Crime and Punishment 2 Peter 1:3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue. All answers are found in God's Word. Not always specific answers to specific problems, but the principles are given that we can apply to any situation. Topic that is discussed a lot today is crime problem an what should be done about it. All kinds of ideas presented, but often are merely human wisdom and opinions. There has always been a crime problem ever since Cain killed Abel. As long as man continues to rebel against God, there always will be a crime problem. There has been a major shift in the treatment of criminals in the past few decades. Instead of being concerned with justice and punishment, the emphasis has been on reha bilitation. The whole idea of Christianity is God's willingness to forgive and give us another chance. This is used to show how we should treat criminals today. God's Forgiveness Is Not At The Expense Of Justice. Justice is still carried out. The crucifixion of Christ enabled God to be both just and the justifier of those who have faith in Jesus (Romans 3:26) The penalty of sin was not ignored, it was paid by a substitute. God has the authority to accept a substitute to pay the penalty for man's sins, the sentence of the law must be carried out or God would not be just. Governments have not been given the authority to accept substitutes. When laws are broken, the one who breaks the laws must pay the penalty or the government ceases to be just. When plea bargaining and technicalities are used to allow the guilty to go free, there is no justice. When rules have been violated, the guilt of one cannot be used as an excuse to not punish the sin of another. The penalty of breaking the law must be paid for there to be justice. The purpose of the N.T. is not designed primarily as a guide to show us how to run a government. It is to show us how to come to God and be part of His church. The church is not a political organization. Jesus said His kingdom is not of this world. Result: not much is said on how to run a government. The Old Testament is different. It was given to Israel to govern both their religious and political life. The nation of Israel was not just a religious group but a physical nation as well. God gave them commands that not only covered how they were to approach Him but also how they were to govern the nation. The Law was a perfect system that would enable them to be saved if they followed it perfectly. The weakness of the law was not in the law itself, but that there was no means of forgiveness when the people sinned. Therefore, no one could be justified by the Law because no one kept it perfectly. Deuteronomy 6:24 And the Lord commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as it is at this day. (10:12-13) Part of the Law included what to do with the criminal element in their society. In the Law, we can read of the criminal justice system revealed by God. This would be worthy of us to study especially since our present system is such a failure. One of the greatest contrasts between God's system and our system is that God did not provide for a prison system. Individuals could be held while waiting for their trial, but once they were sentenced, it was never a sentence to be filled by sitting in jail at public expense. Examples of people held in custody only while waiting sentencing: Lev. 24:10-23 - a man who blasphemed the name of the Lord, and cursed. Num. 15:32-36 - a man gathering sticks on the Sabbath day. They either had to pay the victim, or sold into slavery to repay the victim, or they were whipped, or they were executed. The crime victim had his loss restored by the criminal or the criminal paid with his life and there was no problem with repeat crimes. There was no plea bargaining, no insanity pleas. The issue was either a straightforward guilt or innocence. If the accused was guilty, he was punished. no technicalities could release them. Instead of spending more millions on crime control, we would be much better off apply ing God's system. No system has ever eliminated crime in any society, but some systems make for much less crime than others. One aspect of God's criminal justice system was the use of the death penalty. Today, many who lead the fight against the death penalty are leaders in churches who claim they believe what the Bible says. Others, who support the death penalty, do not know why they are for it except they have a basic instinct for justice. Those who argue against the death penalty claim that human life is special and it cannot be take by the government. The Bible also says that human life is special and this is the very reason murders are to be executed. Genesis 9:6 Whoever sheds man's blood, by man his blood shall be shed; for in the image of God He made man. The first mention of the death penalty in history was commanded by God to Noah after the Flood. God had just practiced the death penalty on a wicked world, and then com manded the survivors to continue the practice on those who murder. This is also the first time man was told he may kill animals for food. Before this, man was a vegetarian (Genesis 1:29). Now, man may kill animals, but he cannot kill another man. If either he or any animal kills another man, the one who kills must be put to death. This covenant was given to Noah and all of his descendants, which includes the entire world's population today. Included in this covenant was the promise that God would never destroy the world again and the rainbow was given as a sign of the giving of this covenant. Many have heard of the rainbow being given as a sign that God would never send a worldwide flood again. We should also remember that the same covenant commands the death penalty for murderers (Genesis 9:1-17). Many centuries later, God made a covenant with the nation of Israel. Not only did God repeat His desire for murderers to be put to death, He also added other crimes to the list that should be punished by death. Numbers 35:16, 17, 18 ...the murderer shall surely be put to death. Leviticus 20:10 The man who commits adultery with another man's wife, he who commits adultery with his neighbor's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress, shall surely be put to death. Leviticus 20:13 If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them. Leviticus 20:15-16 If a man mates with an animal, he shall surely be put to death, and you shall kill the animal. If a woman approaches any animal and mates with it, you shall kill the woman and the animal. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood is upon them. Deuteronomy 22:25 But if a man finds a betrothed young woman in the countryside, and the man forces her and lies with her, then only the man who lay with her shall die. Exodus 21:16 He who kidnaps a man and sells him, or if he is found in his hand, shall surely be put to death. Exodus 22:18 You shall not permit a sorceress (witch - KJV) to live. Leviticus 20:2 ...Whoever of the children of Israel, or of the strangers who dwell in Israel, who gives any of his descendants to Molech, he shall surely be put to death. The people of the land shall stone him with stones. Exodus 21:15,17 And he who strikes his father or his mother shall surely be put to death. And he who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death. Deuteronomy 21:18-21 If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and who, when they have chastened him, will not heed them, then his father and his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his city, to the gate of his city. And they shall say to the elders of his city, 'This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious; he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton and a drunk ard.' Then all the men of his city shall stone him to death with stones; so you shall put away the evil from among you, and all Israel shall hear and fear. Leviticus 24:15-16 ...Whoever curses his God shall bear his sin. And whoever blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall certainly stone him, the stranger as well as him who is born in the land. When he blasphemes the name of the Lord, he shall be put to death. Deuteronomy 13:1-10 If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, 'Let us go after other gods' -- which you have not known -- 'and let us serve them,' ...that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has spoken in order to turn you away from the Lord Deuteronomy 17:12 Now the man who acts presumptuously and will not heed the priest who stands to minis ter there before the Lord your God, or the judge, that man shall die. So you shall put away the evil from Israel. Exodus 22:20 He who sacrifices to any god, except to the Lord only, he shall be utterly destroyed. Exodus 35:2 Work shall be done for six days, but the seventh day shall be a holy day for you, a Sab bath of rest to the Lord. Whoever does any work on it shall be put to death. If the Israelites kept God's commands consistently and fairly, it would have made a very safe and peaceful society. Not only would they not have the problem of "repeat offend ers" that plagues our society, but the public execution of the criminals would have an effect on others. Deuteronomy 13:6-11 If your brother, the son of your mother, your son or your daughter, the wife of your bosom, or your friend who is as your own soul, secretly entices you, saying, 'Let us go and serve other gods,' which you have not known... you shall not consent to him or listen to him, nor shall your eye pity him, nor shall you spare him or conceal him; but you shall surely kill him; your hand shall be first against him to put him to death, and afterward the hand of all the people. And you shall stone him with stones until he dies... So all Israel shall hear and fear, and not again do such wickedness as this among you. Deuteronomy 17:12-13 Now the man who acts presumptuously and will not heed the priest who stands to minis ter there before the Lord your God, or the judge, that man shall die. So you shall put away the evil from Israel. And all the people shall hear and fear, and no longer act presumptuously. Deuteronomy 21:18-21 If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and who, when they have chastened him, will not heed them, then his father and his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his city... Then all the men of his city shall stone him to death with stones; so you shall put away the evil from among you, and all Israel shall hear and fear. Although some today claim that strong punishment on the wicked does not deter others from committing crimes, God does not hold to this view. God is the one who created us and understands us better than we understands ourselves. When God says that punish ment of the wicked has an effect on others, who are we to argue with God? Example: Potter kid on school bus. Get the worst, the others wise up. Proverbs 19:25 Strike a scoffer, and the simple will become wary; rebuke one who has understanding, and he will discern knowledge. Proverbs 21:11 When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise; but when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge. There is much anguish expressed concerning the behavior of students in the public schools today. Try to imagine the change in behavior if the serious troublemakers were consistently stoned. Harsh penalties have never completely eliminated crime and in this corrupt world, they never will. There will always be those who try to get away with sin. Although all crime cannot be eliminated, it can be drastically reduced! Part of the problem today comes from the many appeals and the long, drawn out pro cess of our modern court system. This system has not developed a better way of achiev ing justice, but instead, it creates greater employment opportunities for lawyers. Again, we can see the foolishness of man rejecting the wisdom of God. Ecclesiastes 8:11 because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. We can see the truth of this time after time when criminals show no fear of our court system. When justice is delayed, the hearts of the wicked become even more hardened. Instead of clearly demonstrating the foolishness of sin, slow justice only emboldens men to sin more. God warned Israel that if innocent blood was shed, their land would be defiled. The only thing that could be cleansed was for the murderer to be put to death (Numbers 35:31- 34). Numbers 35:31-34 Moreover you shall take no ransom for the life of a murderer who is guilty of death, but he shall surely be put to death. And you shall take no ransom for him who has fled to his city of refuge, that he may return to dwell in the land before the death of the priest. 'So you shall not pollute the land where you are; for blood defiles the land, and no atonement can be made for the land, for the blood that is shed on it, except by the blood of him who shed it. Therefore do not defile the land which you inhabit, in the midst of which I dwell; for I the Lord dwell among the children of Israel. Although we do not live under the Old Covenant given through Moses, the death penalty is still in effect today. Paul wrote concerning government: Romans 13:4 For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil" The sword in this passage is not a mere threat, but a tool to bring wrath on the wicked. When Paul was being tried by Festus, he said, Acts 25:11 For if I am an offender, or have committed anything deserving of death, I do not object to dying..." He was saying that if he had committed some crime worthy of execution, he would willingly accept the punishment he deserved. Paul clearly approved of the government's ability to execute criminals. What about an individual killing another person today? Are there any circumstances where this would be permissible? In the Old Covenant, allowance was made for personal defense. God allowed an Israelite to kill while defend ing his family and property if someone broke into his home at night. Exodus 22:2 If a thief is caught breaking in and is struck so that he dies, the defender is not guilty of bloodshed. NIV Just before He was arrested and crucified, Jesus reminded his disciples how they had previously traveled without carrying any money, clothing or other supplies. Although they had never lacked anything during this phase of their training, He told them, Luke 22:36 But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one. Jesus was sending them out into a dangerous world where there were wicked men. They were to continue to trust in God for their protection, but they must do their part also. The sword would not be just for waving in front of the face of a robber to scare him. Not all robbers scare that easily. There is absolutely no authority from God for Christians to fight back when suffering from religious persecution. They are allowed to flee, but they can never resist with physi cal combat. However, there are wicked men who will attack others with no concern for their religious beliefs. If His disciples found themselves being attack by a common criminal, Jesus did not want them to be unable to defend themselves. There is a great difference in a personal insult and a criminal threatening harm to your family. Matthew 5:38-39 You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. God requires men to provide for the needs of their families. 1 Timothy 5:8 if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. In this wicked and corrupt world, one of the needs of a family is protection. If a man is not prepared to defend his family, he is being negligent in his responsibilities before God. Christians must never go looking for a fight, but when it cannot be avoided, we should, as much as in our power, be ready to take a strong stand against the wicked. We are not to be vigilantes nor rebels against the government, but if we are ever in a situa tion where we must defend our families, then, yes, there is a time to kill. Personal Injury Leviticus 24:19-20 If a man causes disfigurement of his neighbor, as he has done, so shall it be done to him -- 'fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; as he has caused disfigurement of a man, so shall it be done to him. Theft Leviticus 6:2-5 If a person sins and commits a trespass against the Lord by lying to his neighbor about what was delivered to him for safekeeping, or about a pledge, or about a robbery, or if he has extorted from his neighbor, or if he has found what was lost and lies concerning it, and swears falsely -- in any one of these things that a man may do in which he sins: then it shall be, because he has sinned and is guilty, that he shall restore what he has stolen, or the thing which he has extorted, or what was delivered to him for safekeeping, or the lost thing which he found, or all that about which he has sworn falsely. He shall restore its full value, add one-fifth more to it, and give it to whomever it belongs, on the day of his trespass offering. Theft of Livestock Exodus 22:1, 4 If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and slaughters it or sells it, he shall restore five oxen for an ox and four sheep for a sheep. 4 If the theft is certainly found alive in his hand, whether it is an ox or donkey or sheep, he shall restore double. False Witness Deuteronomy 19:16-21 If a false witness rises against any man to testify against him of wrongdoing, then both men in the controversy shall stand before the Lord, before the priests and the judges who serve in those days. And the judges shall make careful inquiry, and indeed, if the witness is a false witness, who has testified falsely against his brother, then you shall do to him as he thought to have done to his brother; so you shall put away the evil from among you. And those who remain shall hear and fear, and hereafter they shall not again commit such evil among you. Your eye shall not pity: life shall be for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot. Destruction of Property Exodus 22:5-6 If a man causes a field or vineyard to be grazed, and lets loose his animal, and it feeds in another man's field, he shall make restitution from the best of his own field and the best of his own vineyard. If fire breaks out and catches in thorns, so that stacked grain, stand ing grain, or the field is consumed, he who kindled the fire shall surely make restitution. Leviticus 24:18 Whoever kills an animal shall make it good, animal for animal. Miscellaneous Disputes Deuteronomy 25:1-3 If there is a dispute between men, and they come to court, that the judges may judge them, and they justify the righteous and condemn the wicked, then it shall be, if the wicked man deserves to be beaten, that the judge will cause him to lie down and be beaten in his presence, according to his guilt, with a certain number of blows. Forty blows he may give him and no more, lest he should exceed this and beat him with many blows above these, and your brother be humiliated in your sight. No Money To Repay After Stealing Exodus 22:1-4 If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and slaughters it or sells it, he shall restore five oxen for an ox and four sheep for a sheep... He should make full restitution; if he has nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft. If the theft is certainly found alive in his hand, whether it is an ox or donkey or sheep, he shall restore double. Exodus 21:2 If you buy a Hebrew servant, he shall serve six years; and in the seventh he shall go out free and pay nothing. No prisons, no plea bargaining, no technicalities, no insanity pleas. If he has stolen, it is to be restored two fold if the original property is recovered or if the original property is gone, then 4 or 5 times as much is to be repaid. If one should be beaten, he is beaten immediately, then released so he can go one with his life. Anything worse called for execution. There was justice and no concern for repeat offenders. It was a law that was for Israel's own good if they would follow it. God shows us how to life the best possible way as a society, individual, but most important of all, how to live forever. Thou shalt Not Kill Kill from ratsach {raw-tsakh'} Other Words Also Translated "Kill" 1. harag {haw-rag'} 2. chalal {khaw-lawl'} 3. akah {naw-kaw'} 4. naqaph {naw-kaf'} 5. muwth {mooth} 6. shachat {shaw-khat'} 7. tabach {taw-bakh'} 8. zabach {zaw-bakh'} Wayne Wells wayneliz@twave.net http://users.twave.net/ncc