Topical Bible: Punishment: Death Penalty for offering Human Sacrifice

◄ Punishment: Death Penalty for offering Human Sacrifice ►

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The practice of human sacrifice is explicitly condemned in the Bible, and the prescribed punishment for those who engage in such acts is severe. The Mosaic Law, given to the Israelites, clearly outlines the prohibition and the corresponding penalty for offering human sacrifices, which is death.

Biblical Prohibition and Penalty

The abhorrence of human sacrifice is rooted in the sanctity of human life, as humanity is created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). The Law of Moses explicitly forbids the offering of human sacrifices, particularly to pagan deities such as Molech. In Leviticus 18:21, the Israelites are commanded, "You must not give any of your children to be sacrificed to Molech, for you must not profane the name of your God. I am the LORD."

The penalty for engaging in human sacrifice is unequivocally stated in Leviticus 20:2-5 : "Tell the Israelites, ‘Any Israelite or foreigner residing in Israel who gives any of his children to Molech must be put to death. The people of the land are to stone him. I Myself will set My face against that man and cut him off from his people, because he has given his offspring to Molech, defiling My sanctuary and profaning My holy name. And if the people of the land ever hide their eyes and fail to put that man to death when he gives one of his children to Molech, then I will set My face against that man and his family and cut off from among their people both him and all who follow him in prostituting themselves with Molech.’"

Historical Context and Theological Implications

The Canaanite practice of child sacrifice, particularly to the god Molech, was a significant concern for the Israelites as they entered the Promised Land. The surrounding nations often engaged in such detestable practices, which were an abomination to the LORD. The Israelites were called to be a holy people, set apart for God, and were thus commanded to eradicate such practices from their midst.

The death penalty for human sacrifice underscores the gravity of the sin and the necessity of maintaining the purity of the community. It reflects the seriousness with which God views the sanctity of life and the importance of worshiping Him in truth and holiness. The prescribed punishment serves as a deterrent and a means of purging evil from among the people, as seen in Deuteronomy 13:5 : "You must purge the evil from among you."

New Testament Perspective

While the New Testament does not explicitly address the issue of human sacrifice in the same manner as the Old Testament, the principles of the sanctity of life and the rejection of idolatry remain consistent. The New Testament reaffirms the value of human life and the call to worship God alone, as seen in passages such as Romans 12:1 : "Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship."

The death penalty for human sacrifice in the Old Testament reflects the seriousness of idolatry and the violation of God's commandments. It serves as a reminder of the holiness required of God's people and the severe consequences of turning away from His statutes.

Nave's Topical Index

Leviticus 20:2-5
Again, you shall say to the children of Israel, Whoever he be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn in Israel, that gives any of his seed to Molech; he shall surely be put to death: the people of the land shall stone him with stones.
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Library

Priest and victim
... the thought that sin would surely be visited with punishment? ... His one death has slain
death for all who trust ... stood in our place, and borne the penalty due to ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 46 1900/priest and victim.htm

The Sin-Bearer.
... We are henceforth legally dead to the punishment of sin ... He has borne the penalty,
and is dead to sins,' for ... Our Lord's death has also cured us of our readiness ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/till he come/the sin-bearer.htm

Jesus the Scapegoat.
... took upon Him our sins and their punishment in this ... points thwarted and persecuted
and finally put to death. ... sacrificed Himself for us, bore the penalty of our ...
/.../the expositors bible the gospel of st john vol i/xxiv jesus the scapegoat.htm

On the Atonement.
... Punishment implies crime"of which Christ had none ... bear the curse of the law"not the
literal penalty, but a ... God Himself giving up His Son to death, and this ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/finney/sermons on gospel themes/xii on the atonement.htm

The Lamb of God in Scripture
... to the law, and yielding Himself up to the death-penalty. ... and, as a man, was obedient
unto death of the ... he knows that there must be future punishment; you have ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 39 1893/the lamb of god in.htm

Between the Two Appearings
... The punishment of sin was, "In the day that thou ... Christ comes, therefore, he bears
the one sentence of death. ... The penalty due to sin was death: "In the day ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 37 1891/between the two appearings.htm

The Persecutions of the Church.
... When all such expedients failed, the punishment of death ... and were forbidden, under
the penalty of death ... Marcus Aurelius died a natural death; but, during his ...
/.../killen/the ancient church/chapter ii the persecutions of.htm

The Sufferings of Christ Reconciled with the Goodness of God.
... Neither by remitting the whole punishment, nor by inflicting it ... were not, in strictness,
the penalty of the ... This was eternal death; whereas the sufferings of ...
/.../a theodicy or vindication of the divine glory/chapter iii the sufferings of.htm

An Unalterable Law
... remission." It is the life God demands as the penalty due for ... of Jesus, not the life
of Jesus, not the death of Jesus ... We owe to God a debt of punishment for sin ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 60 1914/an unalterable law.htm

The Glory of the Cross
... its benefits that they escape the penalty due to ... for vengeance, a burning desire
to inflict punishment, a rage ... only be satisfied by pain, and blood, and death. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/beibitz/gloria crucis/i the glory of the.htm