Christians who support the death penalty: Can you find one (1) quote from Jesus to support the death penalty?

Question

John 8:3-11 shows Jesus preventing the death penalty from being executed. Can you find one (1) quote from Jesus where he supports the death penalty?

If not, in what way are you following His example by supporting the death penalty?

Answer 1

Jesus was not a liberal wimp. He was a very conservative republican who ordered his followers to slay their opponents.

Luke 19:27 But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.

It is clear wimp liberals who think Jesus was against the death penalty and war have never read the bible. Jesus was a soldier for Christianity. He ordered his followers to wear swords even if they had to sell their robes in order to buy them. He said he came not to bring peace. He came to destroy the non believers and torture them forever in hell.

If you just think about who is it that stands against our president in his holy war in iraq you will see it is the atheistic liberal democrats. Real Christians like Rush Limbaugh support war and the death penalty.

Answer 2

First of all, this particular scripture does not in any way, shape or form show Jesus "preventing" anything. Many times people use the Bible and the Holy Scriptures to support and/or further their own causes and beliefs - just as you are doing here. You, obviously, do not support the death penalty, and therefore have decided to challenge the Bible and the Truth it holds.
John 3: 7 shows the scribes and Pharisees badgering Jesus about the woman, and Jesus simply replies, "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her." (supported further in both Rom. 2:1 and Duet. 17:7) Hearing this from Jesus caused each scribe and Pharisee present to ponder a moment and look within themselves. After considering themselves they walked away, dismissing the woman and whatever beef they had with her originally. Too bad humans cannot do more of this today.

God tells us to obey our own laws...the laws of man. Man has made the law and man breaks his own law. Man puts man to death because man designed his law to do that. God doesn't have anything to do with our laws. Man does not live under the Old Testment laws anymore - man lives under his own laws. The only laws of God man should live by or needs to live by are the Ten Commandments. "Thou shalt not kill" is exactly what God said and exactly what God meant. Man comes along with his own law and says if you kill then we will put you to death. God says don't kill. If you do and you get away with it according to man's law you will still have to face God and explain why you broke His command.

Jesus gives examples of forgiveness, and of compassion for our fellow man. If adultry was still punishable by death then there would be stonings every minute on the minute. If we do not punish those who break our laws then what are we to do with these lawbreakers? If not the death penalty then what penalty. Live a comfortable life in jail with 3 meals and a cot, A/C and TV and drugs and sex and letters from mom? What punishment is that? Have criminals learned anything by going to jail? No, of course not. They have, instead, made a racket out of it.

So, why are you bashing the Bible when you yourself do not have a viable alternative?

If you want to do away with the death penalty you need to go argue with those who designed and who support that law - not God, Jesus or any of His followers.

Answer 3

The second part of your question implies that you do not believe a Jesus quote supporting the death penalty can be found. Fair enough, but can you find one that supports the idea of life in prison while the working man's tax dollars feed and house him for the remainder of his life?

Suppose it's your mother, father, sister, brother, or child that is murdered. Is there a Jesus quote you are aware of that would inspire you to financially support this murderer for the rest of his life?

Answer 4

Genesis 9:6 Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.

(Jehovah of the Old Testament = Jesus Christ in the New Testament)

Most people in the world today seem to have no clue of why God gave the commandment....Here is what it is all about:

A Principle Misunderstood - Answers to Gospel Questions, vol. 3 - Joseph Fielding Smith

p.104 There is a growing notion in the world today that it is adding a crime to a crime to take the life of those who deliberately murder---a cruel retaliation which cannot benefit the murdered person and likewise the murderer can reap no benefits therefrom. The real purpose which the Lord gave for the taking of life has long been forgotten. The taking of the life of the murderer was never intended to be a benefit to the murdered person or even a benefit to humanity. It was intended to be a benefit to the murderer himself. There are sins which cannot be forgiven, except by the guilty person paying a price by the shedding of his blood. Capital punishment was to benefit the guilty to obtain a better resurrection when the sin had been one unto death.

Capital punishment is the MERCIFUL thing for the murderer. God executes punishment because it is the merciful thing to do. (tough love). Noah - whole world flooded = if they had persisted in their wickedness = even more condemnation for them later)(a key = life goes on after this life...and our choices here matter...)

What if the wrong guy? Then you are not dealing with “punishment” or penalties. “That” issue lies in determining guilt or innocence ---if you have any doubts then don’t convict them! (innocent unless PROVEN guilty)
but Capital "Punishment" is about "punishment" not guilt or innocence.

Answer 5

No, if you are against the death penalty and your son, daughter, father, mother, etc was killed by sick, evil person, and without a shadow of doubt you knew that person was guilty I'm betting you would not be against it then!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In the new testament it is written to live peaceably among men as much as it be within you and that we sin every day. We are suppose to strive to be humble, foregiving, loving, etc but we do fall short at times, was it not God whom said not to cry when someone dies but rejoice, but when Jesus walked the earth, and someone that was dear to him died, he wept!! Man has a powerful and spiritual soul. That is why Lucifer, the most beautiful angel, was so jealous and cast out from heaven. Only through Christ's blood may we be forgiven, repent so that you may be forgiven for your daily sins. Human emotion is a strong force and sometimes why we sin. Justice is justice and we all will be judged before God someday. Based from this question, Would it be hypocritical for a Christian to kill a person whom breaks into their home to protect their family, or fight in the military to protect their country and familiy??? Live peaceably among men as much as it be within you. In the old testament, the jews (Gods Chosen People) where to live by the old law and other races where considered dogs, but Jesus died for all of man's sins and the old law was needed no more, there are still great lessons in the old testment but we no longer have to sacrifice lambs etc, for forgiveness because Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice. We all sin and there are very few men whom could be as perfect as Job, When I read the book of Job I see just how weak I am.

Answer 6

Well, it is very true that Jesus preached love and kindness and even to be neigbors with so called enemies. However, he never said anything about going against the laws of the land. He is called the Prince of Peace in Isiah. He also upheld justice. To the Pharisees that bitterly opposed him he did say this at Matthew 23. Please read the whole chapter, but i will quote starting from verse 33 " Serpents, offspring of vipers , how are you to flee from the judgement of Gehenna ( the valley of Hinnom , where trash and the dead bodies of criminals were burned ) For this eason, here I am sending forth to you prophets and wise men and public instructors. Some of them you will kill and impale, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogoes and persecute from city to city ; that there may come upon you all the righteous blood spilled on earth, from the blood of rightous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Barichiah, whom you murdered between the sancturary and the altar. Truly I say to you, All these things will come upon this generation. " Jerusalem Jerusalem, the killer of the prophets and stoner of those sent forth to her --- how often I wanted to gather your children together , the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings.! But YOU people didn't want it. Look! Your house is abandoned to you.

At Luke 21 ; 20, 21 He told his followers that when they saw Jerusalem surrounded by roman armies, to flee to the mountains, to withdraw , and not to enter into the city.

The historian Josephus recounts during the passover festival in Jerusalem , during 70 c.e. , the roman armies returned after leaving mysteriously 4 years before. All the Jews in the city were trapped and over 1 million lost their lives.

Answer 7

In John 8, the Pharisees were testing Jesus and had no intention of carrying out justice according to the law. Jesus was not trying to prevent the death penalty, if indeed it was proved a crime had been committed. He did prevent the pharisees from taking the law into their own hands. Individuals are not to get involved in personal revenge. Vengeance belongs to the Lord, and He will repay evil (Rom. 12:19).

One of the means of God’s vengeance is in the hands of civil government (Rom. 13:2-4). Such government is a "minister of God." Romans 13:1-2 says "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves."

1 Pet. 2:14 says "Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right."

Jesus believed in the governments right to rule because that right came from God above -John 19:10-11.

Answer 8

i don' t support the death penalty simply because life in prison is better justice...besides, the bible says(1 Timothy 1:8-10 ) that laws are not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless...so it doesn't really matter what we think about the death penalty , does it?



p.s.(for previous posters about ' eye for an eye' )Jesus said " 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. " Matthew 5:38-39

Answer 9

Jesus did not support the dealth penalty. And for anyone who says "an eye for an eye", that wasn't Jesus. That was Judaic law, which does not apply to Christianity.

Answer 10

I agree with you. I'm a Christian, and I do not support the death penalty. Christ encouraged mercy, forgiveness, and "turning the other cheek." Now, if my son were murdered, I can't guarantee I'd change my mind, but I hope it's never a choice I'm faced with. For now, I'm totally against it, and hope to remain that way.