished.
Ex. 21:21 But if for a day or two he is able to stand, no punishment shall be taken; for he is his property.
Ex. 21:22 ¶ “And if men struggle with each other and strike a woman with child so that she gives birth prematurely, yet there is no injury, he shall surely be fined as the woman’s husband will set for him, and he shall pay as the judges decide.
Ex. 21:23 But if there is any further injury, then you shall pay life for life,
Ex. 21:24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,
Ex. 21:25 burn for burn, bruise for bruise, wound for wound.
The concept of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth is a well-known concept. Basically, it means the punishment for harming another person should be to suffer the same harm you inflicted on the other person.
This concept is not repeated in the New Testament. Jesus taught that people should not follow this philosophy in their dealings with other people (see Matthew 5:38-42). However, I do not think Jesus’ teaching on this prohibits governments from passing laws that require restitution. Jesus merely taught that individuals should not pursue revenge.
Ex. 21:26 ¶ “And if a man strikes the eye of his male or female slave and ruins it, he shall let him go free on account of his eye.
Ex. 21:27 And if he knocks out a tooth of his male or female slave, he shall let him go free on account of his tooth.
We see in this passage that the Mosaic Law allowed people to possess other people. However, owners were required to treat their slaves well.
Ex. 21:28 ¶ “And if an ox gores a man or a woman to death, the ox shall surely be stoned and its flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the ox shall go unpunished.
Ex. 21:29 If, however, an ox was previously in the habit of goring and its owner has been warned, yet he does not confine it and it puts a man or a woman to death, the ox shall be stoned and its owner also shall be put to death.
Jesus said the law can be summed up as love God and love others. This verse is a good example of loving others. It wasn’t enough to refrain from killing a person. People also had to care about other people enough to make sure their animals did not harm others.
Ex. 21:30 If a ransom is demanded of him, then he shall give for the redemption of his life whatever is demanded of him.
Ex. 21:31 Whether it gores a son or a daughter, it shall be done to him according to the same judgment.
Ex. 21:32 If the ox gores a male or female slave, the owner shall give his or her master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned.
There is debate as to whether or not modern society should have a death penalty. The death penalty found in Genesis 9:6 applied to all humanity, and has never been rescinded; therefore, modern societies should have a death penalty for people who commit murder.
The death penalty is final and irreversible. It should not be done lightly. However, it is not too cruel nor too harsh to put a murderer to death. In fact, it is cruel to the families of the victims to not put murderers to death. Also, allowing murderers to live is cruel to society because it creates an atmosphere that does not treat murder as the reprehensible act that it is.
Why are 21st century Christians reluctant to talk about the death penalty even though the Bible mentions it quite frequently?
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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”