Topical Bible: Punishments were Inflicted without Pity

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Topical Encyclopedia

In the biblical narrative, the concept of punishment without pity is a recurring theme, reflecting the justice and holiness of God in response to sin and disobedience. This principle is evident in various instances throughout Scripture, where divine judgment is executed with severity and without leniency, underscoring the seriousness of transgressing God's commandments.

Old Testament Examples

1. The Flood: One of the earliest and most profound examples of punishment without pity is the Great Flood, as recorded in Genesis 6-8. Humanity's wickedness had become so great that God decided to cleanse the earth with a flood, sparing only Noah and his family. Genesis 6:7 states, "So the LORD said, 'I will blot out man, whom I have created, from the face of the earth—every man and beast and crawling creature and bird of the air—for I am grieved that I have made them.'"

2. Sodom and Gomorrah: The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah is another instance where punishment was executed without pity. The cities were notorious for their sinfulness, and God rained down sulfur and fire upon them, obliterating them completely. Genesis 19:24-25 recounts, "Then the LORD rained down sulfur and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah—from the LORD out of the heavens. Thus He destroyed these cities and the entire plain, including all the inhabitants of the cities and everything that grew on the ground."

3. The Canaanites: In Deuteronomy 7:2 , God commands the Israelites to show no mercy to the Canaanite nations: "And when the LORD your God has delivered them over to you and you have defeated them, you must devote them to complete destruction. Make no treaty with them and show them no mercy." This directive was part of God's judgment against the Canaanites for their abominable practices.

4. The Exile of Israel and Judah: The exile of the Northern Kingdom of Israel by the Assyrians and the Southern Kingdom of Judah by the Babylonians were severe punishments for persistent idolatry and disobedience. In 2 Kings 17:18 , it is written, "So the LORD was very angry with Israel, and He removed them from His presence. Only the tribe of Judah remained."

New Testament Context

1. Ananias and Sapphira: In the New Testament, the account of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:1-11 serves as a stark reminder of God's judgment. They lied to the Holy Spirit about the proceeds from the sale of their property, and both fell dead as a result. Acts 5:5 states, "On hearing these words, Ananias fell down and died. And great fear came over all who heard what had happened."

2. Eternal Judgment: The New Testament also speaks of eternal punishment for those who reject the gospel. In Matthew 25:46 , Jesus describes the final judgment: "And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." This underscores the ultimate consequence of unrepentant sin.

Theological Implications

The instances of punishment without pity in the Bible highlight the holiness and justice of God. They serve as sobering reminders of the consequences of sin and the importance of obedience to God's commands. These narratives also point to the need for repentance and the grace available through Jesus Christ, who bore the ultimate punishment for sin on behalf of humanity.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Deuteronomy 19:13,21
Your eye shall not pity him, but you shall put away the guilt of innocent blood from Israel, that it may go well with you.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

How the Zealots when they were Freed from the Idumeans, Slew a ...
... if they were once taken, could be inflicted on them ... this comparison, those that lay
unburied were the happiest ... the rewards of] virtue, and [punishments of] vice ...
/.../chapter 6 how the zealots.htm

The Primitive Church
... the many and varied tortures which were inflicted on the ... of the Church as shown in
warnings and punishments. ... to give up the Sacred Books were called "Traditores ...
/.../a key to the knowledge of church history/chapter v the primitive church.htm

Martyrdom of Habib the Deacon.
... that the bitter torments and punishments inflicted on him ... with combs; and, while
they were tearing him ... The governor said: By punishments fiercer and bitterer ...
/.../unknown/the decretals/ancient syriac documents martyrdom of.htm

The Eternal Punishment of the Wicked Reconciled with the Goodness ...
... goodness itself that it should be inflicted upon him ... to set bounds to the punishments
which human ... involved any inherent contradictions, or were it clearly at ...
/.../chapter iv the eternal punishment.htm

Psalm LXXVIII.
... thereto, on evil men that punishments are inflicted ... manifest offences, He most evidently
inflicted punishment upon ... been said that they were deservedly rejected ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm lxxviii.htm

The Acts of Philip.
... us with amazement, detailing many punishments against us ... and children, except where
the apostles were: they remained ... and why hast thou inflicted such destruction ...
//christianbookshelf.org/unknown/the acts of philip/the acts of philip.htm

Acts xx. 1
... They are cuttings and cauteries, the punishments sent by ... instruments: when the judgments
in Egypt were inflicted, it was ... honor, now and ever, world without end ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily xliii acts xx 1.htm

(On the Passion, xvi. : Delivered on the Sunday. )
... Lord's Crucifixion, and endured none of those punishments which he ... thou didst not
think the Lord's promises were to be ... the Son of God might be inflicted on the ...
/.../leo/writings of leo the great/sermon lxvii on the passion.htm

Christ Crucified.
... he presented Jesus, prepared for crucifixion, were designed to ... It was never inflicted
by the Jews but was ... most cruel and disgraceful of punishments," and was ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/christ crucified.htm

2 Timothy i. 13-18
... By the punishments which He has inflicted both publicly ... For if this were done, the
whole human ... is not deserving of chastisements and punishments without number ...
/.../homily iii 2 timothy i.htm