The Death Sentence
Many states today still have the death sentence. Many people are still in favor of it for crimes of murder. Though many of our Supreme Court Justices are not in favor of it, because they cite that an innocent person may die by mistake. They have softened their stance over the years, and they believe that, well, if it is a brutal killing maybe. They have also been concerned that dying by the electric chair is brutal, or even by injections can be brutal if the person dies slowly, of course, none of this takes into consideration how the victim died, and the fear and anguish he suffered. Years ago we would hang a person for stealing a horse. Today, in many states and cities, they can steal all they want, and it is well with the souls of our DA’s. We want to take a closer look into this, and see exactly what the Scriptures speak to us about this topic, but we will have to take the long way around. We know that all crime is sinful. The Ten Commandments tell us this in Exodus 20:13-17,
“You shall not murder.
You shall not commit adultery.
You shall not steal.
You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
You shall not covet your neighbor’s house.
You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
Many people do not believe that they have to keep the Commandments, but Yeshua, not only believed in keeping the Commandments, but He even expounded on the Commandments as He tells us this in
Matthew 5: 21-22, “You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not murder,’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be answerable to the court.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be answerable to the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be answerable to the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell. Therefore, if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there you remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering. Come to good terms with your accuser quickly, while you are with him on the way to court, so that your accuser will not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you will not be thrown into prison. Truly I say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last penny.”
Yeshua says this because the spirit of anger and rage, bitterness and unforgiveness are all the same spirit as murder. He also says to quickly make things right between you and your brother, neighbor or friend. Also this is in Matthew 5:27-30, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery’; but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Now if your right eye is causing you to sin, tear it out and throw it away from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand is causing you to sin, cut it off and throw it away from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell.”
Yeshua tells us that coveting is a serious matter, that all you have to do is to look with lust. You see that coveting and lust are the same spirit as adultery. Yeshua even adds this in verses 31-32, “Now it was said, ‘Whoever sends his wife away is to give her a certificate of divorce’; but I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the reason of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”
This verse is completely ignored!
Yeshua goes on to say this in Matthew 5:33-37, “ Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not make false vows, but shall fulfill your vows to the Lord.’ But I say to you, take no oath at all, neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God, nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you take an oath by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black. But make sure your statement is, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; anything beyond these is of evil origin.”
God takes vows very seriously and we should too. We see Yeshua saying this right after He speaks about divorce. In Exodus 19:5-8 God makes a covenant with His people, asking His Bride if she would follow the marriage vows, and they said this, “Now if you obey Me fully and keep My covenant, then out of all nations you will be My treasured possession. Although the whole earth is Mine, you will be for Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.” So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all the words the Lord had commanded him to speak. The people all responded together, “We will do everything the Lord has said.” So Moses brought their answer back to the Lord.”
Today we are swearing to all kinds of things using God’s name in vain, swearing by heaven and this is totally against God.
1 Peter 2:9-12 tells us that we too, like Israel, have been called to enter into that marriage agreement. “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Beloved, I urge you as foreigners and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts, which wage war against the soul. Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God on the day of visitation.”
In Matthew 5: 43-48 Yeshua says this, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may prove yourselves to be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Even the tax collectors, do they not do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Even the Gentiles, do they not do the same? Therefore you shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Once again Yeshua tells us about hate which is murder and He tells us that even our enemies, those who cause our lives to be difficult, those who persecute, and murder us, are to be forgiven and loved. Paul also tells us in Galatians 5:19-21 this, “Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: sexual immorality, impurity, indecent behavior, idolatry, witchcraft, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
These are just a few examples, but Yeshua made it quite clear in Matthew 5:17-20 “Do not presume that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke of a letter shall pass from the Law, until all is accomplished! Therefore, whoever nullifies one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. “For I say to you that unless your righteousness far surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.”
You see breaking one of God’s commandments is breaking the covenant. Scripture tells us that the wages of sin is death, Romans 6:23. Yes, the death sentence will be pronounced by God, who is the judge over all things. People think that just because Yeshua died for our sins that they can now live how they want, or that they do not need to repent of their sins, but this is not true. Yeshua did not abolish the law. He made the way for us to repent, which means to turn back from your sin, and become righteous in God’s eyes. Paul tells us in Romans 2:1-13 “Therefore you have no excuse, you foolish person, everyone of you who passes judgment; for in that matter in which you judge someone else, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things. But do you suppose this, you foolish person who passes judgment on those who practice such things, and yet does them as well, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and restraint and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who will repay each person according to his deeds: to those who by perseverance in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality, He will give eternal life; but to those who are self-serving and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, He will give wrath and indignation. There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of mankind who does evil, for the Jew first and also for the Greek, but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who does what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God. For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law, and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law; for it is not the hearers of the Law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the Law who will be justified.”
There has been a lot of wrong teaching over the years, and it is time that we begin to live according to God’s Word. He is holy and we are to be holy, 1 Peter 1:16. Holiness is in the keeping of that which sets us apart from the world and that is keeping the Commandments of God and walking in His ways. The Bible was written for those who intend on walking in God’s ways, not for those who have no intention of doing so. Over and over again God makes it clear that He is the Righteous Judge, and He will judge accordingly. Sin separates us from God and if we continue in sin Hebrews 10:26-31 says this, “ For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has ignored the Law of Moses is put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severe punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
2 Corinthians 5:10 tells us, “ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Messiah, so that each one may receive compensation for his deeds done through the body, in accordance with what he has done, whether good or bad.”
And again in Romans 14:10-12, “But as for you, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or you as well, why do you regard your brother or sister with contempt? For we will all appear before the judgment seat of God. For it is written: “As I live, says the Lord, to Me every knee will bow, And every tongue will give praise to God.” So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.”
Yes, there is a death sentence to all who refuse to repent of their sins, and turn to God, the Righteous Judge, for we will all stand before Him one day.
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