Exodus 21:12-21
God’s laws are perfect. The law of the Lord is perfect. We need to know God’s laws and follow His laws.
Psalm 119:97-100
O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. 98 Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. 99 I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. 100 I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.
The laws of God will make you wise. Keep them with you. God’s law will give you more understanding. Meditate on the words of the Bible day and night. Keep God’s laws and you will understand more than others.
The Crimes That Deserve The Death Penalty
I want to look at the death penalty today and the crimes, according to God, that lead to the death penalty. We first see the death penalty in Genesis Chapter 9.
Genesis 9:6
Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.
The first time we see the death penalty in the Bible is very early in the Bible. And we see that shedding man’s blood or killing a man results in the death penalty. Instead of killing, God wants us to be fruitful and multiply.
Exodus 21:12
He that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death.
Exodus 21:14
But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbour, to slay him with guile; thou shalt take him from mine altar, that he may die.
We see this over and over again throughout the Bible. We just spoke of abortion not too long ago due to a verse by verse study of Matthew Chapter 1. Mary was with child when she conceived. This next Scripture is related.
Exodus 21:22-23
If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman’s husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. 23 And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life,
Men fighting. Pregnant woman. The fighting men hurt the woman. The baby comes early because of that. If anyone dies, then thou shalt give life for life. If a baby dies because of this, life for life.
Murder is one case that would require the death penalty. But there are many more. Now, listen, these crimes are the worst of the worst. Murder is a horrible crime. It’s not okay at all. These coming up are just as bad. They get the equal penalty under God’s law.
The Lord is the righteous judge. These judgments for these crimes are right.
Hitting Your Parents = Death Penalty
Exodus 21:15
And he that smiteth his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death.
If you smite or hit your father or mother, this is a crime worthy of the death penalty according to God Almighty. Hey, people need to know this. Don’t hurt your dad or your mom. As your dad and mom get older, they get weaker. As you grow up, you get stronger. Don’t hit your dad or your mom. Don’t hurt them. If you do, God says it’s a horrible crime. Death penalty.
Exodus 21:16
And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.
Deuteronomy 24:7
If a man be found stealing any of his brethren of the children of Israel, and maketh merchandise of him, or selleth him; then that thief shall die; and thou shalt put evil away from among you.
The crimes of murder, smiting your parents, and kidnapping should result in the death penalty according to God. You do not steal people and sell those people for money. Thou shalt not steal. If you steal a human, you should be put to death by the authorities.
In the United States, a child goes missing every 40 seconds. Watch your children. What an evil and wicked crime to steal someone’s child. Such wickedness. The people who are doing these things should be put to death immediately. And it would stop. But they don’t put them to death. God’s law is perfect. When we let these things go, this crime increases.
Most kidnappings happen at the home or within a quarter mile of the home. Phoenix, Arizona is supposedly the kidnapping capital in the United States. Stay away from Phoenix, Arizona for many reasons.
Exodus 22:19
Whosoever lieth with a beast shall surely be put to death.
Laying With Animals = Death Penalty
God says it’s sick and nasty to lie with an animal. That’s why the dog worship in this country has to stop. Arrests in the United States have averaged around 40 to 50 per year for bestiality. And there’s much more than that. People hide these things. God says they should be put to death. This crime is a horrible crime worthy of the death penalty.
And people might argue, “Well, I’m not hurting anyone.” Well, God says that you are. You’re hurting yourself. It’s sick. It’s nasty. And anyone in their right mind would agree. God says it’s worthy of death.
Deuteronomy 22:25
But if a man find a betrothed damsel in the field, and the man force her, and lie with her: then the man only that lay with her shall die:
Rape is worthy of death. God says this crime is the same as when a man rises up against his neighbor and slays him, “EVEN SO IS THIS MATTER.” Raping someone should result in the death penalty.
Leviticus 20:10
And the man that committeth adultery with another man’s wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.
Adultery is worthy of death. Hey, this hurts people greatly. It’s pure selfishness. God says the death penalty should be given for adultery. To who? Both of them.
Leviticus 20:11-12
And the man that lieth with his father’s wife hath uncovered his father’s nakedness: both of them shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them. 12 And if a man lie with his daughter in law, both of them shall surely be put to death: they have wrought confusion; their blood shall be upon them.
Laying With Kin = Death Penalty
You’re married. You have children. Your son marries a woman. You lie with your son’s wife. Both of you shall be put to death. Death penalty. You lay with your father’s wife. Death penalty. Sickness. Confusion. Horrible crime.
As you can see, there are many death penalty crimes in the Bible. These are the worst of the worst sins.
What have we seen so far? Let’s put this in a table because this is going to get bigger. These crimes are so bad that God says the death penalty is the punishment. And again, agree with God’s law because God is right. Jesus Christ is right.
| # | Death Penalty Crime |
| 1 | Murder |
| 2 | Smiting Parents |
| 3 | Kidnapping |
| 4 | Bestiality |
| 5 | Rape |
| 6 | Adultery |
| 7 | Laying with Kin |
Leviticus 20:13
If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
Men with men and women with women. Abomination. God greatly hates abominations that are being committed. “They shall surely be put to death.” This is a serious crime in God’s eyes. He is the righteous judge. Death penalty.
In this world today, people are promoting this. But people are tiring of this rather quickly. People are tired of the sickness being spread. This is one reason why I love West Louisville. Homosexuality is very minimal here. I haven’t seen one here in several months of being in this location. Thank God!
God’s Laws Are Perfect For All Eternity
Some people will say these crimes are only for the Old Testament. These are God’s laws and they are perfect. And they match with the New Testament.
Romans 1:32
Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
That’s New Testament. That speaks of women with women and men with men. Worthy of death. It’s a horrific crime that should be punished with the death penalty. God says so.
Deuteronomy 22:20-21
But if this thing be true, and the tokens of virginity be not found for the damsel: 21 Then they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father’s house, and the men of her city shall stone her with stones that she die: because she hath wrought folly in Israel, to play the whore in her father’s house: so shalt thou put evil away from among you.
A woman lying to her new husband and her father about her virginity would lead to death. God says this is very evil. What else in the Bible is so evil that God assigns the penalty of death?
Exodus 22:18
Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.
God says that witchcraft is punishable by death.
Leviticus 20:27
A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them.
Don’t fall for the enchantment of those people. Evil will sound great to people. But it leads to horrible things. God says to stay from these things.
Leviticus 20:2
Again, thou shalt say to the children of Israel, Whosoever he be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn in Israel, that giveth any of his seed unto Molech; he shall surely be put to death: the people of the land shall stone him with stones.
Anything Related to False Gods is a Crime
Worshipping, serving, and sacrificing to false gods is a very serious crime according to God. The penalty is death. For example, teaching a false gospel is very evil and sends people to hell. God says this is a crime punishable by death.
Islam has 1.9 billion followers. Hinduism has 1.2 billion. Buddhism has 500 million. Most so-called “Christians” believe a false gospel and worship a false god.
Deuteronomy 17:3-5
And hath gone and served other gods, and worshipped them, either the sun, or moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded; 4 And it be told thee, and thou hast heard of it, and inquired diligently, and, behold, it be true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in Israel: 5 Then shalt thou bring forth that man or that woman, which have committed that wicked thing, unto thy gates, even that man or that woman, and shalt stone them with stones, till they die.
If that law had been implemented throughout the world and throughout history, there wouldn’t be billions of people worshipping false gods that aren’t even alive. It’s pure wickedness.
Deuteronomy 18:20
But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.
False preachers and false prophets would be put to death. You have all of these preachers out there today saying “God told me this” and “God told me that.” And God didn’t. Death penalty.
Leviticus 24:16
And he that blasphemeth the name of the LORD, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the LORD, shall be put to death.
Don’t blaspheme the name of the Lord. Don’t speak evil against God. Death penalty. What else do we see as a serious crime?
Exodus 21:17
And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death.
If you curse your mother or father, death penalty. Same thing as smiting them physically except you are doing it with your mouth. Don’t run your mouth at your parents.
| # | Death Penalty Crime |
| 1 | Murder |
| 2 | Smiting Parents |
| 3 | Kidnapping |
| 4 | Bestiality |
| 5 | Rape |
| 6 | Adultery |
| 7 | Laying with Kin |
| 8 | Gay and Lesbian |
| 9 | Lying About Virginity |
| 10 | Wizards and Witches |
| 11 | False gods |
| 12 | False prophet |
| 13 | Blaspheme God |
| 14 | Cursing Parents |
Here’s another one related to not obeying your parents and being a glutton and a drunkard.
Rebellious Glutton and Drunkard Son = Death Penalty
Deuteronomy 21:20-21
And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard. 21 And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.
Why does God implement these death penalty laws? He doesn’t want the evil to spread, and it will spread. He knows this. So God says to put an end to this. Our government should be setting these things as law and implementing these penalties.
Deuteronomy 19:18-19
And the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother; 19 Then shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to have done unto his brother: so shalt thou put the evil away from among you.
If someone testifies falsely in an attempt to get someone the death penalty, that person shall be put to death. Evil, evil, evil.
So, we have reached the end of all the death penalty laws that should be implemented in every nation throughout this world EXCEPT for one.
I want to go over the table again before I get to the last one. As I read through these, see if you agree that the death penalty should be given for each of these as God says they should.
| # | Death Penalty Crime |
| 1 | Murder |
| 2 | Smiting Parents |
| 3 | Kidnapping |
| 4 | Bestiality |
| 5 | Rape |
| 6 | Adultery |
| 7 | Laying with Kin |
| 8 | Gay and Lesbian |
| 9 | Lying About Virginity |
| 10 | Wizards and Witches |
| 11 | False gods |
| 12 | False prophet |
| 13 | Blaspheme God |
| 14 | Cursing Parents |
| 15 | Rebellious Son |
| 16 | False Witness to Death Penalty Crime |
Now, what do you think? All of these laws are perfect laws. Every one of these things here are horrific crimes that God punishes with the death penalty. Our nation today doesn’t agree with God. There aren’t many people that do. But I do, and you need to agree as well.
The Last Death Penalty Crime
With that said, what is the last crime that deserves the death penalty?
Deuteronomy 17:11-12
According to the sentence of the law which they shall teach thee, and according to the judgment which they shall tell thee, thou shalt do: thou shalt not decline from the sentence which they shall shew thee, to the right hand, nor to the left. 12 And the man that will do presumptuously, and will not hearken unto the priest that standeth to minister there before the LORD thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shall die: and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel.
When a judge uses the law of God to sentence someone to a penalty, this judge is doing right. If that man declines the sentence and will not hearken to the priest, that man shall die. Death penalty.
We need to know that God’s law is right and his penalties are right. The death penalty is a Godly law even though much of this country doesn’t agree. And much of this country doesn’t agree because we haven’t followed God’s laws. It just leads to more and more corruption. You can clearly see this now in this country.
More and more crimes are minimized and not penalized properly. God did not get rid of the death penalty. But the United States is slowly removing the death penalty and things are slowly getting worse and worse. And, as long as the death penalty is being removed, crime will continue to increase.
There are only 12 states in our country, at this time, that are carrying out some executions. In the 1930’s, executions reached the highest levels in American history with an average of 167 per year. By 1966, support for the death penalty was only at 42% according to polls.
The Death Penalty = Good Law From God
Unrighteous judges have ruled over the years that the death penalty is wrong. God says it is right. He is the righteous judge. He didn’t get rid of it. Jesus says, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.”
God, as the righteous judge, says that we all deserve death and hell because of our sin. Jesus didn’t come to destroy that judgment. He came to fulfill that judgment. He knows that we deserve death and hell, but Jesus came and paid our penalty in full.
| # | Death Penalty Crime | Category |
| 1 | Murder | Death |
| 2 | Smiting Parents | Parents |
| 3 | Kidnapping | Stealing |
| 4 | Bestiality | Sexual |
| 5 | Rape | Sexual |
| 6 | Adultery | Sexual |
| 7 | Laying with Kin | Sexual |
| 8 | Gay and Lesbian | Sexual |
| 9 | Lying About Virginity | Sexual |
| 10 | Wizards and Witches | Witchcraft |
| 11 | False gods | False gods |
| 12 | False prophet | Lying |
| 13 | Blaspheme God | Blasphemy |
| 14 | Cursing Parents | Parents |
| 15 | Rebellious Son | Parents |
| 16 | False Witness to Death Penalty Crime | Lying |
| 17 | Not Accepting Judgment | Rebellion |
We know that God’s penalty for our sin is death and hell. That last one there on the list is a big one. If we won’t accept that God’s penalty is death and hell, then we won’t think we need to be saved from hell. And the penalty for not accepting God’s righteous judgment is death and hell.
We’re all sinners. We need a Savior. We don’t want to receive the true death penalty of hell. So we trust Jesus. We trust God’s righteous judgments. We agree with His penalties for these crimes that are punishable by death. We believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and we are saved from death and hell.
I hope you learned something about the death penalty today.
Let’s pray.
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