Exodus 20:13
Murderer’s Row!
As I prepared this series, I realized how little we actually preach or teach on the Ten Commandments as if they are neither important nor relevant. They are both. It was very enlightening to me to preach through them. I learned a lot! I trust this series will encourage you to also preach through the Ten Commandments!
Introduction
Three weeks after her wedding day, Joanna called her minister in hysterics. "Pastor," she cried, "John and I had our first fight together! It was awful. What am I going to do?"
"Calm down, Joanna," her pastor answered, leaning back in his chair and shaking his head. "This isn't nearly as bad as you think. Every marriage has to have its first fight. It's natural."
"I know, I know," Joanna said impatiently. "But what am I going to do with the body?"
Man is a unique creation of God. In Genesis 1.26,
“Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.””
we find that only man was created in God’s image.
“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” Genesis 1.27;
“And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” Genesis 2:7
“Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.” Genesis 2:22
We are distinct from all animals. We have morality, dignity and personality. We have something animals do not have…a soul. God created us with His own hands. Notice the following on the soul:
נֶפֶשׁ nephesh
“And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” Genesis 2:7
1) soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion
a) that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man
b) living being
c) living being (with life in the blood)
d) the man himself, self, person or individual
e) seat of the appetites
f) seat of emotions and passions
g) activity of mind
Because we ARE different than the animals (in spite what the eco-religionists and secular humanists may claim) we ought to have a higher value on the creature God has created.
Very simply the scripture emphatically declares:
You shall not murder.
לֹא תִּרְצָֽח׃
No! אלֹ
1) not, no
a) not (with verb - absolute prohibition)
Murder! - ratsach תִּרְצָֽח׃
1) to murder, slay, kill
a) (Qal) to murder, slay
1) premeditated
2) accidental
3) as avenger
4) slayer (intentional) (participle)
Simple Observation 12a
What does the command apply to? Let’s answer what it does NOT apply to first…and let’s support it with scripture!
First, it does not apply to capital punishment.
“Whoever sheds man's blood, by man his blood shall be shed; For in the image of God He made man.” Genesis 9:6
“He who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death.” Exodus 21:12
“Whoever kills any man shall surely be put to death.” Leviticus 24:17
God is serious about putting to death one who has taken the life of another. God hates sin and murder is the ultimate form of hatred (toward God and man).
Second, it does not apply to self-defense.
“If the thief is found breaking in, and he is struck so that he dies, there shall be no guilt for his bloodshed.” Exodus 22:2
Protecting your family’s life is paramount. No one has the right to violate this command upon your family.
It does not apply to accidental killing.
“As when a man goes to the woods with his neighbor to cut timber, and his hand swings a stroke with the ax to cut down the tree, and the head slips from the handle and strikes his neighbor so that he dies—he shall flee to one of these cities and live” Deuteronomy 19:5
Accidents happen. This is an instance where a life is accidently taken.
It certainly does not apply to killing an animal. (or bugs/insects)
“Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. I have given you all things, even as the green herbs.” Genesis 9:3
I have a couple of friends (Larry O and Jim G) who kill crawfish with their 22’s. To them, they are protecting their property. The crawfish make a BIG mess in their front yards.
And it does not apply to wars.
“A time to love, and a time to hate; A time of war, and a time of peace.” Ecclesiastes 3:8
Abraham, Joshua and David all led men into war when it was called for. This was no senseless act of killing but protecting their family and acting in obedience to God.
So, we see what this scripture does not apply to. Let’s examine what it does apply to.
Sacred Prohibition
The scripture is explicit in that there should be no premeditated murder. This is the willful and determined act of killing someone with intent and malice. FBI statistics show some 17,000 murders in America every year. That number seems to be on the increase.
It forbids homicide.
“Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God…For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.” Romans 13:1, 4
“But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” Revelation 21:8
“He who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death.” Exodus 21:12
“Whoever sheds man's blood, by man his blood shall be shed; For in the image of God He made man.” Genesis 9:6
Illustration (2007)
The 18-year-old gunman who killed five people in a crowded Utah shopping mall was a Bosnian Muslim refugee who was prepared to kill many more, say investigators.
An off-duty police officer having an early Valentine's Day dinner with his wife was credited today with cornering Sulejmen Talovic, exchanging fire with him until other officers arrived to shoot and kill the gunman.
The trench-coated teenager wanted to "to kill a large number of people" and probably would have killed many more if not for the off-duty officer, Police Chief Chris Burbank said.
A friend said Talovic was from the war-torn country of Bosnia and that the trauma he experienced while growing up may have led to him snapping for some reason.
Ken Hammond, an off-duty officer from Ogden, north of Salt Lake City, jumped up from his seat at a restaurant after hearing gunfire and cornered the gunman, exchanging fire with him until other officers arrived, Burbank said.
"There is no question that his quick actions saved the lives of numerous other people," the police chief said. Police said it was not immediately clear who fired the shot that killed Talovic.
Talovic had a backpack full of ammunition, a shotgun and a .38-caliber pistol, police said. Investigators knew little about Talovic, except than he lived in Salt Lake City with his mother, the chief said. He was enrolled in numerous city schools before withdrawing in 2004, the school district said. Initially, police refused to release his name or any information about his background.
Talovic drove to the Trolley Square shopping center – a century-old former trolley barn with winding hallways, brick floors and wrought-iron balconies, and immediately killed two people, followed by a third victim as he came through a door, Burbank said. Five other people were then shot in a gift shop, he said.
Four people who were wounded remained hospitalized today, two in critical condition, two in serious.
Outside the mall, candles and flowers were left as memorials to the victims.
Hammond's boss, Ogden Police Chief Jon Greiner, said the state Senate wants to honor him.
"Thank goodness he was there," said Greiner, who is also a state senator. "You don't want to ever say it's good we were there and killed somebody, but it's probably good someone was there."
Accountant Jeff Barlow was on a date at a restaurant when he looked outside and saw the gunman firing from the hip.
"I thought it was some kind of joke – some kind of movie or stunt," Barlow said. "I didn't believe it was happening. And then I saw a man go down in a courtyard. I realized this was serious. These are real bullets flying around."
David Dean, who owns a greeting-card store at the mall, said three or four people died inside his store, which was packed with Valentine's Day shoppers.
God hates sin and murder is a violent and horrible sin!
It forbids suicide.
Suicide is self-murder. Every year there are some 400,000 attempts of suicide. Some 30,000 people a year take their life.
“Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Everyone, including non-believers, belong to God. They do not have the right to take their own life.
It forbids infanticide.
Since 1973 in Roe v. Wade there have been some 50 million babies slaughtered in the womb. 26% of all babies are killed annually (1 in 4) This is calculated premeditated murder, plain and simple. It will bring judgment on America for its slaughter of the innocents.
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5
“For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.” Psalm 139:13-16
After conception of a child the baby has a heartbeat after 2 ½ weeks; brain wave after 5 ½ weeks and most abortions occur after 7 weeks. May God have mercy on our apathetic attitudes on life of the unborn!
Illustration
A professor in a world-acclaimed medical school once posed this medical situation -- and ethical problem -- to his students: "Here’s the family history: The father has syphilis. The mother has TB. They already have had four children. The first is blind. The second had died. The third is deaf. The fourth has TB. Now the mother is pregnant again, The parents come to you for advice. They are willing to have an abortion, if you decide they should. What do you say?"
The students gave various individual opinions, and then the professor asked them to break into small groups for "consultation." All of the groups came back to report that they would recommend abortion.
"Congratulations," the professor said, "You just took the life of Beethoven!"
It forbids genocide.
This refers to either euthanasia or assisted suicide. Dr. Jack Kevorkian, aka Dr. Death, has gone on to receive his just reward.
“In whose hand is the life of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind?” Job 12:10
“Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbor, pressing him to your bottle, even to make him drunk, that you may look on his nakedness! You are filled with shame instead of glory. You also—drink! And be exposed as uncircumcised! The cup of the Lord’s right hand will be turned against you, and utter shame will be on your glory.” Habakkuk 2:15 -16
Genocide might also be aligned with giving underage youth drugs or alcohol. It’s a shame that schools have to have programs like “shattered dreams” to highlight the tragedy and travesty of alcoholism and drug addiction. Our culture is focusing on the symptom rather than the heart of the issue which is the sinful “heart.”
It forbids fratricide.
Fratricide is the killing of a brother or friend. Forbidding this cures bullying in our schools and slander in the church. It can be done as much with the tongue as it can with a gun!
“‘You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.’” Leviticus 19:17-18
“You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.' But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire.” Matthew 5:21-22
“Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.” 1 John 3:15
“But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.” 1 John 3:17-18
“If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?” 1 John 4:20
“But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” Revelation 21:8
Slander, ridicule or insulting the reputation of others is fratricide. Sadly, we pass laws for our schools and community for anti-bullying when God has already addressed the problem.
Illustration
A NATIONAL PRAYER OF REPENTANCE
Joe Wright is the pastor of Central Christian Church in Wichita, KS. On January 23, 1996, He was asked to be the guest chaplain for the Kansas State House in Topeka. He prayed a prayer of repentance that was written by Bob Russell, pastor of Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky. According to an article in the Kansas City Star from January 24, 1996, his prayer stirred controversy, and one member of the legislative body walked out. Others criticized the prayer. The controversy didn’t end there. Later that year in the Colorado House, Republican representative Mark Paschall angered lawmakers by using Joe Wright’s prayer as the invocation. Some members there also walked out in protest.
Paul Harvey got a hold of the prayer and read it on his program. He got more requests for copies of it than any other thing he had ever done. Here’s what he prayed:
"Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask Your forgiveness and to seek Your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, "Woe to those who call evil good," but that’s exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and inverted our values. We confess that: We have ridiculed the absolute truth of Your Word and called it pluralism. We have worshipped other gods and called it multi-culturalism. We have endorsed perversion and called it an alternative lifestyle. We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have neglected the needy and called it self-preservation. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare. We have killed our unborn and called it a choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem. We have abused power and called it political savvy. We have coveted our neighbor’s possessions and called it ambition. We have polluted the airwaves with profanity and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. Search us, O God, and know our hearts today; try us and see if there be some wicked way in us; cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Guide and bless these men and women who have been sent here by the people of Kansas, and who have been ordained by You, to govern this great state. Grant them Your wisdom to rule and may their decisions direct us to the center of Your will... Amen
