Capital Punishment and the Adulteress Woman

By: Eric Turner

When I teach that all of the Law of YHVH/God should be observed by every believer in the Messiah Yeshua/Jesus, they often bring up capital punishment commandments. They ask, “should we put anyone to death for breaking a commandment as taught in the Old Testamen?” Then they bring up the case of the adulteress woman and Yeshua/Jesus not condemning her to death.

What they fail to realize is that there were not two witnesses to her crime, and according to the Law of YHVH, one cannot be put to death on the testimony of one witness, it has to be at least two witnesses to put anyone to death(Deut. 17:6) . This is why Yeshua/Jesus asked “has anyone condemned you?” Then when she replied, “no man”,he said, “Then I will not condemn you either, now go and sin no more”. The very definition of sin is the transgression of the law(1 John 3:4), so he was telling her, go and transgress the law no more”. It is also required that both the man, and the woman caught in adultery is to be put to death(Deut. 22:22). In the case of the adulteress woman, the man who she comitted adultery with was not present, and there were not two witnesses that testified against her, so by not having her stoned, Yeshua/Jesus was following the law to the letter. Had all the precepts of the rules for capital punishment been met, he would have allowed the stoning.

Now, with all this in mind, Christians never bring up the case of Ananias and Saphira. Peter sentenced these two to death for lying to the Holy Spirit.

Act 5:1 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” 5 When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. 6 The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him. 7 After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” 9 But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10 Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.

Here in the New Testament we see a case of capital punishment where all the precepts were met, and Peter carried out the required sentencing. So, the theology of “The Church” and the interpretation of these scriptures by “The Church” is in direct contradiction to the Word of YHVH/God. People are taught about the Grace of YHVH in “The Church”, but no one talks about the judgment of YHVH, and they twist the scriptures with their private interpretations and usually use Paul’s letters to back up their theology. What they fail to realize is Paul also condemned a man to death for sleeping with his father’s wife.

1Co 5:1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father’s wife. 2 And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you. 3 For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing. 4 When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, 5 you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.

Peter warned us that the twisting of Paul’s letters and the other scriptures by ignorant and unlearned people would twist Paul’s letters and it would lead to lawless doctrine.

2Pe 3:15 And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother PAUL also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, 16 as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are HARD TO UNDERSTAND, which WHICH THE IGNORANT AND UNSTABLE TWIST to their own destruction, AS THEY DO THE OTHER SCRIPTURES. 17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with THE ERROR OF LAWLESS PEOPLE and lose your own stability.

I pray that this will open the eyes of someone, and that they may be set on the path of the Way, because blessed be those who walk in the Way.

Psa 119:1 ALEPH. Blessed are the undefiled in the Way, who walk in the law of the LORD.

 I pray that this message will reach who it is to reach, and that all the brethren are edified. May YHVH open the eyes of the blind and restore hearing to the deaf, HaShem Yeshua, Amein Amein.