The example of our Lord in forgiving
sinners—for instance the woman caught in adultery (John viii: 1‑11)—suggests
that Christian society can and should be forgiving when it is possible to do so
without causing further damage to victims and society. Nonetheless, the
fact that God designated certain crimes as worthy of death speaks to the fact of
their great evil—an evil which is in no way condoned by forgiveness. The
mercy of Jesus Christ must never be confused with "permission to sin."
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Murder: Genesis ix: 5-6; Exodus xxi: 12-15.
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Kidnapping: Exodus xxi 16; Deuteronomy xxiv: 7
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Cursing one's parents: Exodus xxi: 17; Leviticus
xx: 9;
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Negligence in controlling a dangerous animal: Exodus xxi: 29.
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Sorcery: Exodus xxii: 18; Leviticus xx: 27
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Bestiality: Exodus xxii: 19; Leviticus
xviii: 23; xx:15-16
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Worship of false gods: Exodus xxii: 20
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Enticement to false gods: Deuteronomy xiii: 6-16
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Affliction of widows or orphans: Exodus xxii: 21-23.
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Offering children to Moloch: Leviticus xx: 2.
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Adultery: Leviticus xx: 10; Deuteronomy
xxii: 22-27.
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Incest: Leviticus xviii: 6-18; xx: 11-12, 14
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Sodomy: Leviticus xviii: 22; xx: 13
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Blasphemy: Leviticus xxiv: 14-16
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Mediums, fortunetellers: Leviticus xx: 27.
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False prophecy: Deuteronomy xiii: 5-6;