Where's the crime?

[Athetotheist]

While they were in the wilderness, the Israelites found a man picking up sticks on the sabbath. And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation. And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him. Then the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp.
(Numbers 15:32-35)

And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath
(Mark 2:27)

Why would a deity who made a sabbath for man and not man for a sabbath command the execution of a man for gathering sticks on a sabbath?

[1213]

But the Bible tells us that someone was sentenced to death for gathering sticks, ...

The Bible tells that a man who gathered sticks was sentenced. But, it does not say it was only because of gathering sticks. It is an interpretation that it was only because of gathering sticks, and it can be wrong, because the Bible doesn't directly say gathering sticks is against the law.

[Athetotheist]

[Replying to 1213 in post #51]

The Bible tells that a man who gathered sticks was sentenced. But, it does not say it was only because of gathering sticks. It is an interpretation that it was only because of gathering sticks, and it can be wrong, because the Bible doesn't directly say gathering sticks is against the law.

It says that he was gathering sticks "on the Sabbath day". That's the information the reader is given to go on, so that's clearly what the reader is intended to understand as the motive for the execution.

And again, would Jesus have condoned execution for gathering sticks on the Sabbath day if the Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath? Wouldn't he have challenged the one who was without sin to cast the first stone? If he could apply that to adultery, surely he could have applied it to gathering sticks on the Sabbath.

And again, the text doesn't say that the man was "unrepentant" any more than it says that the adulteress was unrepentant, so the same principle still applies.

[Wootah]

But the Bible tells us that someone was sentenced to death for gathering sticks, ...

The Bible tells that a man who gathered sticks was sentenced. But, it does not say it was only because of gathering sticks. It is an interpretation that it was only because of gathering sticks, and it can be wrong, because the Bible doesn't directly say gathering sticks is against the law.

You could use that interpretation to do anything.

Apply your logic to Jesus.

[Athetotheist]

But the Bible tells us that someone was sentenced to death for gathering sticks, ...

The Bible tells that a man who gathered sticks was sentenced. But, it does not say it was only because of gathering sticks. It is an interpretation that it was only because of gathering sticks, and it can be wrong, because the Bible doesn't directly say gathering sticks is against the law.

You could use that interpretation to do anything.

Apply your logic to Jesus.

Are you asking me?

That the man was gathering sticks "on the Sabbath day" is not an "interpretation". It's in the text.

[Wootah]

[Replying to Athetotheist in post #54]

I think 1213s answer is dreadful.

If 1213 is not sure that guy died for picking up sticks how can he be sure why Jesus died. Was my fuller point.