Commandment Six: Value Life

Introduction

Out of all the commandments, this one is probably the most agreed upon by all people.

Just about everyone you speak to would say it is wrong to murder someone.

But why is this the case?

I think the answer is that to some extent. . . everyone sees the importance and value in human life.

Yet, if just about everyone agrees that murder is wrong, why do we literally live today in a culture of death?

Shootings in schools.

Since 2019, there have been 48 deaths and 82 injuries from school shootings.

Death in cities

There have been roughly 1,500 homicides in five of the biggest cities in the U.S. since 2021.

Death on the highways

77 deaths per year, 7,505 injuries per day from traffic accidents.

Death is celebrated in our movies and our music.

“According to the American Psychological Association, by the time the average child finishes elementary school, he or she will have watched 8,000 televised murders and 100,000 acts of on-screen violence.” -This is from 2005. . . so the stats are probably much higher now

Movies now make murder humorous.

The American College of Forensic Psychiatry have made a connection between violence viewed on a screen leading to violence in real life.

Out of 1,000 studies, 980 established a definite link between violence on the screen and violence in real life.

Abortion, infanticide, euthanasia, and assisted suicide are all common and just as normal in our society now as going to the grocery store.

Abortion Stats

In America:

50 million babies have been murdered since 1973.

1 million babies are murdered every year.

3,000 babies are murdered every day.

1 baby is murdered every 20-25 seconds.

In the world:

58 million babies are murdered every year.

130,000 babies are murdered every day.

A woman murders their child almost every second of every day.

This means that since I have been speaking. . . roughly 10-15 babies have been murdered through abortion.

Euthanasia: assisted murder from doctors.

Suicide is also now being accepted as a legitimate alternative to alleviate suffering or distress.

But this too is murder whether it is committed by the person or assisted by a doctor.

There are numerous deaths that occur from the abuse of recklessness from drugs, alcohol, and other risky behaviors.

This also includes shortening our lives due to poor health and eating habits.

But why?? Why so much murder? Why so much death? And what is the solution to this issue?

That is what we are going to be talking about as we study the sixth commandment

So, in light of that. . . here is the main point I want you to believe tonight:

By being conformed to the image of Christ through repentance and faith, we will be able to value and protect human life.

What Does the Commandment Mean (To Israel)?

Exodus 20:13 ESV

“You shall not murder.

The word “murder” (ratzach) means to kill an innocent person unjustly with intent and premeditation.

“Murder” also covers causing human death due to negligence or carelessness. It involves “murder in cold blood, manslaughter with rage, and negligent homicide from restlessness or carelessness.”

The word highlights putting someone to death improperly for selfish reasons.

Think about David killing Uriah.

This command also applies to “mercy killings.” Taking one’s own life (suicide) or ending someone else’s for purposes of “mercy” do not qualify as allowable exceptions.

Murder is wrong because it destroys the image of God.

This commandment teaches the sanctity of human life.

God is the creator of life, therefore, he alone is the only one who has the right to take away life.

Demonstrates God’s sovereignty over life and death.

Murdering someone also robs God of his glory.

We were created to worship and glorify God but if our life is taken away unlawfully than we can no longer praise God. . . which robs him of praise.

The negative side is to “not murder” but the positive side is that we also must “protect and value human life.”

So Is it Ever Right to Kill?

The commandment does not mean “all killing in general,” but specifically, “murder.”

The word Ratzach (which is the word used in this command for “murder”) is never used in the legal system or in military conquests. Nor is it used in the execution of a death sentence or a kind of killing a soldier performs in combat or self-defense.

Instead, the Hebrew word muth is used for the word “kill” in these instances.

So when is it right/ok to kill a person???

Self-Defense (Exodus 22:2).

Defending one’s country (Just War Theory).

“Christians have long believed that a war is just only if it is waged by a legitimate government, for a worthy cause, with force proportional to the attack, against men who are soldiers, not civilians.” -Philip Graham Ryken

Execution of the death sentence (Capital Punishment)

This is the demonstration of Justice which is established by God (Gen. 9:5-6; Rom. 13:4).

Why are these killings permitted?

The goal of these killings is not the destruction of life but rather the preservation of life.

For Self-Defense: in order to save a life, at times you need to take a life.

For Just War: the purpose of an army is not to kill people but to keep its citizens safe.

For Capital Punishment: this prevents the murder from killing again and deters other would-be criminals from doing the same.

Also a matter of justice, once more, Genesis 9:5-6.

It is because life is so precious that someone who takes it unlawfully must be put to death.

Why?

Because we are all made in the image of God.

John Calvin wrote, “Our neighbor bears the image of God: to use him, abuse, or misuse him is to do violence to the person of God who images himself in every human soul.”

So, ironically, one of the ways we can keep the sixth commandment is by protecting human life by preventing those who would destroy human life. . . even if that means at times putting them to death.

Once more, to summarize, The negative side is to “not murder” but the positive side is that we also must “protect and value human life.”

Yet, Jesus, through his sermon on the mount, shows us the full intent of the law. . . that even those who speak evil against one another and have anger in their hearts are murderers.

Matter of the Heart

Matthew 5:21–22 ESV

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.

Matthew 5:23–26 ESV

So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.

John agrees:

1 John 3:15 ESV

Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

We must remember that each commandment covers both inward attitudes as well as outward actions.

So what does it mean to hate somebody?

“Hatred is a settled resentment, a permanent and vindictive grudge, the desire to get back at someone. It is really a way of wishing someone were dead, for as the Bible says, “Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer” (1 John 3:15; cf. Lev. 19:17).” -Philip Graham Ryken

Now some of you may be thinking. . . what about righteous anger? What about when Jesus was angry in the temple?

There is such a thing as righteous anger, but our anger is often not righteous.

The main difference is righteous anger comes from being angry about God being offended and angry at sin. . . not being angry that I have been offended or hurt.

Jesus’ words make clear that we break the sixth commandment when we murder people in our hearts with our anger.

This can come out through jealous thoughts.

Think about the example of Cain in Genesis 4. . . he was angry at God and jealous towards his brother. . . and because he left his anger unchecked and allowed it to fester. . . it led to him killing his brother.

Jesus also says that all of our angry thoughts, words, and deeds come from our hearts.

Mark 7:21–23 ESV

For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”

This can refer to gossip, slander, racist jokes, sexist remarks.

According to Jesus, saying “I didn’t mean to say that” is a lie. . . because every word we say stems from our hearts.

“Reckless words pierce like a sword.” (Prov. 12:18).

The phrase, “sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me”. . . is a flat out lie.

We also break the sixth commandment when we do nothing to protect life or save life (example of good Samaritan and the priests that passed the person by: Luke 10:29-35).

Not only when one does evil but when one fails to do good to their neighbor.

The sixth commandment means not just to not murder anyone, but also to love our neighbor.

Jesus taught us to “love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us.” (Matthew 5:44).

Ask yourself. . . How am I living this command out?

Do I love my enemies?

Do I love my neighbor as myself?

One last way that we often break the sixth commandment when we celebrate death through the entertainment that we consume. . . and also when we do not speak against it and warn others about the dangers of consuming it.

When we do this, we are essentially calling evil good and good evil.

Our Need for a Savior

So who do you hate right now?

Who are you bitter towards?

Do you have any jealous thoughts towards others?

Are you often frustrated?

Who have you murdered with your words to their face or behind their back?

Are you going to be like Cain or the Good Samaritan?

Even though we don’t view ourselves in this way, the Bible makes clear that we are all murderers. . . and the Bible also makes clear that murderers, nor those who have fits of anger will inherit the Kingdom of God. . . but they will be cast into the lake of fire. (Rev. 21:8; Gal. 5:20-21).

The sixth commandment shows all of us our need for a Savior.

Jesus completely obeyed the sixth commandment.

He never did any violence to anyone, nor was deceit ever found in his mouth (Isaiah 53:7, 9).

He prayed for his enemies on the cross who murdered him and offered forgiveness to the murderers who were beside him.

After Jesus’ resurrection, Peter preached in Jerusalem to the Jews who murdered Jesus and offered them forgiveness through faith in Christ.

“There was a way for their murderous sin to be forgiven. The very death that they were guilty of demanding-Christ’s death on the cross-was the death that atoned for their sin. -Ryken

There is mercy at the feet of Jesus, even for murderers like us.

But we must repent of our sin and confess it to the Lord.

We must believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. . . and if we do this, we will be forgiven of our cold, calloused, and wicked hearts.

But to be right with God, you must also be right with others.

If you have intentionally hurt someone with your words to their face, you need to go to them and confess your sin and ask for their forgiveness.

Also, if you are harboring bitterness, resentment, or angry thoughts towards others for maybe something they have done to you, you need to forgive them and entrust them to the Lord.

As Jesus says, “first be reconciled to your brother and then come and offer your gift.”

But once more, and don’t miss this. . . the only way you can be reconciled with others. . . and have the ability to do so. . . is if you have first been reconciled to God through Christ.

Every angry thought, word, and deed is ultimately sin against God. . . therefore, you must make things right with him before you make things right with others.