GOD takes responsibility for manslaughter

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JohnB

Well-known member
Jul 31, 2022
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#1
Whoever strikes and kills a man must surely be put to death. If, however, he did not lie in wait, but God allowed it to happen, then I will appoint for you a place where he may flee......Exodus 21:12-13. Interesting, GOD takes responsibility for manslaughter.
 

JaumeJ

Senior Member
Jul 2, 2011
21,429
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#2
This complies beautifully with what our Master teaches us, that no law is to be applied without containg mercy. At least it does in part.
 
P

persistent

Guest
#3
Whoever strikes and kills a man must surely be put to death. If, however, he did not lie in wait, but God allowed it to happen, then I will appoint for you a place where he may flee......Exodus 21:12-13. Interesting, GOD takes responsibility for manslaughter.
Did this verse have any significance to the stoning of Stephen recorded in Acts 7 and Pauls' participation? Paul would have been aware of the 'law'.
Acts 8:1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judæa and Samaria, except the apostles.
 

JaumeJ

Senior Member
Jul 2, 2011
21,429
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#4
Did this verse have any significance to the stoning of Stephen recorded in Acts 7 and Pauls' participation? Paul would have been aware of the 'law'.
Acts 8:1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judæa and Samaria, except the apostles.
Again, Jesus Yeshua teaches a law must be applied with mercy, so we understand no mercy was shown to our brother, Stephen.
 
P

persistent

Guest
#5
Again, Jesus Yeshua teaches a law must be applied with mercy, so we understand no mercy was shown to our brother, Stephen.
Paul thought he was doing right in condoning Stephens' death. There is a lesson here, but I still don't understand. Seems there is a 'philosophy' that goes like this 'save the soul, damn the flesh'. Possibly based on these verses which Paul did not know.

Matthew 18:6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

7 ¶ Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!
8 Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire

The 'finer' points of Christianity, killing vs murder, escape me. Particularly when OT and NT verses are 'melded'. My 'melding' may be way off here.
 

Deuteronomy

Well-known member
Jun 11, 2018
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#6
Hello @JohnB, in His providence, I believe that God ordains whatsoever comes to pass in this world (by this I mean that He either, 1. causes something to happen, or 2. stops it from happening, or 3. ~allows~ what He already knows will happen to freely take place (w/o interference/intervention from Him).

Neither God's foreknowledge and ordination of future events, nor His choice to allow us to make free will choices and to act on them, means that He "takes responsibility" for them. Rather, we are responsible for the things that we freely choose to do (or in the case of an unintentional car accident, or manslaughter in the case of v13, what we accidentally do at times).

Another example of this involves our choice to sin. God knows in advance that we are going to do so, and He could stop us each and every time if He wanted to, but if He did so, our wills would not be free. So, He ~allows~ us to sin, even though He doesn't want us to do so.

That said, His allowing us to sin does not mean that He is responsible for the sinful choices that we make (even though He could have stopped us from making them).

God bless you!!

~Deuteronomy
p.s. - God actively and powerfully works in each of our lives to help us avoid falling for the temptations that we face throughout the day, so that our temptations do not have to result in us falling for them and sinning. But if we choose to sin in spite of all of the help that we receive from Him, we do so freely, of our own accord, and we are the ones who are and who will be help culpable for our sins, not God.

1 Corinthians 10
13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.
Ephesians 6
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.
11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
14 Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS,
15 and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE;
16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
17 And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
 

studentoftheword

Well-known member
Nov 12, 2021
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#7
This is Forerunner Commentary on this passage -----which I thought Explains it plainly ----

https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/2091/eVerseID/2091
Exodus 21:12-14


The Hebrew of the sixth commandment is about as terse as it can be. It consists of two words that are the Hebrew equivalent of "No killing." However, enough other scriptures appear in God's Word to let us know that the commandment means that God does not permit violent and premeditated killing of one perceived as an enemy. Exodus 21:12-14 clarifies this:

He who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death. However, if he did not lie in wait, but God delivered him into his hand, then I will appoint for you a place where he may flee. But if a man acts with premeditation against his neighbor, to kill him by treachery, you shall take him from My altar, that he may die.​
This clearly separates a premeditated murder from an accidental killing. One can discern from verse 14 that, under this circumstance, constituted civil authorities are permitted by God to enact the death penalty.

Verses 12 and 13 imply that no amount of money or property settlement can atone for the destruction of the image of God in a murdered person. Even if the death was truly accidental, the killer still had to flee to a city of refuge. But for one guilty of deliberate murder, there were no sanctuaries whatsoever to flee to, not even the altar of God.



John W. Ritenbaugh
The Sixth Commandment
 

Roughsoul1991

Senior Member
Sep 17, 2016
8,855
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#8
Whoever strikes and kills a man must surely be put to death. If, however, he did not lie in wait, but God allowed it to happen, then I will appoint for you a place where he may flee......Exodus 21:12-13. Interesting, GOD takes responsibility for manslaughter.
If God wills it then it is called judgment even though it came from a human beings wicked intention. Similar to how God used the Babylonian Empire to judge Israel.
 

JohnB

Well-known member
Jul 31, 2022
2,078
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Calif
#9
Hello @JohnB, in His providence, I believe that God ordains whatsoever comes to pass in this world (by this I mean that He either, 1. causes something to happen, or 2. stops it from happening, or 3. ~allows~ what He already knows will happen to freely take place (w/o interference/intervention from Him).

Neither God's foreknowledge and ordination of future events, nor His choice to allow us to make free will choices and to act on them, means that He "takes responsibility" for them. Rather, we are responsible for the things that we freely choose to do (or in the case of an unintentional car accident, or manslaughter in the case of v13, what we accidentally do at times).

Another example of this involves our choice to sin. God knows in advance that we are going to do so, and He could stop us each and every time if He wanted to, but if He did so, our wills would not be free. So, He ~allows~ us to sin, even though He doesn't want us to do so.

That said, His allowing us to sin does not mean that He is responsible for the sinful choices that we make (even though He could have stopped us from making them).

God bless you!!

~Deuteronomy
p.s. - God actively and powerfully works in each of our lives to help us avoid falling for the temptations that we face throughout the day, so that our temptations do not have to result in us falling for them and sinning. But if we choose to sin in spite of all of the help that we receive from Him, we do so freely, of our own accord, and we are the ones who are and who will be help culpable for our sins, not God.

1 Corinthians 10
13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.
Ephesians 6
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.
11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
14 Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS,
15 and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE;
16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
17 And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
I get tired of Christians who think GOD would not allow any harm or failure to come to them. I have talked to church leaders, when you come to them with an issue, their first question is "Is there sin in your life?" They start of with blaming YOU for what was happening. I guess they never read the Book of Job.
 

JohnB

Well-known member
Jul 31, 2022
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#10
If God wills it then it is called judgment even though it came from a human beings wicked intention. Similar to how God used the Babylonian Empire to judge Israel.
This has nothing to do with judgement on the person who was killed. where did you get that idea?
 

JohnB

Well-known member
Jul 31, 2022
2,078
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#11
Did this verse have any significance to the stoning of Stephen recorded in Acts 7 and Pauls' participation? Paul would have been aware of the 'law'.
Acts 8:1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judæa and Samaria, except the apostles.
GOD did allow it to happen. Harm can come to the Christian and it could be from GOD. It has nothing to do with sin or what the person did. GOD just allowed it to happen.
 

JohnB

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Jul 31, 2022
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#12
This complies beautifully with what our Master teaches us, that no law is to be applied without containg mercy. At least it does in part.
I think it's more inline with "But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to Him who formed it, “Why did You make me like this?” Does not the potter have the right to make from the same lump of clay one vessel for special occasions and another for common use?" Romans Romans 9:21
 
Oct 27, 2022
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8
#13
Whoever strikes and kills a man must surely be put to death. If, however, he did not lie in wait, but God allowed it to happen, then I will appoint for you a place where he may flee......Exodus 21:12-13. Interesting, GOD takes responsibility for manslaughter.
If the killing or maiming of another is the result of an accident, the Lord provides a place for the the person to flee to protect him from the fury of the victims family, as he is not guilty of pre-meditated murder.
 

Roughsoul1991

Senior Member
Sep 17, 2016
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#14
This has nothing to do with judgement on the person who was killed. where did you get that idea?
The scripture says, “but God allowed it to happen”.

Why else would God allow a murderer to kill? Difference being allow with safety net, “then I will appoint for you a place where he may flee”.
Obviously, showing it was God's will.
 
K

kaylagrl

Guest
#15
I get tired of Christians who think GOD would not allow any harm or failure to come to them. I have talked to church leaders, when you come to them with an issue, their first question is "Is there sin in your life?" They start of with blaming YOU for what was happening. I guess they never read the Book of Job.

Job was the perfect Christian, are you? Job is a special case and no one since Job has had his experience, nor will they.
 
Mar 4, 2020
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#16
Whoever strikes and kills a man must surely be put to death. If, however, he did not lie in wait, but God allowed it to happen, then I will appoint for you a place where he may flee......Exodus 21:12-13. Interesting, GOD takes responsibility for manslaughter.
True, God allows things to happen and it's interesting, but it's part of God's sovereignty. Whatever God does automatically conforms to good.
 

JohnB

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Jul 31, 2022
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#17
True, God allows things to happen and it's interesting, but it's part of God's sovereignty. Whatever God does automatically conforms to good.
I agree, but I've met many Christians who think GOD would never hurt them.
 

JohnB

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Jul 31, 2022
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#18
Job was the perfect Christian, are you? Job is a special case and no one since Job has had his experience, nor will they.
Job wasn't a Christian, he wasn't even Jewish. His case shows, even if you are perfect it doesn't protect you from harm.
 

JohnB

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Jul 31, 2022
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#19
The scripture says, “but God allowed it to happen”.

Why else would God allow a murderer to kill? Difference being allow with safety net, “then I will appoint for you a place where he may flee”.
Obviously, showing it was God's will.
The person who died may have been living a righteous life, but GOD still allowed this to happen.
 

Cameron143

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Mar 1, 2022
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#20
The person who died may have been living a righteous life, but GOD still allowed this to happen.
I think it is in this vein that death is always a reminder of judgment. Though Christians are no longer subject to the eternal consequences of sin, we remain subject to the temporal ones.