Suicide

Psychological causes of suicide

A sense of guilt leads to suicide

Matthew 27:5 NLT

Then Judas threw the silver coins down in the Temple and went out and hanged himself.

See also Ac 1:18–19

Defeat leads to suicide

1 Samuel 31:4 NLT

Saul groaned to his armor bearer, “Take your sword and kill me before these pagan Philistines come to run me through and taunt and torture me.” But his armor bearer was afraid and would not do it. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it.

See also 1 Sa 31:5–6; 2 Sa 1:9; 2 Sa 17:23; 1 Ki 16:18

Defiance leads to suicide

Jdg 16:26–30; 2 Sa 17:23

Failure leads to attempted suicide

Acts 16:27 NLT

The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself.

Desire for death is more frequently expressed in the Bible than actual suicide

The desire for death in a prophet’s depression

1 Kings 19:3–4 NLT

Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He went to Beersheba, a town in Judah, and he left his servant there. Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died.”

See also Je 15:10; Je 20:14–18; Jon 4:1–3 A desire for death does not lead to taking of one’s own life, but to entrusting the place and time of one’s death to the Lord.

The desire for death arising from grief and pain

Job 10:1 NLT

“I am disgusted with my life. Let me complain freely. My bitter soul must complain.

See also Job 3:1–4; Job 7:15–16

The desire for death because of judgment

Revelation 9:6 NLT

In those days people will seek death but will not find it. They will long to die, but death will flee from them!

See also Ho 10:8; Re 6:16

Life hated because of its apparent futility

Ecclesiastes 2:17 NLT

So I came to hate life because everything done here under the sun is so troubling. Everything is meaningless—like chasing the wind.

See also Ps 90:8–10; Ec 4:1–3

Suicide usurps God’s sovereignty over life

God is Creator, and thus has authority over his creation

Job 10:12 NLT

You gave me life and showed me your unfailing love. My life was preserved by your care.

See also Ge 2:7; Ge 2:17; Ps 90:1–10; Ps 139:13–15

God controls life and death

Job 1:21 NLT

He said, “I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord!”

See also Ex 23:25–26; Dt 32:39; Job 30:23; Ec 8:8; Lk 12:22–25; Heb 9:27

Taking life, including one’s own, is sin

Exodus 20:13 NLT

“You must not murder.

God’s command that believers love themselves is violated by suicide

See also Le 19:18; Mt 22:39; Eph 5:29

God’s command that believers should love others is violated by suicide

Mt 7:12 Relatives and friends are hurt when a loved one commits suicide.