“All murderers must be put to death, but only if evidence is presented by more than one witness. No one may be put to death on the testimony of only one witness. Also, you must never accept a ransom payment for the life of someone judged guilty of murder and subject to execution; murderers must always be put to death. And never accept a ransom payment from someone who has fled to a city of refuge, allowing a slayer to return to his property before the death of the high priest. This will ensure that the land where you live will not be polluted, for murder pollutes the land. And no sacrifice except the execution of the murderer can purify the land from murder. You must not defile the land where you live, for I live there myself. I am the LORD, who lives among the people of Israel.” [Numbers 35.30-34]
This is an intriguing passage of Scripture.
While the Bible speaks of all manner of sin that defiles people or the Tabernacle/Temple, here it reveals that murder pollutes the land.
The scripture above furthermore states that no sacrifice except the execution of the murderer can purify the land from murder. Does this mean not even the sacrificial blood of Jesus?
It must further be considered that Jesus made the following statement:
“You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’ But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell. [Matthew 5.21-22]
It would seem Jesus did not refute civil law regarding murder but, in fact, addressed the more important ramifications of the spiritual indiscretion behind it.
The apostle Paul, who ironically had a role in the murder of Stephen (Acts 22.20), wrote:
For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. [2 Corinthians 5.21]
Notice what I have made bold in the New King James Version:
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. [2 Corinthians 5.21 NKJV]
It would seem Jesus meets for us the demand for the righteousness of God, but does that rectify the pollution of the land?
There is much to consider in Numbers 35.33 as it relates to 2 Corinthians 5.12. If Jesus makes (repentant and believing) men right with God, does this mean He makes the same men right with the land? Does it matter? Is there a distinction then between God's spiritual law and the land's civil law?
I am certain of this: the Bible contains all the answers and I will continue to allow the Bible to speak to me... For now, this topic seems deeper than I am prepared to swim in!
Father, help me to form my opinions about murder and the redemption of Jesus Christ in light of all Your Word (and not just the passages I like). So be it.
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