Sanhedrin 8:5-6

Sanhedrin 8:5

A ben soreir u’moreh (“stubborn and rebellious son”) is executed because of his ultimate fate; it preferable to let him die before he has committed violent crimes rather than after. This is because the death of evil people is a benefit both to them and to the world (because it puts an end to their evil), while the death of the righteous is bad for them and for the world (because it ends their righteousness). Wine and sleep benefit both evil people and the world (because they stop their evil when their unconscious) but regarding the righteous, it is bad for them and the world (because it pauses their righteousness). Dispersing evil people benefits both them and the world (because they can’t “team up”) but regarding the righteous, it is bad for them and the world (for the same reason). Gathering evil people is bad for them and for the world (because they do team up) but regarding the righteous, it is good for them and for the world (again, for the same reason). Comfort for evil people is bad for them and the world (because it makes it easier for them to perform acts of evil) but regarding the righteous, it is good for them and the world (because it makes it easier for them to perform acts of righteousness).

Sanhedrin 8:6

A thief who breaks into a house is judged based on his ultimate fate. If a thief broke in and smashed a barrel, then in a case where the homeowner would be guilty for killing him, the intruder is liable to pay for the damage; if the homeowner would be permitted to kill him (as an act of self-defense) the intruder is exempt from paying (because one who commits a capital offense is exempt from monetary damages).