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NASB | Matthew 27:5 And he threw the pieces of silver into the temple sanctuary and departed; and he went away and hanged himself. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 27:5 And throwing the pieces of silver into the temple sanctuary, he left; and went away and hanged himself. |
Bible Question: What does the Bible say about suicide? I have been looking all over trying to find some information to share with someone about suicide not being an easy escape to heaven, but keep coming up empty. Does anyone have any insight on this topic or somewhere I could be sent to find out more on this topic. Thanx. |
Bible Answer: Hi, tmjt21! Part 1 of 3 When searching the Scriptures we must take into consideration that, though the Word of God is transcendent, the textual context was set during the pre-Messianic times and post Ascension times; hence cultural references and values will reflect the Mosaic Laws and Jesus’ doctrine. There will be many hidden values within the Scriptural teachings which we will not see readily. The second consideration that we must exercise is the fact that the Bible is the actual Word of God revealed to the prophets by the Holy Spirit. We cannot approach the Bible as we analyze human sources of knowledge and wisdom. It is only through revelation of Holy Spirit that we will come to understand God‘s Word. Though Jesus spoke of one particular sin that would not be forgiven (Matthew 12:31-32), when a person commits suicide he/she is rejecting God: the Holy Spirit: Christ. Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life--but for Him there's no Salvation. Yet Jesus tells us that only those who are sent by the Father, Yahweh, will be able to come to Him (believe in the Spirit) and that those who do come to Him He will not cast aside (rejected). We are creatures of God and only by coming to Jesus (believing and obeying Him) do we become children of God. But if we reject (disbelief) the Holy Spirit how can we listen to the Father when He calls us to follow the Son (Jesus)? And if we speak ill of the Holy Spirit, who is the third person of God, we are denying His Divinity and His authority over us! Jesus tells us (John 4:23-24) that God is Spirit and He demands that we, all who wish to worship Him, worship in Spirit and Truth! Suicide is one particular example of denying the Holy Spirit's authority over us; it is perhaps the greatest form of rejection: the person committing suicide is basically saying that he/she has complete control of his/her body and calls God a liar: None of the trials which have come upon you is more than a human being can stand. You can trust that God will not let you be put to the test beyond your strength, but with any trial will also provide a way out by enabling you to put up with it. (1 Corinthians 10:13) He/she is totally rejecting the Holy Spirit by destroying His Temple: Do you not realise that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you and whom you received from God? (1 Corinthians 6:19) Do you not realise that you are a temple of God with the Spirit of God living in you? If anybody should destroy the temple of God, God will destroy that person, because God’s temple is holy; and you are that temple. (1 Corinthians 3:16-17) Will Jesus forgive us if we commit suicide? It is only God’s call. Since God is Spirit, a nanosecond is an eternity to God! Perhaps one fraction of a nanosecond before his/her life expires the Spirit in the person committing suicide may pray for forgiveness and transmit a desire of true repentance: And as well as this, the Spirit too comes to help us in our weakness, for, when we do not know how to pray properly, then the Spirit personally makes our petitions for us in groans that cannot be put into words; and he who can see into all hearts knows what the Spirit means because the prayers that the Spirit makes for God’s holy people are always in accordance with the mind of God. (Romans 8:26-27) |