Death Penalty

This passage from the bible does not mean that Jesus’ teachings maintain abolishing the death penalty. The assumption here is that the death penalty is an act of hate and evil but this is not the case. In fact because the judicial system removes the sentencing of the criminals from the prejudice of those acted upon, any act of punishment carried out is for the purpose of justice, not hate, evil or revenge. If we follow the logic of Sister Helen Prejean the problem arises of what forms of punishment are acceptable. In her view is life imprisonment any less hateful or evil than the death penalty? I believe this passage suggests that motives play a role in the sentencing of a crime. I believe the application of this passage is that one not kill another in an act of vengeance or passion, which would be an act carried out of hate and evil. If, rather, a criminal is tried and sentenced by an impartial jury, with the only motive being justice, then hate and evil play no role in justice. 

The death penalty is just
Anything that is just cannot be hateful or evil
The death penalty is not hateful or evil