Exodus 20 v 13
• Commandments one and two are in the sphere of thought.
• Commandment three is in the sphere of word.
• Commandments four and five are in the sphere of deed.
In the second five Commandments the order is reversed.
• Commandments six, seven and eight are in the sphere of deed.
• Commandment nine is in the sphere of word.
• Commandment ten is in the sphere of thought.
The first five Commandments are all positive and the second five are in the negative.
First five emphasise the sanctity of God the second five emphasise the sanctity of our neighbour.
The first five show our duty to God, the second five show our duty to man.
• The Sixth Commandment concerns the sanctity of our neighbour’s person, "Thou shalt not kill."
• The Seventh Commandment concerns the sanctity of our neighbour’s purity, "Thou shalt not commit adultery."
• The Eight Commandment concerns the sanctity of our neighbour’s property, "Thou shalt not steal."
• The Ninth Commandment concerns the sanctity of our neighbour’s position," Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour."
• The Tenth Commandment concerns the sanctity of our of our neighbours place, "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's."
These commandments emphasise God’s provision for the well being of mankind.
Exodus 20 v.13 "Thou shalt not kill."
1. THE REACH OF THE COMMAND - "Thou shalt not murder"
(a) Physically - Genesis 4 v. 8 "And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him."
Webster - "The unlawful and malicious or premeditated killing of one human being by another."
There are many types of murderers. Drunk drivers implicate also those who sell alcohol.
Murder can be committed by our hands like Joab, we should guard our hands.
Murder can be committed in our minds.
1 John 3:15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
Our tongues can commit murder.
John 18:30 They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee.
The pen can commit murder.
2 Samuel 12:9 Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.
You can have murder by intention.
Matthew 2:8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.
Matthew 2:13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
You can commit murder by planning it. Think about Jezebel and how she planned Naboth’s death.
You can commit murder by consent.
Acts 22:20 And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him.
Hatred.
Leviticus 19:17 Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.
1 John 3:15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
Envy.
Proverbs 14:30 A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.
Anger.
Matthew 5:21-22 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: [22] 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.
Revenge.
Romans 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Quarrelling.
Galatians 5:15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
Is there any hope for murderers?
David, Moses and Paul all found hope yet they all were all guilty of murder.
Acts 3:13-15 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. [14] But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; [15] And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
(b) Personally - either by suicide or wreckless living - e.g. smoking, drinking etc.
(c) Medically - euthanasia - burden of healthcare
(d) Pre-natally - abortion - Psalm 139 v. 13 - 16 "For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them."
2. THE RESTRICTION TO THE COMMAND - God excludes - killing:-
(a) Of animals - Genesis 9 v. 3 "Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things." Acts 10 v. 15 "And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common." - whole O.T. sacrifical system
(b) In self-defence - Exodus 22 v. 2 "If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for him."
(c) In war - John 18 v. 36 "Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence."
(d) In punishment - Genesis 9 v. 6 "Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man." Romans 13 v. 4 "For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil."
3. THE REASON FOR THE COMMAND - Murder interrupts with:-
(a) Man's entrance to life - abortion -
Genesis 1 v. 27 "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them."
Genesis 2 v. 7 "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 soul."
Job 33 v. 4 "The spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life."
(b) Man's existence in life - Acts 17 v. 28 & 29 "For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device."
(c) Man's exit from life - Job 14 v. 5 "Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass;"
Psalm 104 v. 29 "Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust." i.e. by murder we assume the position, the power and the prerogative of God
4. THE RESPONSE TO THE COMMAND - 1 Corinthians 3 v. 21 - 23 "Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's."
(a) Christian Muinstry is ours i.e. Paul, Apollos, Cephas, or Christ himself
(b) World is ours - i.e. to:-
(1) Dwell in
(2) Serve in - Mark 16 v. 15 "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."
(3) Battle in - 1 Timothy 6 v. 12 "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses."
1 John 5 v. 4 "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." Romans 8 v. 37 "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us."
(4) Inherit - Matthew 5 v. 5 "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth." 1 Timothy 6 v. 17 "Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;"
(c) Life is ours - i.e. its sacred - Genesis 2 v. 7 "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 soul."
- because of its origin - from God, its privilege - fellowship with God, its destiny - eternity with God
(d) Death is ours - a doorway to:-
(1) Glory - Revelation 1 v. 17 & 18 "And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death."
(2) Rest - Job 3 v. 17 "There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest."
Revelation 14 v. 13 "And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them."
(3) Release - 2 Timothy 4 v. 6 - 8 "For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."
(e) The Present - 1 Corinthians 3 v. 23 "And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's."
(1) Pardon - Col 1 v. 14 "In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:"
(2) Peace - Philippians 4 v. 7 "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
(3) Power 1 Cointhians 3 v. 16 & 17 "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are."
(f) The Future :-
(1) The return of Christ - 2 Peter 3 v. 12 - 14 "Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless."
(2) The resurrection of dead - 1 Corinthians 15 v. 51 - 53 "Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality."
(3) The revelation of our inheritance - 1 Peter 1 v. 3 - 5 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."
5. THE RESULT OF THE COMMAND - "Thou shalt not kill"
1 John 3 v. 15 " Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him."
Revelation 22 v. 15 "For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie."
