Commandment #6: Thou Shalt Not Kill (Exodus 20:13)
2023-04-05
Thou shalt not kill. (Exodus 20:13)
Why the command not to kill? “Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man” (Genesis 9:6). Because humankind was made in the image of God, to desecrate that image is an affront to God. We see here also that murder was a capital crime since humankind got out of the ark. A chief role of government today is to enforce this command.
Jesus took this a step further when He said, “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire” (Matthew 5:21-22). Reasonless hate is like murder.
Even further yet, we read, “Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him” (1 John 3:15). And again, “Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him. Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD” (Leviticus 19:17-18).
Who can stand after this command? Who is completely innocent of murder if you count this extended definition?
God has called us all to love other people. “Thou shalt not kill” also assumes the opposite, which is not to be neutral to a person, but genuinely care for them. It is pretty easy not to murder, but it is another thing entirely to not hate anyone, and yet another to love everyone.