I listened to a conversation regarding the death penalty, the Bible and its teaching on the death penalty. While I myself am by no means a biblical scholar, I began to look for answers. I have often heard “an eye for an eye” and “a life for a life”. While I knew that the Bible does say these things I began to think about this, and began to look to see how the death penalty was applied in biblical times,and how this differs from the modern era death penalty.
In the Bible God gave instructions as to how man shall cast judgment on man. In doing so, He set safeguards to enable man to judge other men fairly. So that the possibility for human error would be marginal. All were accountable for their actions, the accused and the accuser were accountable. My search led me to the Law concerning witnesses.
Deuteronomy 19:15 states,
“One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.”
I do know that due to the advancement of technology in the modern era this scripture becomes obsolete. We now have DNA testing that serves as the supreme witness, even when it is the sole witness.
In the modern era we have witnessed many who have been freed from death row based on DNA evidence, false testimony, deliberate withholding of evidence by prosecutors and convictions based on the testimony of jailhouse snitches. In Biblical times there were safeguards erected to combat these very things. Safeguards set by God that are not part of the modern era death penalty.
Deuteronomy 19, verses 16-19 states:
- 16:
- If a false witness rise up against any man to testify against him that which is wrong:
- 17:
- Then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before the Lord, before the priest and the judges, which shall be in those days;
- 18:
- And the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother;
- 19:
- Then shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to have done unto his brother: so shall thou put evil away from among you.”
This safeguard was instrumental is ensuring that those accused received a fair trial free from false testimonial. To make an accusation against their brother for any reasons was a serious matter. Making false accusations was taken as serious as the charge against the accused. God explained why such safeguard was needed.
In Deuteronomy 19:20
“And those which remain shall hear, and fear, and shall henceforth commit no more such evil among you.”
The act of testifying falsely and convicting falsely was as evil as any deed a person was accused of. Is there no greater evil than to walk into a court room and present false testimony or evidence with which 12 jurors decide a mans fate ? In Biblical times those who sat in judgment of the fate of the accused would deal severely with such evil. In the modern era death penalty this safeguard is not present.
In verse 21 God stated:
“And thine eye shall not pity; but life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.”
This scripture instructs how false witnesses were to be dealt with. In modern era are these witnesses dealt with as God commanded ? Is the death penalty that you support based on the instructions of God with the safeguards He commanded ?
Exodus 23: 1-2 states:
- 1:
- Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.
- 2:
- Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment.”
Something to think about !!!
Tim Davis Z-399
Cell 3-D-2
Something to think about
Words from death row......
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