You Shall Not Murder

Many Have used this command as their bases of objection to the death penalty.

However, this command does not prohibit all killing, it prohibits murder.

How many of you have heard the saying “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth will leave the world blind and toothless”?

The origins are not certain, but it is widely attributed to Mahatma Gandhi, who was anything but Christian.

Like it or not an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth is the Biblical model for justice.

Though that’s the only portion you usually hear quoted, it’s not the entire quote.

Those who would denounce this methodology are actually arguing against God.

This law is mentioned three times in the Old Testament and partially mentioned once in the New Testament.

The first of the Old Testament mentions is in Exodus, then Leviticus, and finally Deuteronomy.

How does this prohibition reconcile with “an eye for an eye” law, which is mentioned three times in the Old Testament.

Exodus 21:22-25

Exodus 21:22–25 NKJV

“If men fight, and hurt a woman with child, so that she gives birth prematurely, yet no harm follows, he shall surely be punished accordingly as the woman’s husband imposes on him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. But if any harm follows, then you shall give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.

Leviticus 24:19-21

Leviticus 24:19–21 NKJV

‘If a man causes disfigurement of his neighbor, as he has done, so shall it be done to him—fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; as he has caused disfigurement of a man, so shall it be done to him. And whoever kills an animal shall restore it; but whoever kills a man shall be put to death.

Deuteronomy 19:15-21

Deuteronomy 19:15–21 NKJV

“One witness shall not rise against a man concerning any iniquity or any sin that he commits; by the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established. If a false witness rises against any man to testify against him of wrongdoing, then both men in the controversy shall stand before the Lord, before the priests and the judges who serve in those days. And the judges shall make careful inquiry, and indeed, if the witness is a false witness, who has testified falsely against his brother, then you shall do to him as he thought to have done to his brother; so you shall put away the evil from among you. And those who remain shall hear and fear, and hereafter they shall not again commit such evil among you. Your eye shall not pity: life shall be for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.

First, we need to identify why the law was given. The law was given as the judicial system of the government.

This is very important, in that it was not given for individual use.

You will see in Deuteronomy that the execution of the punishment came only after the presentation of witnesses and careful inquiry by the judges.

It was an orderly and structered process, that was carried out by the government.

If the requirements were not met, there would be no punishment.

So, what did Jesus say about this law? We see it recorded in Matthew.

What did Jesus say about this law?

Matthew 5:38-39

Matthew 5:38–39 NKJV

“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.

There are several points to be made here, but first we need to identify Jesus’ audience.

He was speaking to the multitude, they were a group of individuals, rather than a government entity.

That’s important, because the law did not authorize personal vengeance or mob justice.

Remember the judicial process in Deuteronomy?

So, in this case, the audience sets the context of Jesus’ words.

He said nothing that would change the role of the government.

Secondly, the example that Jesus gives is that of someone who slaps you.

He did not address the scenario of someone who is continually harming you.

His example is a single slap.

Never does Jesus say that a person can’t defend himself if someone poses a legitimate physical threat.

Third, by way of examples that He cites, Jesus tells us that mercy and forgiveness are the best options, on an individual basis.

Still, this does nothing to change the role of government. In fact, according to Peter, one of the roles of government is to punish evildoers.

Punishment is the role of Government, not individuals or mobs.

1 Peter 2:13-14

1 Peter 2:13–14 NKJV

Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good.

So. . . Is an eye for an eye still valid?

Absolutely, when properly executed by the proper authorities.

It simply dictates that the punishment must fit the crime.

This is the very reason why the death penalty is Biblically justified.

Murder, of course, is a different story.

This commandment clearly doesn’t prohibit all killing, It prohibits murder.

Exodus 21:12-14

Exodus 21:12–14 NKJV

“He who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death. However, if he did not lie in wait, but God delivered him into his hand, then I will appoint for you a place where he may flee. “But if a man acts with premeditation against his neighbor, to kill him by treachery, you shall take him from My altar, that he may die.

In contrast, accidental killing is distinguished from murder.

Deuteronomy 4:42

Deuteronomy 4:42 NKJV

that the manslayer might flee there, who kills his neighbor unintentionally, without having hated him in time past, and that by fleeing to one of these cities he might live:

Numbers 35:11

Numbers 35:11 NKJV

then you shall appoint cities to be cities of refuge for you, that the manslayer who kills any person accidentally may flee there.

Even if a death was caused by negligence, but was still accidental, it is not in violation of this commandment.

Numbers 35:23-24

Numbers 35:23–24 NKJV

or uses a stone, by which a man could die, throwing it at him without seeing him, so that he dies, while he was not his enemy or seeking his harm, then the congregation shall judge between the manslayer and the avenger of blood according to these judgments.

Deuteronomy 19:5

Deuteronomy 19:5 NKJV

as when a man goes to the woods with his neighbor to cut timber, and his hand swings a stroke with the ax to cut down the tree, and the head slips from the handle and strikes his neighbor so that he dies—he shall flee to one of these cities and live;

Execution for premeditated and malicious murders is an authority that God gave to mankind after the Flood.

Genesis 9:5-6

Genesis 9:5–6 NKJV

Surely for your lifeblood I will demand a reckoning; from the hand of every beast I will require it, and from the hand of man. From the hand of every man’s brother I will require the life of man. “Whoever sheds man’s blood, By man his blood shall be shed; For in the image of God He made man.

The process of trial and conviction was established in the book of Numbers.

Numbers 35:30-31

Numbers 35:30–31 NKJV

Whoever kills a person, the murderer shall be put to death on the testimony of witnesses; but one witness is not sufficient testimony against a person for the death penalty. Moreover you shall take no ransom for the life of a murderer who is guilty of death, but he shall surely be put to death.

Modern laws dimly reflect these ideals but are made less effective by delay.

Ecclesiastes 8:11

Ecclesiastes 8:11 NKJV

Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.

God’s law protects life. Even those who murder are not to be flippantly executed.

The case against them must be proven. This helps to prevent any life from being unnecessarily taken.

God’s justice is perfect, and God-given life is precious.