The Ten Commandments - 8
You shall not murder - 2
This time we are continuing to look at the sixth commandment, found in Exodus 20 verse 13: "You shall not murder". Here are four, simple, clear words that we cannot misunderstand. This commandment deals with the preservation of human life, and literally means, "You shall do no murder." It is an important principle that when we are discovering the teaching of God's Word, we remember that Scripture is its own interpreter. In other words we must look at the whole counsel of God concerning any subject and not take verses or passages in isolation. It is clear from a study of Scripture that this commandment, while clearly teaching the sanctity of human life, does not condemn ALL killing.
There are times when nations must defend themselves against an attacker and this results in bloodshed. Dreadful though war is, killing in defence of life and to stop an evil aggressor is not murder. In Romans chapter 14 and verse 4 we are told concerning governing authorities that they are "God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath, to bring punishment on the wrongdoer." In "bearing the sword" the legally appointed magistrate has the power to execute temporal judgement on capital offenders. That is not murder. Yes, human life must be preserved for it is a gift from God and man is made in the image of God, but the wilful taking of life must be punished.
There are occasions when someone is killed unintentionally. For the people of Israel, in Old Testament times, God made provision for this situation. Seven cities of refuge were built where someone guilty of manslaughter could flee from the wrath of the aggrieved family and be safe until proper justice could be invoked. Accidental manslaughter was treated mercifully, but there was no mercy for wilful killing. In Scripture the death penalty is not regarded as a deterrent, but as a punishment for the act of murder.
In my last talk about this sixth commandment I mentioned that there are several ways in which murder can be committed. I want to come back to this again because, although we may not actually take a life ourselves, we can, just the same, be guilty of it.
We can kill in our minds. In 1 John 3 verse 15 we read: "Whoever hates his brother is a murderer." Jesus also said that hatred and anger in the heart are the equivalent of murder itself. Do you have thoughts like this? Does your anger sometimes cause you to sin in this way? If this is so, turn to the Lord and seek His forgiveness. You may not regard yourself as a murderer, but malicious and hateful thoughts stand condemned by God, who has said through John, "Whoever hates his brother is a murderer."
Then, I mentioned last time that we can in effect kill someone with our tongues. We can think of the terrible murder of our Lord Jesus Christ by the Roman soldiers. They were obeying the orders of their superior officers, but what of the frenzied crowd? They were crying out, "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!" What of the false witnesses at Jesus' so-called trial? What of the religious leaders who had been plotting Jesus' death for months? They were ALL guilty of Christ's death for by their words they accused and by their words they incited His murder.
These words led to actual death, but it is possible by our words to destroy the character of another and so in effect ruin their life. We sometimes call this action "character assassination." Evil gossip can be very destructive and often comes from a deep dislike or resentment or jealousy. This is really an attitude of murder. Words are very powerful and we should be very careful about the things that we say.
Now let's discover three things we need to know about the sin of murder:
First - it is an affront to God, for man is made in the image of God. We read in Genesis chapter 1 verses 26 and 27: "Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, in our likeness...... so God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created Him; male and female He created them."
Each one of us is a unique person. Unlike the animals we are able to build on the knowledge we have. We each have a conscience and within us is a sense of morality - of what is right and wrong, good and evil. As those created in the image of the Living God we have a spiritual capacity for we were created to have a relationship with Him. So to destroy another human being is a very serious thing indeed.
Secondly, murder is what might be described as "A crying sin." The blood of Abel, murdered by his brother Cain, is said in Genesis chapter 4 verse 10, to have cried out to God from the ground. In other words, God knew that Cain had taken his brother's life and God would not ignore that dreadful act.
Writing in the 17th. Century, Times New Roman, Thomas Watson said, "If God could have a beast stoned that killed a man, which had not the use of reason to restrain it, how much more will he be incensed against those who against both reason and conscience take away the life of another?"
The blood of a murder victim cries out to God for vengeance, and the Lord God says, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay." Murder is a diabolical sin. Jesus said regarding sinful mankind, "You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning." Satan is the great destroyer and all who destroy life wilfully are his servants, just as Cain was at the beginning of human history.
Thirdly, murder is a polluting sin, it pollutes nations. We read in Numbers chapter 35 verse 33:
"Do not pollute the land where you are. Bloodshed pollutes the land and atonement cannot be made for the land on which blood has been shed, except by the blood of the one who shed it."
Down the centuries there have been many instances of God's judgement falling on nations because of the evil actions of their leaders in the wilful taking of human life for their own ends. God says that such actions pollute the life of any nation. Pollution is something that defiles and makes things unclean, and it is dangerous. God regards a nation where bloodshed is condoned as unclean and the only means of putting this right is for the punishment of those who murder. We read in Revelation chapter 21 verse 8:
"But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars - their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulphur. This is the second death."
What a warning this is! We are discovering together the moral law of God and we must be in no doubt that God will not and cannot ignore those who break it. But we must also remember that God, in His great love towards us sinners, who have all broken His law in some way, has made it possible for our sins to be covered and forgiven. He has done this through the worst murder in all human history.
Let me quote to you the words of the sermon preached by the apostle Peter to the Jews on the Day of Pentecost. You will find this in Acts chapter 2 verse 22 onwards:
"Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through Him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised Him from the dead, freeing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him......therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."
As we read on in this account we find the peoples' consciences troubling them and they ask what they must do. The answer that Peter gave them applies to you today if you would have your sins forgiven and know peace with God:
"Repent and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
Christ has fulfilled the law of God for us all and in His own body on the cross has paid the penalty for our sins. Will you come to Him today and receive forgiveness and the gift of The Holy Spirit Who will be God's power within you to enable you to defeat Satan and be obedient to the commands of God?