Ten Words To Live By - Life Series

Ten Words to Live By: Do not murder

Exodus 20: 14

Patter Jefferson M. Williams

Chenoa Baptist Church

8-31–2025

Erik and Lyle

On August 20th, 1989, Jose and Kitty Menendez were savagely murdered in their home. The brutality of the killing led police to initially suspect the wealthy couple had been killed by the mob.

Their sons, Erik and Lyle Menendez, were the first to find them and call 911. As the investigation progressed, the police noticed something strange about the brothers.

They discovered the brothers had already spent over $700,000 of their parents money on a Porsche, trips to the Caribbean, part ownership in a Buffalo Wildwings, private tennis lessons, three Rolex watches, and court side Knicks tickets.

Eventually, the brothers were arrested and tried and convicted and have spent the last 35 years behind bars.

In that time, they both got married to “fans” of theirs. Netflix produced a documentary entitled, “Monsters: The Erik and Lyle Menendez Story” and they became celebrities with famous people asking for their release, including Kim Kardashian.

Just last week, they were both granted a parole hearing and many people thought they may be released. But, their behavior in jail and the savagery of the murder of their parents, led the parole board to slam the door shut on any hope of parole at this time.

They are not celebrities. They are cold blooded murderers who deserve to spend the rest of their lives in jail.

Review

We continue our series called, “Ten Words to Live By.” We know them as the “The Ten Commandments” although that name is never used in the Bible.

In Hebrew, this top ten list is known as the “Ten Words,” or Decalogue, and we find them in Exodus 20.

Pastor John Miller reminds us of three reasons the ten words were given:

* God is holy

* Man is sinful and we need a Savior

* Shows us how to live

They are less rules about what to do and tell us more about who God is to us:

1. One God - God is God.

2. No idols - God is Creator.

3. Revere His Name - God is holy

4. Remember to Rest - God is Rest

5. Honor Parents - God is Father

6. No murder - God is Life

7. No adultery - God is Faithful

8. No stealing - God is a Provider

9. No lying - God is Truth

10. No coveting - God is Sufficient

The ten words are divided into two groups. The first four cover our relationship with God. The last six detail our relationship with others.

Jesus was asked by a teacher of the Law what the greatest commandment was and He responded:

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40)

The four commandments are how we love God with all that we are.

The second six commandments are how we love our neighbor.

Please turn with me to Exodus 20:12.

Prayer

What does this prohibit?

“You shall not murder.” (Exodus 20:13)

There are eight different Hebrew words for “to kill.” The one Moses uses here is relatively rare. The NIV gets it right when it translates it as “Do not murder.” You could also translate it as “assassinate” or slay.”

The word means “taking of an innocent life, the unlawful killing of a human being.”

This is about human life and not about killing animals for food.

We see this play out in the first family when Cain killed his brother Abel:

“Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.”  While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.” (Genesis 4:8)

It is includes

premeditated, intentional murder like the Menendez brothers or the shooter in Minneapolis at the Catholic Church this week

intentional but not premeditated murder like a spouse who kills because he has found evidence of unfaithfulness (crimes of passion

involuntary manslaughter (texting while driving and causing a fatal accident)

reckless homicide (drunk driving).

In America, 27,000 people are murdered each year.

When a death occurred accidentally, an ax head flew off and killed someone, God supplied cities of refuge where the person could go and be safe from the family that may want to get revenge.

It is murder in cold blood, manslaughter with premeditated rage, or negligent homicide resulting from recklessness or callousness.

This does not prohibit self-defense:

“If a thief is caught breaking in at night and is struck a fatal blow, the defender is not guilty of bloodshed; but if it happens after sunrise, the defender is guilty of bloodshed.” (Exodus 22:2-3)