Intro: We have learned that the ten words call us not to mental acknowledgement but moral agreement. If there was one of the ten that would be a no brainer it would be the sixth. In the King James it merely says don’t kill. Almost every other version translates these two words in Hebrew thou shall not murder. Almost every society in the world today has some law dealing with cold-blooded murder. This passage deals with murder and more. However, it does show us that all murder is killing but not all killing is murder. It does not prohibit the killing of animals. Exodus 20.24 clearly tells how to sacrifice or kill animals for a sacrifice to God.
This commandment does not prohibit capital punishment. Listen to Exodus 21.12 “He who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death.” Remember when dealing with the Bible you must take the entire word of God in context. In Romans 13.4 clearly tells us that the government ministers wrath on those who do evil.
Want to answer the question about whether or not you can shoot someone in your house as self defense. The Bible answered it long before the courts did.
Exodus 22.2 “If the thief is caught while breaking in and struck so that he dies, there will be no bloodguiltiness on his account.”
This commandment cannot be used to show that we are to be pacifist. There are some that believe all war is wrong. However, war is sometimes necessary. Ecclesiastes 3.8 “There is a time for war.”
It is obvious to me that there is misunderstanding about this commandment. This morning let’s begin by getting a clear understanding of the commandment.
I. The Clear Meaning of Murder
In the original Hebrew this commandment is just two words, lo ratzach, don’t kill. In the Hebrew language there are at least eight words used for killing. God has chosen a specific and special word for this commandment. It is never used in the legal system or in the military. God passed over seven other words to use this word. Other words are used for the execution of a death sentence. It is never used for the hunting or killing of animals.
The clear meaning of this commandment is the taking of a life that is not for self-defense, capital punishment, or during a military engagement.
This is a clear statement of value. Some call it the sanctity of human life. God calls it His!
From the unborn baby to the elderly individual, God values all life.
What determines whether we value life or not? Do you follow commandment number one. I am the Lord your God have no other god’s before me.
It is tragic to me that whales, and turtles, and snails and eagles are protected in our country but the innocent unborn children are not. Some would say that is harsh brother Bill. No harsh is what they do in partial birth abortion. Harsh is what is done when we let people starve to death but we won’t let an animal starve.
This commandment reminds us of the source of life and it is from God. It also reminds us of the sanctity of life, which means we are valued by God. Every person no matter their age, iq, looks, no matter are valuable.
Proverbs 12.10 clearly says the righteous will not be cruel to animals. There is no need to be cruel to a creature. However, animals were not created in the image of God. Animals are not called to morally acknowledge God’s law.
Those that would take a life do not understand the source nor the sanctity of life.
(Suicide, homicide)
II. The Controlling Attitude of Murder
We have clearly seen that murder is an action. Jesus shows us in His words that the real issue is our attitude. Mark 7.20 Jesus teaches us that the outward act is the result of an inward sin. And He was saying, "That which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man.” All of us are born with sinful hearts. We have all experienced hard feelings, anger, maybe even hatred. Those begin in the heart, the thoughts and emotions of us all.
The monster of murder has been tracked back to its lair. It lives in the heart of every man woman and child. No I would never do that!! Have you ever held a grudge, have you ever been bitter toward someone, have you ever lashed out with mean, or angry words. Within the depths of the hearts of all sinful men lies the possibility of mental murder.
Jesus addressed this issue specifically in the Sermon on the Mount.
Matthew 5.21,22 You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER’ and ’Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.’
22"But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ’You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ’You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.”
In doing this you are attacking a someone’s personhood. What some people just flat out say is you don’t deserve to live. God tells us that everyone deserves to live
Jesus says if you have this attitude you have the heart of murder. What was the matter with Cain when He murdered Abel? Genesis 4.6 God clearly asked Cain why he was angry. Hebrews tells us that Cain was angry because God accepted Abel’s sacrifice. Cain had the heart of murder.
How marriages are murdered with a lack of love and submission. God gives clear guidelines to the husbands in Ephesians 5.21 and following Husbands love you wife as Christ loved the submit to your husbands. Submit to their spiritual leadership and responsibility.
How many children are murdered by an attitude of indifference and lack of attention.
How many children are murdered by a lack of spirutal guidance from a parent? We have such a great responsibility as parents to teach them God’s word when we get up, while we walk down the street and as we go to bed.
How many parents have be slowly and methodically murdered due to a wayward childs life?
There was a father who had a son who was breaking the heart of his mother by his wicked wayward life. The father, in exasperation said, ‘Why don’t you just take a gun and go up to mother’s bedroom and kill her now. It would be a mercy for you to kill her now than for you to kill her in slow motion with the life you are living.”
How many people have been murdered by character assassination?
The inner attitude or heart of murder has tragic and terrible results. What does God say? Thou shall not murder!!
III. The Complete Forgiveness of Murder
God clearly condemns the violation of this commandment in His word. The book of Revelation makes it crystal clear that murderers will not inherit eternal life. They will have their place in the lake of fire.
I want to share the wise words of Jerry Vines with you. If you have grief over something you have done an abortion, mental murder, any of the attitudes talked about grief is expression of sorrow. Sorrow over sin. Guilt is an expression of sin. When we meet Jesus Chris our guilt is replaced with grief. If you have never experienced grief over the terrible nature of sin in your life I am concerned for you.
If you experience grief I want you to know God hates your sin, but He loves you!! Think about three of the greatest men in the Bible. Moses murdered and Egyptian, David murdered Uriah, Paul murdered early Christians. Yet Moses wrote the first five books of the Bible, David wrote most of the Psalms and was the greatest king in Israel’s History, Paul wrote about half of you New Testament. They were all murderers but they were murderers saved by grace.
Maybe you sit there this morning and are thinking, man I got off easy this morning. I’ve never done anything like that to anyone. You forget the most terrible murder of all.
It took place on what we call calvary. They called it Golgotha, the place of the skull. Because of you sin and mine Jesus was nailed to a cross. Our desire for things that do not belong to us, our dislike, or hatred of others, our apathy to the things of God, our hard hearts that drove nails into His hands and feet. It was the wickedness of our souls that shoved a spear in His side.
We are all guilty of murder.
Conclusion: What can you do if your found guilty of murder. Two things you serve your sentence in God’s court which is death. Or you are pardoned. It doesn’t matter if it was mental murder, or actual murder. God will forgive you. God desires for us to see the value of all life.
