"You shall not murder."

Exodus 20:13

Jim Davis

A third-grade teacher was once teaching the Ten Commandments to her class in school (this was back when they could still teach in school). She was discussing the commandment regarding honoring one's father and mother. Then she asked, "Is there any command regarding brothers and sisters?" One young girl raised her hand and said, "Thou shalt not kill."

We often fail to look beyond the commandment "You shall not murder" and fail to understand the significance of this command. The King James Version translates the verse "Thou shalt not kill." This has left the idea that all killing is wrong; even the killing of animals. However, this sixth commandment has to do with murder.

Leviticus 24:21
Whoever kills an animal must make restitution, but whoever kills a man must be put to death. (NIV)

The law forbid murder but it did not forbid taking human life when necessary. We should keep in mind that the Law of Moses sought to define how the Ten Commandments were to be kept.

The law did demanded diligence in keeping this command. Every effort was to be made to protect life.

Exodus 21:28-31
"If a bull gores a man or a woman to death, the bull must be stoned to death, and its meat must not be eaten. But the owner of the bull will not be held responsible. If, however, the bull has had the habit of goring and the owner has been warned but has not kept it penned up and it kills a man or woman, the bull must be stoned and the owner also must be put to death. However, if payment is demanded of him, he may redeem his life by paying whatever is demanded. This law also applies if the bull gores a son or daughter. (NIV)

This scripture does not only reveal God's desire for us to be diligent in protecting life, but it also reveals his punishment for not protecting life. Both the man and the animal were to die.

Capital Punishment Sanctioned

God sanctioned capital punishment after the after flood.

Genesis 9:5-6
And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting. I will demand an accounting from every animal. And from each man, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of his fellow man. "Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man. (NIV)

The Law of Moses continued to uphold capital punishment and set forth other crimes punishable by death.

Premeditated murder (Exod. 21:12-14).
Kidnapping (Exod. 21:16; Deut. 24:7).
Adultery (Lev. 20:10-21; Deut. 22:22).
Homosexuality (Lev. 20:13).
Incest (Lev. 20:11-12, 14).
Bestiality (Exod. 22:19; Lev. 20:15-16).
Incorrigible delinquency and persistent disobedience to parents and authorities (Deut. 17:12; 21:18-21).
Striking or cursing parents (Exod. 21:15; Lev. 20:9; Prov. 20:20; Matt. 15:4; Mark 7:10).
Offering human sacrifice (Lev. 20:2).
False prophecy (Deut. 13:1-10).
Blasphemy (Lev. 24:11-14, 16, 23).
Profaning the Sabbath (Exod. 35:2; Num. 15:32-36).
Sacrificing to false gods (Exod. 22:20).
Magic and divination (Exod. 22:18).
Unchastity (Deut. 22:20-21).
Rape of a betrothed virgin (Deut. 22:23-27).

The New Testament does not renounce capital punishment.

Acts 25:10-11
Paul answered: "I am now standing before Caesar's court, where I ought to be tried. I have not done any wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well. If, however, I am guilty of doing anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die. But if the charges brought against me by these Jews are not true, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!" (NIV)

Romans 13:1-5
Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. God has established the authorities that exist. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is 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. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. (NIV)

A Distinction Made

A distinction is made between murder and accidental death.

Numbers 35:15-25
These six towns will be a place of refuge for Israelites, aliens and any other people living among them, so that anyone who has killed another accidentally can flee there. "'If a man strikes someone with an iron object so that he dies, he is a murderer; the murderer shall be put to death. Or if anyone has a stone in his hand that could kill, and he strikes someone so that he dies, he is a murderer; the murderer shall be put to death. Or if anyone has a wooden object in his hand that could kill, and he hits someone so that he dies, he is a murderer; the murderer shall be put to death. The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death; when he meets him, he shall put him to death. If anyone with malice aforethought shoves another or throws something at him intentionally so that he dies or if in hostility he hits him with his fist so that he dies, that person shall be put to death; he is a murderer. The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death when he meets him. "'But if without hostility someone suddenly shoves another or throws something at him unintentionally or, without seeing him, drops a stone on him that could kill him, and he dies, then since he was not his enemy and he did not intend to harm him, the assembly must judge between him and the avenger of blood according to these regulations. The assembly must protect the one accused of murder from the avenger of blood and send him back to the city of refuge to which he fled. He must stay there until the death of the high priest, who was anointed with the holy oil. (NIV)

The law provided for self-defense.

Exodus 22:2-3
"If a thief is caught breaking in and is struck so that he dies, the defender is not guilty of bloodshed; but if it happens after sunrise, he is guilty of bloodshed. "A thief must certainly make restitution, but if he has nothing, he must be sold to pay for his theft. (NIV)

The New Testament Further Defines Murder

God abhors all the causes of murder, such as envy, hatred, anger and the desire for revenge.

Matthew 5:21-26
"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell. "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift. "Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny. (NIV)

1 John 3:14-16
We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him. This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. (NIV)

Colossians 3:8
But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. (NIV)

As we look at these scriptures, we can begin to understand the gravity of sin because of its far-reaching consequences.

Matthew 15:16-20
"Are you still so dull?" Jesus asked them. "Don't you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean.' For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what make a man 'unclean'; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him 'unclean.'" (NIV)

Modern Day Practices

Should Christian be a physician-assisting-people-to-death? Can you be a doctor assisting suicide? You’re not supposed to commit suicide. Murder includes self-murder. Suicide is self-murder. To help someone murder himself or herself is murder.

Should support euthanasia, assisting others to die? If they will live with the assistance of physicians, intentional termination of life is wrong. Perhaps some want to die because they feel miserable due to a physical deformity or illness, but there is no basis for euthanasia in Scripture. To assist someone in suicide is just the same as murder.

The unnatural prolonging of life is not called for either. Perhaps the brain waves are there, but the physical body is dead. If that person will die naturally, unnaturally prolonging their life may be uncalled for as well. It may be better for them to die naturally than try to pump something in them and make them live biologically.

Should a Christian be an abortion doctor? People want to devalue that baby and call it a fetus and make it as impersonal as possible. In Luke 1, when the pregnant women meet (Elizabeth, who was pregnant with John the Baptist, and Mary, who was to have Jesus), it says, "When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting" the baby leaped in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. So Elizabeth w as filled with the Holy Spirit and the baby responded by leaping! Jeremiah says, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart;" (Jeremiah 1:5) Before the baby is born, there’s a life and a soul. That baby has a soul. As soon as a sperm meets an egg, it becomes a life, a zygote. It’s a soul according to Scripture. Be careful if you go into bioengineering. Learn clearly what’s wrong and right according to Scripture. Psalm 139:14-15 says, "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, (Psalms 139:14-15)." David is talking about himself before he was born. Even in his mother’s womb, his soul was known and seen by God.

Should a Christian be an executioner? If Bible sanctions capital punishment, it of necessity sanctions those who enforce the laws to take a person's life. That occupation is open even to Christians.

Should a Christian be a soldier? Romans 13:1-7 ordains that authorities bear the sword for punishment of wrong doing. Therefore, a Christian can be a soldier or police officer.

Conclusion:

Murder pollutes a nation.

Numbers 35:33-34
"'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. Do not defile the land where you live and where I dwell, for I, the LORD, dwell among the Israelites.'" (NIV)

Murder affects the productivity of a nation.

Genesis 4:9-16
Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" "I don't know," he replied. "Am I my brother's keeper?" The LORD said, "What have you done? Listen! Your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground. Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth." Cain said to the LORD, "My punishment is more than I can bear. Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me." But the LORD said to him, "Not so; if anyone kills Cain, he will suffer vengeance seven times over." Then the LORD put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him. So Cain went out from the LORD's presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden. (NIV)

Hosea 4:1-3
Hear the word of the LORD, you Israelites, because the LORD has a charge to bring against you who live in the land: "There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgment of God in the land. There is only cursing, lying and murder, stealing and adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed. Because of this the land mourns, and all who live in it waste away; the beasts of the field and the birds of the air and the fish of the sea are dying. (NIV)