Bible Discussion Thread

Apparently; that means no ransom monies to be paid. This would be neither acceptable from the perpetrator himself; or for someone else to satisfy judgment.

As to your comment; scripturally it is interesting to look at David. Or alternatively; the woman caught in adultery in the N.T. God chose mercy over judgment; however it would have been perfectly just in either case for the death penalty to ensue. In the first case; David surreptitiously had Uriah the Hittite killed by deliberately placing him at the front of the battlefield; in order to cover up his adultery with Bathsheba. If he had two or more witnesses for the adultery; and if those who had planned Uriah's demise had been more discerning; they may have seen what was going down; albeit an indirect killing by putting him at risk. Probably the first case with a Hittite wife would not have been pursued by anyone as the Hittites were to remain apart from the congregation because of laws in the O.T. as to those up to the 10th generation of certain peoples based on what they had done. Uriah's own actions of self sacrifice; and not returning home to his wife showed he was indeed a man of valor-hence when the Prophet spoke to David about the situation of taking a man's only possession it was used to indite David who was repentant. There were still repercussions; with the death of the resulting child.

The case of the woman caught in adultery was similar; it was a stoning to death offense; but since the man was not present it couldn't really satisfactorily be prosecuted.

True justice demands the proper penalty; if indeed a murder was not for self defense or accidental but intentional. However; even the likes of Jeffery Dahmer show some hope; as it appeared he repented. Evidence for that is a willingness to suffer death; as he apparently wished knowing what he was capable of. Nonetheless; we should certainly offer the Gospel and not gloat as you say over the death of anyone see Ezekiel 33:11

Hello Richard. Not sure whether your comment is in reference to some one else's, so I apologize, but your reference to the woman caught in adultery ( John 8:3-11) piqued my interest.

We know that Jesus didn't condemn the woman for her act, rather told her to desist from engaging in such encounters, and John 12:47b tells us "for I (Jesus) came not to judge the world, but to save the world", indicating that His Ministry wasn't of judgement but for souls' salvation; so it was correct that in line with His Coming, that Mercy & Forgiveness be shown & through it, sinners might see their own sin first, before casting their stones.

But I also see another side to this, as part of the given Law, which I've never heard spoken of. The Law of God was clear & binding and the religious leaders knew it. Yet, at that time in Israel, that Law couldn't be enacted or enforced, as their was no king or judge in Israel authorized to do so. I guess the religious leaders took it upon themselves to fill that void, as they also had much sway in the domestic & religious lives of the Jews. But were they legitimate in meting out the death penalty (or, any punishment), for sins/crimes committed? They could certainly see & acknowledge the wrongs done in society, but did they have the power to exact a penalty such as this? Or, would they be limited to committing the woman to a time of separation, of introspection, repentance, & then restoration? Maybe, as a pastor/elder would do in the Church today?

So, I detect that Jesus, in His ministry to both the woman & the leaders, was also showing to them, that such judgement rested only with God and to those He had authorized to exact it; that these religious leaders ought to confine themselves to matters of the synagogue & guidance to the Law's requirements, rather than taking on the role of judges. And after all, the Romans were their rulers/judges at that time, though generally uninterested in these Jewish 'strange' practises. Just a thought.

Thanks Brother Chris.

I never thought of it in that way.

I always focused on what he might have wrote on the ground like perhaps the absent man's name.

Even if he did they would certainly need someone to execute that judgment.

Thanks and God bless.

You're right bro S. Spencer, we do tend to focus on that which causes us to wonder - where nothing more is said about what Jesus wrote on the ground. Yours is a good guess as also the many others who have their suggestions; but they can remain only in our thoughts.

Mine were directed to Isaiah 55:7, "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." Could Jesus have written along those lines, 'God is merciful to sinners - show mercy', as they readied themselves to hurl their stones. And then Jesus stood up & spoke to them, "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her." With those words & whatever Jesus had written on the ground, they got the message, that mercy ought to prevail, even as Jesus put aside His authority to administer justice to her.

Yet the Law was still in force - but Jesus' coming brought in a transitional period, where the Law began to fade away, for the 'fulness of God's Grace & Glory' now stood before them ( John 1:14), culminating in the full expression of that Grace, at the Cross. Even if the religious leaders had the power to judge & penalize, Jesus was showing (even through this encounter with this woman), that mercy & forgiveness was now the order of the day, as this was to be seen in Jesus Himself present with them - that the harsh implications of the Law and entrance of God's abundant Grace in Christ, had absolutely no correlation, indeed, diametrically opposed to each other.

The Law revealed sin & only brought death & sin abounded by the Law for there was no mechanism within the Law to bring about a change in heart & life. Grace now came through Christ and was able to deal with that unbridled sin - that Grace might reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord." ( Romans 5:20,21). Those leaders might not have learned this, but at least seem convicted.

Amen Brother.

That reminds me of these verses.

Matthew 23:26. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.

Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.