Death Penalty-What Would Jesus Do?

When the thief on the cross cried out in repentance:

Luke 23:41

"... for we are receiving the just reward for our deeds..."

A Christian should never stand above him, (as I have heard some do) saying "this quote proves the death penalty is the just reward for such people!" Let it rather strike every conscience, that only in sharing this repentance will we see Paradise with the thief.

Christians who use the Bible to promote the death penalty as "God’s will" should remember their master’s warning:

John 16:2-3

"Indeed the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering a service to God. And they will do this because they have not known the Father, nor me."

In this context of discerning "God’s will" it is very interesting that there are in fact two sins serious enough that even Jesus warns us of God’s full and equal retribution - these are the sins of loveless judging and unforgiveness - here is where "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth" is fulfilled in its deepest sense:

Matthew 7:1,2

"Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get."

Matthew 18:32-35

"You wicked servant...should you not have mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you? And in anger his lord delivered him to the jailers till he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart."

Matthew 6:14,15

"For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly father also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your father forgive your trespasses."

The above passages are not intended, as some argue, to be limited to only "personal forgiveness", allowing governments to carry on with business as usual. Jesus gave his teachings to all of mankind, and only to the extent that we follow and actually apply them will the prophecy ever come to pass:

Isaiah 9:6

"And the government will be upon His shoulder, and His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

It is clear that Moses did not make this artificial separation between the "personal level" and the governing of the people. In Old Testament executions Moses required the witness himself to throw the first stone (Deuteronomy 17:7) this was to directly challenge the conscience of that witness. Jesus went further in this same direction asking the man without sin to cast the first stone. This struck consciences even deeper:

John 8:9

"When they heard this they went away one by one, beginning with the oldest"

Conscience is a very important factor in this topic. Today our society’s conscience is under attack.

Matthew 7:15-18

"Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits... A sound tree cannot bear evil fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit."

In this line of thinking let’s look at the four traditional methods of execution that have been used internationally over the centuries: hanging, stoning, beheading and death by firing squad. The United States is the only country in the world currently using the "more humane" methods of electrocution, gas chamber, and lethal injection. While this appears to show some struggle of national conscience, based on law forbidding "cruel and unusual punishment", our death machinery rolls on. Other countries have been faster to recognize the inherent cruelty of capital punishment and outlaw it.