Shayla: If all the Scriptures are inspired and useful (2 Timothy 3:16), then why don’t you practice the halakhic capital crimes laws? For example: (Exodus 35:1-2; Leviticus 20:13-14; Deuteronomy 21:18-21; 22:13-21)

 

Meforshim:

Allow me to cite more examples than you did in your question. The following is a list of capital crimes according to the Torah (the first five books of the Bible):

1.      Physical aggression

a.      Degeneracy (Deuteronomy 21:18-21)

                                                                          i.      Striking a parent (Exodus 21:15)

                                                                        ii.      Cursing a parent (Exodus 21:17; Leviticus 20:9)

b.      Kidnapping (Exodus 21:16; Deuteronomy 24:7)

c.      Murder (applied according to the Noahide laws as well) (Genesis 9:6; Exodus 21:12-14; Leviticus 24:17-23; Numbers 35:9-34)

d.      Negligent homicide (Exodus 21:28-32)

2.      Sexual sins

a.      Adultery (Leviticus 20:10)

b.      Bestiality (Exodus 22:19; Leviticus 20:27)

c.      Homosexuality (Leviticus 18:22; 20:13)

d.      Incest (Leviticus 20:11-12)

e.      Marrying one’s wife’s mother (Leviticus 20:14)

f.        Prostitution by a priest’s daughter (Leviticus 21:9)

g.      Unchastity by an engaged couple (Deuteronomy 22:13-29)

3.      Attacks on the legal system

a.      Contempt of court (Deuteronomy 17:8-13)

b.      False witness to a capital crime (Deuteronomy 19:15-21)

c.      Sorcery and augury (Exodus 22:18; Leviticus 20:27)

                                                                          i.      Idolatrous sacrifice (Exodus 22:20; Leviticus 27:29)

1.      To Molech (likely involving human sacrifice) (Leviticus 20:1-5)

2.      To Baal Peor (Numbers 25:1-9)

                                                                        ii.      Blasphemy (Leviticus 24:10-16)

                                                                      iii.      False prophecy (Deuteronomy 13:1-10; 17:2-7; 18:20-22)

                                                                      iv.      Sabbath breaking (Exodus 31:12-17; 35:2; Numbers 15:32-36)

Notice the basic underlying structure of the laws. Each was necessary within the context of national health. ANY society that allows its citizens to commit violence upon each other, practice unhealthy sex, or have a rampant disregard of that society’s rules will not long survive.

Witness the example of central Africa. There is a long highway that extends from the southern tip of the continent up into the very heart of the Congo and Central African Republic. For years, the peoples around that highway routinely practiced prostitution, homosexuality and bestiality. They often sold their daughters into the slave trade. Today, AIDS has wiped those countries out almost completely. There is a complete disregard for the rule of law and they are dying by the millions.

In regards to how these laws were put into practice, they were not simply applied willy nilly by whomever felt there had been an infraction. Every one of them had to be brought before a court of elders who were trained to investigate the matters and to ensure that justice has done. Anyone who brought a false accusation had the penalty of the crime they had tried to bring down on their victim applied to themselves. This alone ensured that these laws were rarely enacted.

Nevertheless, regardless of the rarity of their application, they were on the books and they could be applied so your question remains valid. Allow me to share four broad, general principles of interpretation and application that Adonaic Christians follow.

Anything directly fulfilled in the New Covenant needn’t concern us. For example, the directive to circumcise all believing males (Genesis 17:9-14; Leviticus 12:1-3) has been specifically cancelled (Acts 15:6-21).

Anything directly involving sacrifice for salvation (Exodus 30:10) has been fulfilled in the one-time perfect sacrifice of the Messiah made for all (Hebrews 10:10-12). Therefore, the laws on sacrifices for sins, though still instructive, do not apply to us.

Anything directly involved with the ritualistic worship that was part and parcel with the Tabernacle or the Temple are not required; there IS no Temple at this time. They will become relevant at some point in the future when the Temple is rebuilt, but not at this time. This is consistent with the laws that have always been on the books that a believer who was traveling out of country was not obliged to routinely go to the Temple for worship.

Anything designed to identify the differences between genetic Jews and genetic Goyim is no longer relevant, because the Lord is presently attempting to make of the two one people (Ephesians 2:11-19).

An important Hebrew concept that applies in this particular instance is “Dina d’malchuta dina” – which literally means “the law of the land is law.” This phrase is a guide to elders as they try to apply Scripture to day to day ethical, spiritual and legal conundrums. For instance, OT law states that witches should be killed. However, we are told to “render to Caesar what is due Caesar” (Matthew 22:21; Mark 12:17; Luke 20:25), to respectfully pray for and obey the head of government (Romans 13:1 cp 1 Peter 2:17).

The Apostle Paul taught,

  • Romans 13:1-7 HCSB  Everyone must submit to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist are instituted by God.  (2)  So then, the one who resists the authority is opposing God's command, and those who oppose it will bring judgment on themselves.  (3)  For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do good and you will have its approval.  (4)  For government is God's servant to you for good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because it does not carry the sword for no reason. For government is God's servant, an avenger that brings wrath on the one who does wrong.  (5)  Therefore, you must submit, not only because of wrath, but also because of your conscience.  (6)  And for this reason you pay taxes, since the authorities are God's public servants, continually attending to these tasks.  (7)  Pay your obligations to everyone: taxes to those you owe taxes, tolls to those you owe tolls, respect to those you owe respect, and honor to those you owe honor.

The apostle Peter taught,

  • 1 Peter 2:13 HCSB  Submit to every human institution because of the Lord, whether to the Emperor as the supreme authority,

In the society in which we temporarily reside, it is against the law to stone witches. Therefore, dina d’malchuta dina applies. The law of the land in which we live rules us as long as it does not ask us to deny God. We may act within the law as citizens, trying to bring about justice and national health, but believers are not allowed to break the law in order to enforce what we feel is right - again, as long as the law is not causing us to deny God or to commit injustices (as in 1930s Germany’s demands to persecute Jews).