Topical Bible: Murder: Punishment For: The Curse of God

◄ Murder: Punishment For: The Curse of God ►

Jump to: Torrey's • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

In the Holy Scriptures, murder is unequivocally condemned as a grave sin against God and humanity. The act of unlawfully taking another person's life is met with severe consequences, both in the temporal realm and in the spiritual domain. The Bible outlines the divine punishment for murder, often described as the curse of God, which underscores the sanctity of life and the justice of the Almighty.

Genesis 4:10-12 provides the earliest account of God's curse upon a murderer. After Cain killed his brother Abel, the Lord said to Cain, "What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground. Now you are cursed and banished from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. When you work the ground, it will no longer yield to you its strength. You will be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth" . Here, the curse manifests as a life of hardship and alienation, reflecting the gravity of Cain's sin.

The Mosaic Law further elaborates on the consequences of murder. Exodus 21:12 states, "Whoever strikes and kills a man must surely be put to death" . This commandment establishes the principle of capital punishment for murder, emphasizing the value God places on human life. The law serves as a deterrent and a means of purging evil from the community, as seen in Numbers 35:33, "Do not defile the land where you live and where I dwell. For I, the LORD, dwell among the Israelites" .

In the New Testament, the spiritual implications of murder are highlighted. 1 John 3:15 declares, "Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that eternal life does not reside in a murderer" . This passage extends the concept of murder beyond the physical act to include hatred, indicating that the curse of God encompasses spiritual death and separation from eternal life.

The curse of God upon murderers is also evident in the eschatological teachings of the Bible. Revelation 21:8 warns, "But to the cowardly, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and sexually immoral, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death" . This ultimate punishment reflects the eternal consequences of unrepentant sin, including murder.

Throughout Scripture, the punishment for murder is portrayed as both immediate and eternal, reflecting God's justice and the inherent value of human life. The curse of God serves as a solemn reminder of the moral order established by the Creator and the severe repercussions of violating His commandments.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Genesis 4:11
And now are you cursed from the earth, which has opened her mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand;
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Capital Punishment
... And next, this is certain, that there is a curse upon it. ... now"I mean what is vulgarly
called "capital punishment," the punishing of murder by death ...
/.../kingsley/all saints day and other sermons/sermon vi capital punishment.htm

The Protevangelium.
... us back to an event in the primitive times, in which murder and the ... of evil, of
seduction, and at the same time of God's curse, of contempt and punishment. ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/the protevangelium.htm

Whether Cursing is a Graver Sin than Backbiting?
... is on a par with the sin of murder; for Chrysostom ... whereas in the case of cursing
evil of punishment is spoken ... Reply to Objection 1: To curse a creature, as such ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether cursing is a graver.htm

The Wages of Sin
... trouble him a little if he commits murder"a little ... an awful thing sin is, and what
fearful punishment it deserves ... did you not cry out"Surely the curse of God ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/finney/sermons on gospel themes/iii the wages of sin.htm

The Story of Adam and Eve
... As long as you live, you shall be under God's curse for the murder of your brother. ...
And Cain said to the Lord, "My punishment is greater than I can bear. ...
/.../marshall/the wonder book of bible stories/the story of adam and.htm

God's Cup of Myrrh
... him to safe keeping in a tower, as a punishment for his ... Murder!' so that he knew
not how to make his way ... know that he is a wicked murderer, and curse him after ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/bevan/three friends of god/chapter liii gods cup of.htm

"This is his Commandment, That," &C.
... he exacts of him our deserved punishment, and makes ... given me full satisfaction both
to the curse, by suffering ... less than the highest act of self-murder that can ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon ii this is his.htm

Practical Observations.
... curse of the law, having become a curse for us ... and scourged and beaten to his place
of murder. ... Christ, and though they regarded this punishment with especial ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/practical observations 35.htm

Second Sunday after Epiphany
... Reproof and punishment greatly differ from cursing and malediction. ... a David, an Elisha,
you too may curse in God's ... are the source of hatred, murder and every ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol ii/second sunday after epiphany.htm

David's Deserts
... in vain to find a pretext for a political murder. ... sinfulness, and the same in the
sure punishment which they ... the curse will be like; but the curse will surely ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/david/sermon iv davids deserts.htm