25th October 2025 Question box

OK, so today’s question has been waiting quite a while: I think this appeared in the box while we were still in our Genesis series. Let me read the question:

Does Genesis 9:6 mean that Christian should be in favour of capital punishment? Or at least that it’s biblical and just? How does it tie into grace and mercy?

OK, first of all let me set the scene for this verse. Before the flood, you’ll remember the earth was filled with violence. And so God judged with the flood, you could say that was a kind of capital punishment. And then after Noah emerged from the ark and prepared to start again a new chapter for humanity. God says you’re allowed to kill and eat animals, but you’re not allowed to kill humans. Here’s the verse:

Whoever sheds human blood,
by humans shall their blood be shed;
for in the image of God
has God made mankind.

Genesis 9:6

What’s clear here is the reason why murder is wrong: it’s because humans are in the image of God that human life is so precious. But when it says: “by humans shall their blood be shed…” Does it mean that there should be capital punishment for murder? Or does it just mean that those who live by the sword shall die by the sword? Like is it that the person should be put to death, or just that they probably will? There’s a not a lot of detail here.

When you fast-forward to the nation of Israel, you do find in their law a place for capital punishment. Is that just? Well think about this: if someone steals $100, it wouldn’t be just to fine them only $50, would it? And so what if someone takes a human life? You will find some limitations in God’s law: like it makes a distinction between deliberate murder and accidental manslaughter (Deuteronomy 19:6). And there has to be judicial process, with at least two witnesses (Deuteronomy 19:15).

These judicial laws definitely have something to teach us, but we should also remember that they were part of God’s covenant with Israel, they are not designed to be directly transplantable into 21st century Australia. We do have things like prisons, which were not really a thing for the people of Israel living in tents in the desert. I think you have to say: in principle capital punishment is biblical, but you would need to give very careful thought to the practice, and in many situations there might not be a way to implement it justly. (So, I’m definitely not saying that we should be asking for it to be reintroduced in Australia).

But for the sake of the question: if it was implemented completely fairly, how would that tie into grace and mercy? I think the answer is that if there is time given for judicial process… then even if they are sentenced to death by a human court, there is still a chance for a convicted person to find mercy and forgiveness and peace with God…No matter how serious their crime.

Because here’s a thing, did you realise that capital punishment is actually at the centre of our Christian story? Jesus himself was sentenced to death. Unfairly, because he was innocent. And without proper judicial process. But the fact that he was willing to take the highest punishment possible, means that his death is enough pay for the sins of anyone, even up to the worst of criminals. I think that’s where grace and mercy ultimately fit in.

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This question was originally answered in our evening service on 22 June 2025. I’ll aim to post another question and answer next week. You can read about how our question box works here.