So while Jesus did not comment on the death sentence of the thieves on the cross, he did spare the life of the woman.
I used to more or less oppose the death penalty for reasons you have identified. I felt like life in prison was a sufficient punishment. I live in Oklahoma City, and after the bombing I toured "the fence" that had the "lives" of people that were now dead attached to it. Everything inside me understood that the death penalty is appropriate in some instances.
JOESBUCKS ADDED: "So while Jesus did not comment on the death sentence of the thieves on the cross, he did spare the life of the woman."
She had no trial and was not condemned to death (as were the thieves on the Cross). Her accusers, however, chose not to throw stones when Jesus challenged them to review their own lives.
"So while Jesus did not comment on the death sentence of the thieves on the cross, he did spare the life of the woman."
Jesus was not overturning capital punishement. The Jewish nation had no right to engage in capital punishment as the kingdom was taken away (Book of Daniel)until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. Execution of the woman, therefore, would not be aa act of justice carried out by the over ruling power but a personal vendetta carried out illegally by the men involved.
Capital punishment will be enacted at a level never seen heretofore at the return of Christ.
Romans 13 reaffirms the responsibility of government to reward good and punish evil. And in this responsibility they are directly accountble to God.
During the Millennium, the Son will rule with a rod of iron.
The Rod will be directed against those who hurt others as Williams did.