Innocence, teaching on

A highly valued quality to be eagerly sought. The OT stresses that the innocent deserve justice rather than evil. In the NT believers are encouraged to attain innocence.

Exhortations to be innocent

Matthew 10:16 See also Psalm 32:2; Romans 16:19; Philippians 2:14–15; 1 Thessalonians 3:13, 1 Thessalonians 5:23; 2 Peter 3:14

Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.

Ascribing innocence to people

Innocence is ultimately established by God

1 Corinthians 4:4 See also Colossians 1:21–22

My conscience is clear, but that does not vindicate me. It is the Lord who judges me.

The need to acquit the innocent

1 Kings 8:32 See also Exodus 23:7; Numbers 5:29–31; Deuteronomy 25:1; Proverbs 17:15, Proverbs 18:5

then may You hear from heaven and act. May You judge Your servants, condemning the wicked man by bringing down on his own head what he has done, and justifying the righteous man by rewarding him according to his righteousness.

The danger of acquitting the guilty

Proverbs 17:15 See also Proverbs 24:23–24

Acquitting the guilty and condemning the righteous— both are detestable to the LORD.

The rewards of innocence

Psalm 15:1–5 See also Revelation 14:1–5

A Psalm of David. O LORD, who may abide in Your tent? Who may dwell on Your holy mountain? He who walks with integrity and practices righteousness, who speaks the truth from his heart, who has no slander on his tongue, who does no harm to his neighbor, who casts no scorn on his friend, who despises the vile but honors those who fear the LORD, who does not revise a costly oath, who lends his money without interest and refuses a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken.

The characteristics of innocence

Proverbs 21:8 See also Philippians 2:14–15, Philippians 4:8

The way of a guilty man is crooked, but the conduct of the innocent is upright.

The shedding of innocent blood

Its prohibition

Deuteronomy 19:8–10 See also Jeremiah 22:3

And if the LORD your God enlarges your territory, as He swore to your fathers, and gives you all the land He promised them, and if you carefully keep all these commandments I am giving you today, loving the LORD your God and walking in His ways at all times, then you are to add three more cities to these three. Thus innocent blood will not be shed in the land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, so that you will not be guilty of bloodshed.

The guilt associated with it

Jeremiah 26:15 See also Deuteronomy 19:11–13; 2 Kings 21:16; Psalm 106:38; Proverbs 6:16–17; Isaiah 59:7; Jeremiah 7:2–8

But know for certain that if you put me to death, you will bring innocent blood upon yourselves, upon this city, and upon its residents; for truly the LORD has sent me to speak all these words in your hearing.”

The need to purge the guilt

1 Kings 2:31–33 See also Deuteronomy 21:1–9

And the king replied, “Do just as he says. Strike him down and bury him, and so remove from me and from the house of my father the innocent blood that Joab shed. The LORD will bring his bloodshed back upon his own head, for without the knowledge of my father David he struck down two men more righteous and better than he when he put to the sword Abner son of Ner, commander of Israel’s army, and Amasa son of Jether, commander of Judah’s army. Their blood will come back upon the heads of Joab and his descendants forever; but for David, his descendants, his house, and his throne, there shall be peace from the LORD forever.”

The right to be avenged

2 Samuel 4:9–11 See also Numbers 35:16–28

But David answered Rechab and his brother Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, “As surely as the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life from all distress, when someone told me, ‘Look, Saul is dead,’ and thought he was a bearer of good news, I seized him and put him to death at Ziklag. That was his reward for his news! How much more, when wicked men kill a righteous man in his own house and on his own bed, shall I not now require his blood from your hands and remove you from the earth!”

Examples of those shedding innocent blood

Matthew 27:3–4 See also 2 Kings 24:1–4; Jonah 1:14

When Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was filled with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders. “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood,” he said. “What is that to us?” they replied. “You bear the responsibility.”