Tom, once again I have no idea what you believe about it. You have never clearly stated your position. Why did God command capital punishment?

"All that man needs to know or can know of God has been revealed in the life and character of His Son. {8T 286.1} The expression "revealed in the life and character" implies words and actions. Listen:


So, if I'm decoding your words correctly, you believe since Jesus spoke about the Jews being killed in the future that this counts as Him revealing in words what God revealed in actions. IOW, Jesus talked about withdrawing His protection and permitting the Jews to be killed; whereas, God actually did it over and over again. Right?

BTW, what about Jesus and capital punishment? Did He talk about commanding people to use capital punishment to kill sinners? If not, why not?

MM, I've answered these questions many times. Except these:



"Did He talk about commanding people to use capital to kill sinners?" I don't know what you're asking here.

Tom, do you believe since Jesus spoke about the Jews being killed in the future that this counts as Him revealing in words what God revealed in actions? Do you think this is what Ellen meant in 8T 286?

But what about Jesus and capital punishment? God commanded capital punishment. Did Jesus reveal this aspect of God's character through His parables or instructions or teachings? Or, is this an aspect of God's character Jesus didn't reveal in His life and character and teachings?

I've quoted for you in Matthew where Jesus says He would gather them up as chicks many times. This is an action.



I think Ellen White meant that Jesus Christ revealed all that man can know of God (which encompasses all that man needs to know of God). Christ revealed things by both His actions and words.



I think you're going at this backwards, still. I've been suggesting going at this from the other direction. First formulate a model of God's character based on what Christ has revealed. Then consider these types of questions.

Instead of doing this, you keep asking me the types of questions I'm suggesting are better off addressing after doing what I'm suggesting. So by answering these questions I'm being counter-productive to my own advice. So I think I'll stop.

Let's consider the life of Christ. What do you think Christ was like?

Do you think the fact Jesus said He would have gathered them under His wings like a hen that saying so constitutes an action? And, do you think saying this revealed in words what God revealed in actions? For example, God withdrew His protection and permitted the forces of nature to kill millions of mothers and infants. Do you think Jesus revealed this attribute of God's character by saying what He said about chicks?


I agree. Except I'm not sure if Jesus taught or demonstrated commanding people to kill sinners. I suppose the case of the woman caught in the act of adultery touches on it.


The problem with this suggestion is that you haven't cited anything in the life and teachings of Jesus that can help us understand the attributes of God's character that enables Him to command people to kill sinners. Or, do you think God has never commanded anyone to kill sinners? Is that what you believe based on the fact there is nothing in the life and teachings of Jesus that reflect commanding capital punishment?

Tom, according to the following passage, God commanded Moses and the Jews to stone a Sabbath-breaker to death, which they did. Do you think God actually commanded them to stone the guy to death? Or, do you think they misunderstood God?

Numbers
15:35 And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp.
15:36 And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the LORD commanded Moses.