The Incorrigible Son and the Implications for our Modern Era, Part I

The purpose of this paper is to affirm that the incorrigible son is worthy of death[1] in the New Covenant. After years of despicable rulings sending juvenile delinquents back home with their parents (who fear for their lives) or to prison (where they will come out a more qualified delinquent), it is time that the people of God look to God’s inspired Word for guidance. The church has for too long despised God’s Holy Law, and as a result, it has forgotten God’s instructions to parents and civil government concerning the incorrigible Son.

The penology of the Old Testament is fair and just, because it reflects the holiness of God. Therefore, it must not be seen as a secondary source, but as a primary source of ethics for all peoples and all nations. The result of not following God’s Law is that human rulers and judges will strike it down at every opportunity. Consider the outlawing of the death penalty for juveniles made by the Supreme Court[2] in 2005 or the Supreme Court’s decision to legalize abortion on January 22nd, 1973.[3] These decisions will have no end unless a Biblical ethic is in place guiding and ruling our societies.

This nation is in ruins. As Bob Dylan wrote in the sixties: “The times, they are a-changing.” In fact, we can safely say that this time in our history connects directly with another time in history: the time of the Judges. Back then they said, “We will do what is right in our own eyes;” (Judges 21:25) today the judicial system legislates what is right in their own eyes. Only when we return to the Scriptures as the basis for our judicial system will the people respond: “ Let us do what God commands.”

The idea of a penal system is a horrendous thought for Psychiatrists and Psychologists alike. Even in this country, they are trying vigorously attempting to outlaw spanking. In their opinion, spanking is tantamount to parental abuse. This, they believe, will lead the child to become rebellious and violent as they grow up. The truth, of course, is the exact opposite. When parents spare the rod (Proverbs 13:24) they are functioning as criminals. This would be equivalent to a police officer seeing a man rob a bank and do nothing about it for fear that it might hurt his self-esteem. All attempts to disobey God’s requirements for the family will end in chaos, for both family and society.

The family is crucial to the well being of any society. All of God’s promises whether curses or blessings are given to “you and your children.” In fact, the very first murder recorded in Biblical history occurred inside the family. In Genesis 4, we read that Cain killed his brother Abel, hence, setting forth the dismantling of that present society. At that moment, God forbade the death penalty. Cain was already aware that he deserved death. God was unfolding his redemptive purposes, and later the Spirit of God would say that He would no longer contend with man (Genesis 6:3). While the death penalty was not applied in the early days of human history, the world became full of corruption and violence. This led God to destroy all humans and animals in the land (Genesis 6:12-13).