Another parable told by Jesus to support the act of forgiveness was in Matthew 18:23-35, ‘The Parable of the Talents.’ In this story it teaches you that God will only forgive you if you forgive others, so if you forgive a criminal for what he/she has done then you will be forgiven and there will be a place for you in heaven. In John 8:2-11 there is a parable called ‘Woman in Adultery’ about how if you have done something wrong, Jesus will forgive you as long as you don’t do it again. This is a type of punishment most Christians would choose for criminals, it is called Reform.
To reform someone is to teach them that what they have done to break the law, was wrong and should not be done again. People who commit crimes often need all sorts of help. The punishments that they receive should be of a kind that will prevent (stop) them from commiting further crimes and make them responsible citizens who have something to offer society.
The second thing Christians strongly believe in is Justice. A punishment some might choose would be Retribution, if somebody has done something wrong then they should receive a punishment that is fitting for the crime they have committed, as said in Leviticus 24:19-20 ‘If anyone injures his neighbour, whatever he has done must be done to them, fracture to fracture, eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth.’ This was written in the Old Testament which a lot of Christians go by. Thousands of years later Jesus said something different in the New Testament, Matthew 5:38, ‘you have heard that it was said, an eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth but I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.’ In my opinion and that of others this means that if somebody does or says something wrong, you don’t have to get revenge and do something back to them just forgive them. In Luke 23:32-43, ‘Penitent Thief’ Jesus is in between two thieves, they are all hanging on crosses. One doesn’t believe Jesus is the son of God; the other one however does and asks for forgiveness. Jesus then forgives the thief and those who put him on the cross. So for Christians if you ask for forgiveness you will be forgiven, also Jesus forgives everyone who is truly sorry.
TIFFANY HORAN