Copyright 2001 by Diane S. Dew

I.  The death penalty is a deterrent against crime.  

Deuteronomy 21:21 "All the men of his town shall stone him to death. You must purge the evil from among you. All Israel will hear of it and be afraid." 

II. Under the Mosaic Law, the death penalty was not only permissible but required.

Genesis 9:5-6  "And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting. I will demand an accounting from every animal. And from each man, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of his fellow man. Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed." 

Numbers 35:31 "Do not accept a ransom for the life of a murderer, who deserves to die. He must surely be put to death."

III. Two witnesses were required, that there be no error.

                 Numbers 35:30
                 Deuteronomy 17:6; 19:15  

IV. Biblically, by whom should the penalty be executed?

       A. By the witnesses.

                 Deuteronomy 13:9; 17:7
                 Acts 7:58

        B. By the congregation.

                 Numbers 15:35,36
                 Deuteronomy 13:9 

V. Under the Mosaic law the death penalty was inflicted for the commission of many types of crimes.

      A. Sins against life.

                1. Murder.

                             Genesis 9:5, 6
                             Numbers 35:16-21, 30-33
                             Deuteronomy 17:6  

                 2. Offering human sacrifice.

                              Leviticus 20:2-5

       B. Sexual sins.

                 1. Adultery.

                            Leviticus 20:10
                            Deuteronomy 22:24

                 2. Incest.

                            Leviticus 20:11, 12, 14

                 3. Bestiality.

                            Exodus 22:19
                            Leviticus 20:15, 16

                  4. Sodomy (homosexual behavior).

                            Leviticus 18:22; 20:13

                  5. Rape.

                            Deuteronomy 22:25  

                  6. Fornication.

                            Leviticus 21:9  

                  7. Unchastity

                            Deuteronomy 22:21-24

       C. Spiritual sins.

                  1. Witchcraft.

                              Exodus 22:18

                  2. Idolatry.

                              Exodus 22:20  

                  3. Blasphemy.

                              Leviticus 24:11-14, 16, 23

                  4. Desecration of the Sabbath.

                              Exodus 35:2
                              Numbers 15:32-36

                  5. Promoting false doctrines or false prophecy.

                              Deuteronomy 13:1-10

       D. Sins against society.

                  1. Perjury.

                              Zechariah 5:4

                  2. Theft.

                              Zechariah 5:3, 4  

                  3. Kidnapping.

                              Exodus 21:16
                              Deuteronomy 24:7  

                  4. Contempt of court.

                              Deuteronomy 17:12

                  5. Treason.

                              1 Kings 2:25
                              Esther 2:23  

                   6. Sedition.

                              Acts 5:36, 37

       E. Sins against one's parents.

                   1. Cursing a parent.

                               Leviticus 20:9
                               Exodus 21:17

                   2. Physically abusing one's parent.

                               Exodus 21:15

                   3. Disobeying parents.

                               Deuteronomy 21:18-21


VI. In Scripture, the death penalty was carried out by any of several means.

       A. Burning.

                Genesis 38:24; Leviticus 20:14; 21:9; Jeremiah 29:22; Ezekiel 23:25; Daniel 3:19-23

       B. Stoning.

                 Leviticus 20:2, 27; 24:14; Numbers 14:10; 15:33-36; Deuteronomy 13:10; 17:5; 22:21, 24; Joshua 7:25; 1 Kings 21:10; Ezekiel 16:40

       C. Hanging.

                 Genesis 40:22; Deuteronomy 21:22, 23; Joshua 8:29

       D. Beheading.

                 Matthew 14:10; Mark 6:16, 27, 28

       E. Crucifixion.

                 Matthew 27:35,38; Mark 15:24,27; Luke 23:33

       F. The sword.

                 Exodus 32:27,28; 1 Kings 2:25, 34, 46; Acts 12:2 

MAIN PAGE

DEATH PENALTY LINKS

Note: Inclusion of the following links does not necessarily imply endorsement of the viewpoints expressed but are provided merely for reference.

Discussion Group - Opposing View 

Discussion Group - Supporting View

Death Penalty News & Updates - with a list of pending executions

Last Word, The - collection of final statements of condemmed prisoners.

Focus on the Death Penalty - comprehensive resource which includes history, U.S. Supreme Court cases, statistics, the international context, and views from both sides of the debate. From the University of Alaska at Anchorage.

Death Penalty USA Pages - listing executions since 1976. Includes death row inmates, juveniles executed, and methods.

Capital Punishment: the Death Penalty - information from different religious perspectives.