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Suicide and The Bible
"You are not your own, you are bought with a price..."
(1 Corinthians 6:20)
I.
Suicide is murder (self-murder). Therefore it is
forbidden by God.
 Exodus 20:13
 Deuteronomy 5:17
A. God is the Author of life.
 Genesis 2:7
 Deuteronomy 30:20
 Job 12:10
 Psalms 66:9
 Isaiah 42:5
 Ezekiel 37:10
 Daniel 5:23
 Zechariah 12:1
 Acts 17:25, 28
 Hebrews 12:9
B. God has a plan for each life, established at conception.

Psalms 139:13-16
For thou hast ... covered me in my mother's womb. I
will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully
made... My substance was not hid from thee, when I
was made in secret... Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my
members were written, which in continuance were
fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

Isaiah 49:1, 5 The Lord hath called me from the
womb, from the bowels of my mother hath he made
mention of my name ... to be his servant, to bring
Jacob again unto him...
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
Jeremiah 1:5 While you were being formed in the
belly of the womb," God told the prophet Jeremiah,
"I knew you and ordained (intended for) you to be a
prophet to the nations.

Galatians 1:15 ...called from my mother's womb.
C. Suicide is the interference with the plan of God for one’s life.
As such, it is sin – an act of defiance and rebellion. (The
mentally ill are not as responsible for their acts as those
who are fully aware of what they do.)
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
Psalms 31:15 My times are in thine hand.
1 Corinthians 6:20 You are not your own, you are
bought with a price...
II. What drives a person to desire death?
A. Guilt.

Matthew 27:3-5 When Judas, who had betrayed him,
saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with
remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the
chief priests and the elders. ‘I have sinned,’ he said,
‘for I have betrayed innocent blood.’... So Judas
threw the money into the temple and left. Then he
went away and hanged himself.
B. Physical pain, exhaustion and lack of sleep; mental
depression.
 Job 3:1-26; 6:8-11; 14:13
 Job 7:1-6, 15, 16 ... wearisome nights are appointed
to me. When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise,
and the night be gone? and I am full of tossings to
and fro unto the dawning of the day. My flesh is
clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is
broken, and become loathsome. My days are ... spent
without hope.... So that my soul chooseth strangling,
and death rather than my life. I loathe it; I would not
live alway: let me alone; for my days are vanity.
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Job 10:1 My soul is weary of my life; I will leave my complaint
upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.
Jonah 4:8 ... and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah,
that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, It
is better for me to die than to live.
C. Mental illness; demonic possession.
 Matthew 8:28 ...there met him two possessed with
devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so
that no man might pass by that way.
 Mark 5:2-5 ...there met him out of the tombs a man
with an unclean spirit, Who had his dwelling among
the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with
chains... And always, night and day, he was in the
mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting
himself with stones.
 Luke 8:27 ...there met him out of the city a certain
man, which had devils long time, and ware no
clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.
D. Revenge.
 Judges 16:23-31 Then Samson prayed to the LORD,
‘...O God, please strengthen me just once more, and
let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines
for my two eyes.’ Then Samson reached toward the
two central pillars on which the temple stood.
Bracing himself against them,... Samson said, ‘Let
me die with the Philistines!’ Then he pushed with all
his might, and down came the temple on the rulers
and all the people in it.
E. Stress (overburdened with a sense of responsibility).
 Numbers 11:11-15 And Moses said unto the Lord,
Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and
wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight, that
thou layest the burden of all this people upon me?
Have I conceived all this people? have I begotten
them...? Whence should I have flesh to give unto all
this people? for they weep unto me, saying, Give us
flesh, that we may eat. I am not able to bear all this
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people alone, because it is too heavy for me. And if
thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee...
F. Rejection of advice.
 2 Samuel 17:23 When Ahithophel saw that his
advice had not been followed, he ... put his house in
order and then hanged himself....
G. Pride or shame (disgrace).
 Judges 9:50-54 ... a woman dropped an upper
millstone on his head and cracked his skull.
Hurriedly he called to his armor-bearer, 'Draw your
sword and kill me, so that they can't say, ‘A woman
killed him.’ So his servant ran him through, and he
died.
[As with Sisera (Judges 4), of whom it was said a
woman drove a tent peg through his skull]
H. Despair.
 Jeremiah 8:3 And death shall be chosen rather than
life by all the residue of them that remain of this evil
family...
 Revelation 9:6 And in those days shall men seek
death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die,
and death shall flee from them.
I. Discouragement or fear.
 Acts 16:27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out
of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he
drew out his sword, and would have killed himself,
supposing that the prisoners had been fled.
J. Rebellion; defeat (pride) in battle.
 1 Kings 16:15-20 ...When Zimri saw that the city
was taken, he went into the citadel of the royal
palace and set the palace on fire around him. So he
died, because of the sins he had committed, doing
evil in the eyes of the LORD and walking in the
ways of Jeroboam and in the sin he had committed
and had caused Israel to commit.
 1 Samuel 31:2-5 (cp. 1 Chronicles 10:4-5) The
Philistines pressed hard after Saul and his sons, and
they killed his sons Jonathan, Abinadab and Malki-
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Shua. The fighting grew fierce around Saul, and
when the archers overtook him, they wounded him
critically. Saul said to his armor-bearer, ‘Draw your
sword and run me through, or these uncircumcised
fellows will come and run me through and abuse
me.’ But his armor-bearer was terrified and would
not do it; so Saul took his own sword and fell on it.
When the armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he
too fell on his sword and died with him.
III. Scripture mentions several suicides and temptations to
commit suicide.
A. Suicides committed in Scripture.
1. Abimelech.
 Judges 9:50-54 ...all the people of the city ...locked
themselves in and climbed up on the tower roof.
Abimelech went to the tower and stormed it. But as
he approached the entrance to the tower to set it on
fire, a woman dropped an upper millstone on his
head and cracked his skull. Hurriedly he called to his
armor-bearer, 'Draw your sword and kill me, so that
they can't say, ‘A woman killed him.’ So his servant
ran him through, and he died.
2. Samson.
 Judges 16:23-31 Now the rulers of the Philistines
assembled to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their
god and ... While they were in high spirits, they
shouted, ‘Bring out Samson to entertain us.’ So they
called Samson out of the prison, and he performed
for them. When they stood him among the pillars,
Samson said to the servant who held his hand, ‘Put
me where I can feel the pillars that support the
temple, so that I may lean against them.’ Now the
temple was crowded with men and women; all the
rulers of the Philistines were there, and on the roof
were about three thousand men and women watching
Samson perform. Then Samson prayed to the
LORD, ‘O Sovereign LORD, ... please strengthen
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me just once more, and let me with one blow get
revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes.’ Then
Samson reached toward the two central pillars on
which the temple stood. Bracing himself against
them..., Samson said, ‘Let me die with the
Philistines!’ Then he pushed with all his might, and
down came the temple on the rulers and all the
people in it. Thus he killed many more when he died
than while he lived.
3. Ahithophel.
 2 Samuel 17:23 When Ahithophel saw that his
advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey
and set out for his house in his hometown. He put his
house in order and then hanged himself....
4. Zimri.
 1 Kings 16:15-20 In the twenty-seventh year of Asa
king of Judah, Zimri reigned in Tirzah seven days.
The army was encamped near Gibbethon, a
Philistine town. When the Israelites in the camp
heard that Zimri had plotted against the king and
murdered him, they proclaimed Omri, the
commander of the army, king over Israel that very
day there in the camp. Then Omri and all the
Israelites with him withdrew from Gibbethon and
laid siege to Tirzah. When Zimri saw that the city
was taken, he went into the citadel of the royal
palace and set the palace on fire around him. So he
died, because of the sins he had committed, doing
evil in the eyes of the LORD and walking in the
ways of Jeroboam and in the sin he had committed
and had caused Israel to commit.
5. Saul and his armorbearer.
 1 Samuel 31:2-5 (cp. 1 Chronicles 10:4-5) The
Philistines pressed hard after Saul and his sons, and
they killed his sons Jonathan, Abinadab and MalkiShua. The fighting grew fierce around Saul, and
when the archers overtook him, they wounded him
critically. Saul said to his armor-bearer, ‘Draw your
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sword and run me through, or these uncircumcised
fellows will come and run me through and abuse
me.’ But his armor-bearer was terrified and would
not do it; so Saul took his own sword and fell on it.
When the armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he
too fell on his sword and died with him.
6. Judas Iscariot.
 Matthew 27:3-5 When Judas, who had betrayed him,
saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with
remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the
chief priests and the elders. ‘I have sinned,’ he said,
‘for I have betrayed innocent blood.’ ‘What is that to
us?’ they replied. That's your responsibility.’ So
Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then
he went away and hanged himself.
 Acts 1:18 Now this man purchased a field with the
reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst
asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.
B. Some were tempted to commit suicide but did not follow
through with it.
1. The Philippian jailer.
 Acts 16:27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out
of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he
drew out his sword, and would have killed himself,
supposing that the prisoners had been fled.
2. Jesus Christ.
 Matthew 4:5-6 (cp. Luke 4:9-11) Then the devil
taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a
pinnacle of the temple, And saith unto him, If thou
be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is
written, He shall give his angels charge concerning
thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest
at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
IV. The temptation to kill oneself, or the desire to die, is not
in itself a sin (even Jesus was tempted: Matthew 4:5, 6; cp.
Luke 4:9-11).
A. Even spiritual men like Moses, Elijah and Job – as well as
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the prophet Jonah – all expressed a desire to end it all, in
times of discouragement.
1. Moses.
 Numbers 11:11-15 And Moses said unto the Lord,
Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and
wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight, that
thou layest the burden of all this people upon me?
Have I conceived all this people? have I begotten
them, that thou shouldest say unto me, Carry them in
thy bosom, as a nursing father beareth the sucking
child, unto the land which thou swarest unto their
fathers? Whence should I have flesh to give unto all
this people? for they weep unto me, saying, Give us
flesh, that we may eat. I am not able to bear all this
people alone, because it is too heavy for me. And if
thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of
hand, if I have found favour in thy sight; and let me
not see my wretchedness.
2. Elijah.
 1 Kings 19:4 But he himself went a day's journey
into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a
juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he
might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take
away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.
3. Job.
 Job 3:1-26 After this opened Job his mouth, and
cursed his day. And Job spake, and said, Let the day
perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it
was said, There is a man child conceived. Let that
day be darkness; ... Because it shut not up the doors
of my mother's womb, nor hid sorrow from mine
eyes. Why died I not from the womb? why did I not
give up the ghost when I came out of the belly?
...For now should I have lain still and been quiet, I
should have slept: then had I been at rest, ... Or as an
hidden untimely birth I had not been; as infants
which never saw light. There the wicked cease from
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troubling; and there the weary be at rest.
...Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery,
and life unto the bitter in soul; Which long for death,
but it cometh not... Which rejoice exceedingly, and
are glad, when they can find the grave? Why is light
given to a man whose way is hid, and whom God
hath hedged in? For my sighing cometh before I eat,
and my roarings are poured out like the waters. For
the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me,
and that which I was afraid of is come unto me. I
was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I
quiet; yet trouble came.
Job 6:8-11 Oh that I might have my request; and that
God would grant me the thing that I long for! Even
that it would please God to destroy me; that he
would let loose his hand, and cut me off!
Job 7:1-6, 15, 16 Is there not an appointed time to
man upon earth?.. So am I made to possess months
of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.
When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the
night be gone? and I am full of tossings to and fro
unto the dawning of the day. My flesh is clothed
with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken,
and become loathsome. My days are ... spent without
hope.... So that my soul chooseth strangling, and
death rather than my life. I loathe it; I would not live
alway: let me alone; for my days are vanity.
Job 10:1 My soul is weary of my life; I will leave
my complaint upon myself; I will speak in the
bitterness of my soul.
Job 14:13 Oh that thou wouldest hide me in the
grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy
wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set
time, and remember me!
4. Jonah.
 Jonah 4:8 ... and the sun beat upon the head of
Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die,
and said, It is better for me to die than to live.
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B. Although these audibly expressed their desire to die,
Scripture says they merely "requested" it of God. They did not
attempt to take their life into their own hands.
C. In the midst of extreme physical pain, having lost many of
his family members in a terrible tragedy, as well as his
possessions – and abandoned by his wife, who told him to
"curse God and die" – Job felt like giving up. At the time, he
could not see past his pain; his thinking was not right. However,
eventually, his time of testing was done: circumstances changed
and Scripture says, "God blessed the end of Job more than his
beginning."
D. Hebrews chapter 11 well describes the terrible tortures
endured by those in the Hall of Faith/Fame: "cruel mockings
and scourgings...bonds and imprisonment: they were stoned,
they were sawn asunder... slain with the sword... destitute,
afflicted, tormented..." They did not give up; they endured to
the end.
V. What is the source or cause of suicidal thoughts?
A. The thought life.
Philippians 4:7-9 And the peace of God, which passeth all
understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through
Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true,
whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just,
whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely,
whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and
if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which
ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me,
do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
B. Satan and his demons.
1. "A murderer from the beginning" (John 8:44), Satan seeks
"to kill and destroy." (John 10:10) He goes about "like a
roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." (1 Peter 5:8)
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2. One of his names, Apollyon (Abaddon, Heb.), literally
means, "The Destroyer." (Revelation 9:11) Satan's motives
are destructive (John 10:10; 1 Peter 5:8) – not only to afflict
physically but also to torment mentally – i.e., with thoughts of suicide.
C. Medical science has linked depression and suicidal
tendencies to a chemical imbalance – which disrupts one’s
thinking.
VI. What was God’s solution in dealing with those tempted
with the desire for death?
A. Angels were sent to minister; a word of encouragement.
 1 Kings 19:4-8
 Matthew 4 (cp. Luke 4)
B. Spiritual deliverance (exorcism) was administered.
 Mark 5:2-18 (cp. Matthew 8:28-34; Luke 8:27-39) ...
there met him out of the tombs a man with an
unclean spirit, Who had his dwelling among the
tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with
chains: Because that he had been often bound with
fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked
asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces:
neither could any man tame him. And always, night
and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs,
crying, and cutting himself with stones... [And
Jesus] said unto him, Come out of the man, thou
unclean spirit.... And forthwith Jesus gave them
leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered
into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a
steep place into the sea, (they were about two
thousand;) and were choked in the sea.... And they
come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with
the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed,
and in his right mind: and they were afraid.... And
they that saw it told them how it befell to him that
was possessed with the devil... And when he was
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come into the ship, he that had been possessed with
the devil prayed him that he might be with him.
VII. In the last days, suicide will become even more
prevalent.
A. "Behold, the days are coming," Jesus predicted, when the
people will "say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the
hills, Cover us." Luke 23:30
B. "And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find
it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them."
Revelation 9:6
VIII. Can someone who has committed suicide be saved?
(They have no more opportunity to repent.)
IX. What is wrong with suicide? If someone wants to end
his/her life, don’t they have that right? Who are we to say
otherwise?
A. The act of suicide is a demonstration of a lack of faith.
"Whatsoever is not of faith is sin." Romans 14:3
B. Suicide is very selfish, as well as cowardly, for it does not
consider the pain of those loved ones who will live to feel
the agony and loss.
C. The expression "taking your own life" is unbiblical. Paul
says, "You are not your own, you have been bought with a
price..." 1 Corinthians 6:20
X. Many will desire death during the last days, especially
during the tribulation. Revelation 9:6
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The Centers for Disease Control (CDC), published a report as
part of its Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS).
The statistics are from a national school-based survey of 10,904
high school students in grades 9-12.
(See CDC, Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance -- United States,
1995. MMWR; 45(No. SS-4), 1-86, 1996).
12 months preceding the survey:
• 24.1% of students had thought seriously about
attempting suicide .
• 17.7% of students had made a specific plan to attempt
suicide .
• 8.7% of students had attempted suicide .
• 2.8% of students had made a suicide attempt which
resulted in an injury, poisoning, or overdose that
required medical attention.
Listed below is a breakdown of Gender, Race, and Age:
GENDER:
• Female students (30.4%) were significantly more
likely than male students (18.3%) to have thought
seriously about attempting suicide.
• Female students (21.3%) were significantly more
likely than male students (14.4%) to have made a
specific plan to attempt suicide.
• Female students (11.9%) were significantly more
likely than male students (5.6%) to have attempted
suicide.
RACE:
• White students (24.9%) were significantly more likely
than black students (20.0%) to have thought seriously
about attempting suicide.
• Hispanic students (13.4%) were significantly more
likely than white students (7.6%) to have attempted
suicide.
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AGE:
• Students in grade 11 (26.3%) were significantly more
likely than students in grade 12 (20.0%) to have
thought seriously about attempting suicide.
• Students in grades 9 (10.6%) and 10 (10.1%) were
significantly more likely than students in grade 12
(5.6%) to have attempted suicide.
• Students in grade 9 (4.1%) were significantly more
likely than students in grade 12 (1.7%) to have made a
suicide attempt which resulted in an injury, poisoning,
or overdose that required medical attention.
Hard to believe
Among all ages, suicide claims more American lives
than homicide. According to reports of the Centers for
Disease Control in Atlanta, 22,552 Americans died of
homicide in 1995 , while 31,284 died of suicide.