
Home > Bible Studies > Capital Punishment

Capital Punishment Bible Study

God is for capital punishment. You say that to some people and the first thing they will tell you is 'That was the Old Testament, Jesus Christ did away with that law.' Well in this Bible study we are going to take an in depth look at God's law on capital punishment and see what the Bible really tells us. We are going to look at verses from the Old and New Testaments and were going to find out if Jesus Christ did away with capital punishment. For those of you that want to know the answer right away, Jesus Christ did not do away with the law of capital punishment. In fact, we will see in this Bible study from the New Testament that murders do not have eternal life abiding in them. Nor will they ever even get a chance for eternal life until they see God face to face. God takes it very seriously when some one murders or rapes one of His children. Yes, according to God's law, the punishment for rape is the same as murder, death.

According to the FBI's statistics, the crime rate is dropping, which is great. But tell that to a victim of rape or the family and friends of some one that was murdered. As far as living in this world, God cares about the victim, not the one guilty of doing the crime. As you will see in this Bible study on capital punishment, according to God, the ones guilty of committing one of these crimes have no rights. They are to be killed. The FBI said that in 1998 there were 16,914 murders and 93,103 rapes. These numbers are way to high and unacceptable. If this country would follow God's law on capital punishment the way God intended, these numbers would be much lower. You may be saying that we already have that law. True, but as you will see in this Bible study, it is not enforced the way that God wants it to be.

If you are guilty of rape or murder and you would like eternal life, all hope is not lost. Later on in this Bible study there is information on what you should be doing right now to help yourself even get a chance at eternal life. Do not believe any one that tells you just because you accepted Jesus Christ into your life and repented, your guaranteed to go to heaven. The New Testament tells us your not. But like I said, all hope is not lost so keep on reading.

According to God's law, there is a big difference between killing some one and murdering them. As we will see later in the Bible study, a person that kills some one on accident is not to be put to death. A person that premeditates a murder, is to be put to death.

What about people in the military, police officers or even a good Samaritan? If you kill some one during a war, in the line of duty or just helping a stranger in trouble, that is not murder according to God's law. Do not even worry about it because you did that which is right in God's eyes. This country should could use a lot more of that.

Lets start the Bible study on capital punishment in Genesis.

Genesis 1:26-27

V26 And God said, Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
V27 So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them.

God created us all, His children, in His own image. The basic look to our bodies is the same as God's. It's just that He is Spirit and we are flesh. Our lives are very special to God and He does not take it lightly when one of His children hurts another.

God gave His law on what to do with some one that murders another very early on in the Bible. Lets take a look at what God told Noah soon after the flood.

Genesis 9:6

V6 Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made He man.

Well that is very easy to understand. Some people may think that is harsh treatment but that is God's law. His children are all special to Him and when one murders another, they are to be killed. People always wonder 'Why did God let that happen?' Read this verse again. God did not say He would do it but said that we are to kill the murder. God knows what is best for His children and He gave us His law were by we could live safe and happy life's. It is the fact that we do not follow God's laws that make this country so unsafe. The crime rate in this country would go way down if we would follow God's law of capital punishment. If we did that, this country would be so much safer to live in. That is a promise from God.

I am not telling you to take the law into your own hands here. This is something that the government should be doing. If there was a true man or woman of God running this country, this law would be followed today, the way God intended. The number of murders and rapes in this country would drop like a rock. Capital punishment is God's law and it works if it is used in the right way. When you vote, vote for people that will follow God's laws. The blessing for that is, the ones that follow His laws will have a much safer and happier life.

Now lets take a closer look at God's law on capital punishment and see when and when not to use capital punishment. The first example we are going to look at is reasons why a person is not to be put to death. Many people in this country are put to death when God's law said that they should live. The ones that should be put to death are not. It is know wonder why we have so much crime in this country.

Deuteronomy 19:1-13

V1 When the LORD thy God hath cut off the nations, whose land the LORD thy God giveth thee, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their cities, and in their houses;
V2 Thou shalt separate three cities for thee in the midst of thy land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it.
V3 Thou shalt prepare thee a way, and divide the coasts of thy land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee to inherit, into three parts, that every slayer may flee thither.

With the land that God has given us, we are to provide cities of refuge. These cities are for someone that kills another whom they did not hate and have the intention of killing in the first place.

V4 And this is the case of the slayer, which shall flee thither, that he may live: Whoso killeth his neighbour ignorantly, whom he hated not in time past;

When a person kills another by accident and they did not hate that person, they are to flee to a city of refuge. God's law says these people are to be allowed to live.

V5 As when a man goeth into the wood with his neighbour to hew wood, and his hand fetcheth a stroke with the axe to cut down the tree, and the head slippeth from the helve, and lighteth upon his neighbour, that he die; he shall flee unto one of those cities, and live:

Here we have an example of some one getting hit in the head with an ax and dying. These two people were neighbors and they did not hate each other. God says the person cutting the wood is not to be killed because there was no hate between them and this was an accident. The person cutting the wood had no intention of killing his friend. A person that kills someone on accident that they did not hate is to flee to a city of refuge and live.

V6 Lest the avenger of the blood pursue the slayer, while his heart is hot, and overtake him, because the way is long, and slay him; whereas he was not worthy of death, inasmuch as he hated him not in time past.
V7 Wherefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt separate three cities for thee.

The avenger of the blood is the closest living relative of the person that was killed. In the case of accidental death, the person that killed the other is not to die because they did not hate the one they killed. They are not worthy of death.

V8 And if the LORD thy God enlarge thy coast, as He hath sworn unto thy fathers, and give thee all the land which He promised to give unto thy fathers;
V9 If thou shalt keep all these commandments to do them, which I command thee this day, to love the LORD thy God, and to walk ever in His ways; then shalt thou add three cities more for thee, beside these three:

God has kept His promise and gave us the land He said He would. Now we are to love God and walk in His ways. That means we are to follow the laws that God has given us. God knows what is best for His children and His laws are righteous and good.

V10 That innocent blood be not shed in thy land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, and so blood be upon thee.

The cities of refuge are for people that killed someone by accident that they did not hate. These people are not to be killed and the only punishment for them was to leave town. The law of involuntary manslaughter that this country has goes against God's law and if innocent blood is shed, the land is defiled and unclean. Some one that kills another on accident should not even spend one minute in jail.

Now lets take a look at some one that premeditates a murder.

V11 But if any man hate his neighbour, and lie in wait for him, and rise up against him, and smite him mortally that he die, and fleeth into one of these cities:
V12 Then the elders of his city shall send and fetch him thence, and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood, that he may die.

If a person thinks about killing someone then does it, that is murder and they are to be put to death. If this person would flee to a different city, the law of that city is to find that person and turn them over to the avenger of blood to be put to death.

V13 Thine eye shall not pity him, but thou shalt put away the guilt of innocent blood from Israel, that it may go well with thee.

We are not to feel sorry for a murder or to try and save the life of someone guilty of murder. Putting murders to death is God's law and it will save life's. One way that it will save life's is that there is one less person able to murder someone else. Another way it will save life's is that if a person would know for sure that if they murder somebody they in turn will be killed, they will think twice before they murder someone. Capital punishment works. It's just that this country does not follow God's law the right way. For some that might be thinking that this is the Old Testament and Jesus Christ has destroyed this law, think again. We will be covering what Jesus Christ and others have to say about this in the New Testament.

Lets take a look at what God said about innocent blood being shed.

Numbers 35:33-34

V33 So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it.
V34 Defile not therefore the land which ye shall inhabit, wherein I dwell: for I the LORD dwell among the children of Israel.

The only way for innocent blood to be cleansed is by killing the one that shed it. If this country would follow this law of God, we would receive many more blessings from God. A person guilty of murder must be put to death.

Now lets go to the New Testament and see if Jesus Christ has done away with the law of capital punishment.

Matthew 5:17-21

V17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

Jesus Christ did not come to destroy the law, so most of the laws of the Old Testament are still valid today. Old Testament ordinances such as burnt offerings and animal sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins are no longer valid because Jesus Christ has fulfilled that by becoming the blood sacrifice.

V18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Jot 2503 iota (ee-o'-tah); of Hebrew origin [the tenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet]; "iota", the name of the eighth letter of the Greek alphabet, put (figuratively) for a very small part of anything.

Tittle 2762 keraia (ker-ah'-yah); feminine of a presumed derivative of the base of 2768; something horn-like, i.e. (specially) the apex of a Hebrew letter (figuratively, the least particle)

Jesus Christ said not even the littlest part of God's law will pass away until all is fulfilled. All will not be fulfilled until Jesus Christ returns at the seventh trump. So the Old Testament law on capital punishment is still valid today. Jesus Christ did not do away with it.

V19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
V20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

If we want to be called great in God's kingdom, not only do we need to teach His laws but we also need to follow His laws. You don't need a web site like we have to teach others. Just when some one asks you about God's laws, give them the correct answer. As for following God's law on capital punishment, we need to vote people in office that are for it because God is all for capital punishment. One person being murdered or raped is one to many. As Christians, it is time that we let our voices be heard and stand up for God's laws. When capital punishment is followed God's way, this country will be a much safer place to live. You want that don't you? It is time that the legal system of this country and the liberal media stop treating the criminal as the victim and the victim as nothing.

V21 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:

Kill 5407 phoneuo (fon-yoo'-o); from 5406; to be a murderer (of)
5406 phoneus (fon-yooce'); from 5408; a murderer (always of criminal [or at least intentional] homicide; which 443 does not necessarily imply; while 4607 is a special term for a public bandit)

The word kill in this verse was a very bad translation. It should read 'Thou shalt not murder.' As we have read earlier in God's law, there is a very big difference between killing a person and murdering them.

Let us look at another example of Jesus Christ saying that we should not murder. In this example a person asks Christ what good thing he can do to have eternal life.

Matthew 19:16-18

V16 And, behold, one came and said unto Him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?

Master 1320 didaskalos (did-as'-kal-os); from 1321; an instructor (genitive case or specially) KJV-- doctor, master, teacher.

Master is just another word for teacher. This person wants eternal life so lets see what Jesus Christ tells him.

V17 And He said unto him, Why callest thou Me good? there is none good but One, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

We are to follow the Ten Commandments as well as God's other laws. We should follow the teachings of Jesus Christ as He is our example.

V18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,

Murder 5407 phoneuo (fon-yoo'-o); from 5406; to be a murderer (of)
5406 phoneus (fon-yooce'); from 5408; a murderer (always of criminal [or at least intentional] homicide; which 443 does not necessarily imply; while 4607 is a special term for a public bandit)

Here is a proper translation and the word murder is used. As we have read earlier, the murders are to be put to death. Doing that is not murdering but following God's law.

I know that some people are going to say that this is to harsh and not what Jesus Christ taught us. Well it's just that they have not been taught the whole truth about Jesus Christ's teachings. Jesus Christ told us not to murder but at the same time, He did not change God's law that tells us that murders are to be put to death. We need to remember that in God's law there is a big difference between killing a person and murdering one. Putting a murderer to death is not murder in God's eyes. It is following His law which makes Him happy and He will bless us for it.

Now you may be wondering if a murderer has repented and accepted Jesus Christ in to their life, do they have eternal life? Lets see what God's Word tells us.

I John 3:15

V15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

Abiding 3306 meno (men'-o); a primary verb; to stay (in a given place, state, relation or expectancy)

Well that is not what you hear most so called 'men of God' teach. As long as a murderer is still alive in the flesh, they can not have eternal life. No matter how much they repent and follow Jesus Christ, as long as they are still living in the flesh they have zero chance for eternal life. For the ones that think this is to harsh and want to save a murderer from being put to death, your going against God's will and He does not like it at all. Unlike this country's so called justice system that puts the rights of the murderer before the life of the victim, in God's justice system, murderers have no rights or eternal life.

Another crime against God's children that the punishment is death is rape.

Deuteronomy 22:25-27

V25 But if a man find a betrothed damsel in the field, and the man force her, and lie with her: then the man only that lay with her shall die:
V26 But unto the damsel thou shalt do nothing; there is in the damsel no sin worthy of death: for as when a man riseth against his neighbour, and slayeth him, even so is this matter:
V27 For he found her in the field, and the betrothed damsel cried, and there was none to save her.

When a person is forced into doing things of a sexual nature, that is rape and the rapist must be killed. The woman cried for help but there was no one around to help her. Men and children can also be raped and the punishment is the same for the rapist, death.

Now you maybe wondering if some one guilty of one of these crimes will ever have any chance of eternal life. Yes they do. There is only one unforgivable sin and murder and rape are not it. So murders and rapist can have eternal life but not until judgment day when they see God face to face. Seeing that this country does not follow God's laws to well, there are some things that these people can do now that will help them on judgment day. So all hope is not lost. The first thing is never murder or rape a person again. Lets look at what else a person can do.

James 5:19-20

V19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;
V20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

Convert 1994 epistrepho (ep-ee-stref'-o); from 1909 and 4762; to revert (literally, figuratively or morally)
4762 strepho (stref'-o); strengthened from the base of 5157; to twist, i.e. turn quite around or reverse (literally or figuratively)

Now if a person guilty of murder or rape has read this far, they probably want to change their life around. Now remember we are going by God's law so even if a person is found not guilty by this country's legal system, it is God that you have to answer to. Your slick lawyer will not be there for you on judgment day. So you must be honest with yourself and repent of your sins and change your ways. After you do that, then you can help others change their ways. I was told a while back that our studies are used in prison ministries. If you are in prison for murder and or rape and have changed your ways, you can help your other inmates change theirs. That is if they want to change in the first place. Helping some one turn from sin will make God happy.

Now lets read a little about suffering in the flesh and submission to God.

I Peter 4:1-8

V1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;

The kind of suffering being talked about here is for doing good and following the examples of Jesus Christ. When you decide to follow Jesus Christ and not live an evil life anymore, people are going to turn on you. From Satan on down to your friends and family that do not follow Christ. They are going to try and lead you astray. This is true of any one that follows Jesus Christ and God's Word. Satan wants you to join him in the lake of fire and your friends and family realize they are sinners. A murderer or rapist is one of Satan's best friends but now that you want to change your life for Christ, you become one of his biggest enemies. So you have to get ready and arm yourself with the mind of Jesus Christ. We do that by reading the Bible and filling our mind with the teachings of God and Jesus Christ. That way, when these people try and lead you back into the open arms of Satan, you will have your thoughts on Christ and His teachings and be ready for them.

V2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

Stop living your life trying to please your flesh by doing the things Satan and your ungodly friends want you to do. If your guilty of rape or murder and you want a chance at eternal life, you better start trying to please God as soon as possible. Repent of your sins, try to live a better life by following the examples of Jesus Christ and set a good Christian example for others.

V3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:
V4 Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:

When we lived our lives in sin, we had friends and family that like to be around us. Now that we are trying to improve our life by following Jesus Christ, they think we are going nuts. The same people that were your friends the day before, now have become your enemies. Being a Christian is not the most popular thing in the world to be. You may lose all your friends and your family might turn on you if they are not following Christ. You need to be strong and follow Jesus Christ no matter what bad things they may say about you. If they want to go to hell, fine. Do not let your so called friends bring you with them.

V5 Who shall give account to Him That is ready to judge the quick and the dead.

Account 3056 logos (log'-os); from 3004; something said (including the thought); by implication a topic (subject of discourse), also reasoning (the mental faculty) or motive; by extension, a computation; specifically (with the article in John) the Divine Expression (i.e. Christ)

Quick 2198 zao (dzah'-o); a primary verb; to live (literally or figuratively)

This is talking about the spiritually living (Christians) and the spiritually dead (everyone else). It should be noted that some Christians can also be spiritually dead, Matthew 7:21-23 and Revelation 20:4-6. They are spiritually dead because they have the Mark of the Beast. On judgment day, everyone will have to give account for the idle words that they say during their life. So when your trying to improve your life, don't let any negative words that somebody might say to you get you down. They will have to answer to God for what they said and God does not like it one bit when some one tries to stop one of His children from worshiping His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Lets take a look at what Jesus Christ said in Matthew 12:36.

Matthew 12:36-37
V36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
V37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

Idle 692 argos (ar-gos'); from 1 (as a negative particle) and 2041; inactive, i.e. unemployed; (by implication) lazy, useless

V6 For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

They heard the gospel but for one reason or another, they did not accept Jesus Christ and follow His teachings. Now they are spiritually dead. They will have a chance for eternal life after the thousand year reign of Christ. But to get into heaven then, they are judged according to their works (Revelation 20:11-15). If they would have followed Christ now, they could have done it on faith (John 3:16).

V7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

Sober 4993 sophroneo (so-fron-eh'-o); from 4998; to be of sound mind, i.e. sane, (figuratively) moderate
4998 sophron (so'-frone); from the base of 4982 and that of 5424; safe (sound) in mind, i.e. self-controlled (moderate as to opinion or passion)

Watch 3525 nepho (nay'-fo); of uncertain affinity: to abstain from wine (keep sober), i.e. (figuratively) be discreet

Prayer 4335 proseuche (pros-yoo-khay'); from 4336; prayer (worship); by implication, an oratory (chapel)
4336 proseuchomai (pros-yoo'-khom-ahee); from 4314 and 2172; to pray to God, i.e. supplicate, worship

When we pray, we need to keep our thoughts on God and what we are praying about. Not thinking about what we are going to do after our prayer. Don't make a big show when you pray like waving your hands in the air, but just talk to God. You are not going to impress God by yelling and jumping around like I see on television. For more information on the best way to pray, see our How to Pray study.

V8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

Charity 26 agape (ag-ah'-pay); from 25; love, i.e. affection or benevolence; specially (plural) a love-feast

We need to have love for others. When you love a person you do not want to hurt them but take care of them and do that which is good in God's eyes. For we all are brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ. If you had more love in you, you would not have murdered or raped a person in the first place. So now that you are trying to change your life for the better, it is time to stop hating people and start loving them.

For the people reading this that are not guilty of murder or rape, never stand in the way when this country wants to put to death some one that is. God is all for capital punishment and Jesus Christ did not do away with that law. God knows what is best for His children and when some one murders or rapes, they have no rights with God and must be put to death. By doing this, this country will be a safer place to live for the ones that do follow God's laws. You maybe saying that is not true but God's law on capital punishment is not followed properly in this country. I would believe what God told us before I would believe what some person said. By following God's law on capital punishment, we will be safer two ways. Number one: there is one less person alive to hurt another. Number two: by killing the murderers and rapists, others that might be thinking about doing the same will now think twice about doing it. Very few people in the world really want to die. If you could ask a murder or rapist would they have done it if they knew for sure that they would be caught and put to death the day they were found guilty, I bet the answer would be no. Right now there is very little reason for a person not to murder or rape. The so called life sentence that the people get for doing such crimes are a joke. After a number of years, they get out of prison on so called good behavior only to murder and rape again. God's law tells us that they do it once and they are to be killed. Our cities and streets would be safer. Women could walk alone at night and not have to worry about being attacked. You could go to work with out wondering if your going to get shot today. We do not need more gun laws. What we need to do is follow God's laws. God knows what is best for us and God said that murders and rapist must be put to death. They have no rights because they gave them up when they committed that crime.

For the people that are guilty of murder or rape, if you want a chance at eternal life, you better make some big changes in your life starting right now. Do not believe any one that would tell you that once you repent and accepted Jesus Christ you are guaranteed eternal life. God's Word said your not. You must answer to God for murdering or raping one of His children and He does not take what you did lightly. Never commit one of these crimes again as that will make it much worse on you. Now on the other hand, all hope is not lost and do not believe any one that tells you that it is. God's law only has one sin that is unforgivable and murder or rape is not it. Repent of your sins and be the best Christian that you can be. You do that by following the example that Jesus Christ gave us.

Related Bible Studies:

posted 11-12-99