Do not accept a ransom for the life of a murderer, who deserves to die. They are to be put to death. – Numbers 35:31

Today’s Scripture Reading (October 16, 2015): Numbers 35

A quick look at the headlines might lead you to believe that the Death Penalty debate is about how we kill those guilty of capital offenses. Headlines seem to feature a discussion of what drugs are used and how much pain the drugs create. The idea is that to put someone to death in such a way that creates undo pain for the one being killed would be considered to be cruel and unusual punishment. But while that might be the grounds on which our debate is based as people continue to be led to the death chamber, the method of death really isn’t the issue. The issue is whether or not the Death Penalty is just.

Those who support the Death Penalty often point to the Bible or other ancient literature for a model concerning capital crime. It would seem from a quick reading that the biblical ideal is that blood must be avenged by blood. But that is not actually the biblical message. The biblical ideal is actually placing a limit on punishment. The message is that no punishment should be enforced on the perpetrator that exceeds the crime. So blood avenges blood, a life taken means that a life must be given. But even here there are exceptions. A life that is taken accidentally does not mean that a life must be given. In that case, the life of the one who killed in a just society must be protected from the vengeance of the family of the one who died.

But justice is the real issue. For a life that is taken in anger, a life can be demanded. The principal is that we need to be in control of our emotions if our society is going to survive. But this can only be considered justice if the standard can be applied to everyone within the society. And this is where we fail. A survey of those that actually receive the death penalty in contemporary society often reveals a racial story. In the United States, there is a better chance of someone receiving the death penalty if they are black and they kill someone who is white. And as long as that is true, then the death penalty cannot be a tool of justice. Justice would mean that the penalty must be equally applied.

And this is the warning that is found here. No one who is guilty of a capital crime can be allowed to buy his life and still have be considered to live in a just society. True justice must be blind to different economic realities or racial differences or it simply is not justice.

But there is also another alternative. There is absolutely nothing in the Mosaic Law that prohibits the giving of mercy. But again, to be just mercy must be given regardless of any economic realities. The rich cannot be able to buy mercy, because if justice can be bought, then it isn’t really justice.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Numbers 36