What Does the Bible Say About Rape?
What would be a just sentence for someone guilty of rape?
Well, according to God’s law, the sentence is DEATH.
In Deuteronomy 22, it is explained that if a man forces himself on another man’s wife, this case is like that of a man attacking and murdering his neighbor. Therefore, he should receive the death penalty.
If in the open country a man meets a young woman who is betrothed, and the man seizes her and lies with her, then only the man who lay with her shall die. But you shall do nothing to the young woman; she has committed no offense punishable by death. For this case is like that of a man attacking and murdering his neighbor, because he met her in the open country, and though the betrothed young woman cried for help there was no one to rescue her. (Deuteronomy 22:25-27)
Many cultures today have become soft on the death sentence, even for murder. Such a judgment would be less likely for rapists. But, even if civic government or other man-made institutions hesitate to do justice, the punishment for sexual assault or sexual depravity of any kind is still death.
In 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, the Spirit says:
Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor the men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
Instead, they will be cast into hell.
As for the cowardly, the faithless, detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death. (Revelation 21:8)
But, even for sins like these, there is a Savior.
Jesus Christ, the sinless Lamb of God, gave his life as an atoning sacrifice by dying on the cross for our sins. Even the most depraved man or woman can receive forgiveness.
They should still face the consequences for their actions and let justice not be perverted.
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. (Galatians 6:7)
Do not pervert justice… judge your neighbor with fairness. (Leviticus 19:15)
But, salvation from eternal judgment is by faith in Jesus!
As Romans 6:23 says:
For the wages of sin is death…
…but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord!
…when we understand the text.
(This video is by WWUTT. Discovered by Christian Podcast Central and our community — copyright is owned by the publisher, not Christian Podcast Central.)