1912 Watch Tower - A2Z.org

DEGREES OF SIN AND THEIR PUNISHMENTTHE QUESTION is often asked, "Is thereany special punishment for thieves, murderersand other criminals, or will they, ifrepentant, be received into the Kingdomalong with those who have tried to doright throughout their lives?"This question can be viewed from twostandpoints. God Himself is the greatDeterminer of right and wrong. Everythingthat is right God approves; everythingthat is wrong God disapproves. The things thatGod approves are those things that are good, helpful andfavorable for everybody. The things that God disapprovesare the things that are wrong, unjust, injuriousto every one. Therefore God has condemned certainthings as sin, because He would have us free fromthose things that are unjust or injurious to ourselves orto others. Whoever, therefore, commits sin, violates,first of all, a Divine command, and to that extent has acertain penalty attached to him for that wrong doing.We speak of certain persons as "sowing their wildoats." What does this expression signify? It meansthat they are now contracting habits which are injurious,not only to their own health and happiness, but probablyto that of others. As a result of practising sin they aresure to bring upon themselves a degradation of both mindand body. Thus sin brings its own reward in a naturalway. Whoever sins will suffer, is the general Law. Butaside from that Law, there is a God, who has given certaincommands and certain penalties that go with thosecommands.R4991 : page 93WHO ARE THIEVES AND MURDERERS?God's standard of righteousness is much higher thanis man's present standard. Our Lord gave very finemeanings to the words "thief," "adulterer," and "murderer."He taught that anyone who is angry with hisbrother without a cause is in danger; that he who looksupon another's wife with impure desire has committedadultery. (Matt. 5:22,28.) These are very fine distinctions.Moreover, we must all admit, as Shakespeare hassaid:--"Who steals my purse steals trash;. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .But he that filches from me my good nameRobs me of that which not enriches him,And makes me poor indeed."Many people have been guilty of stealing the good