Do Not Murder

Man Kills Woman Over Basketball Game

A playground scene turned tragic after a woman was shot and killed after a basketball game.

•     Cameron Hogg, 31, is facing murder charges in connection to the shooting of Asia Womack, 21.

•     Womack had recently defeated Hogg in pickup basketball, and witnesses say the game was heated and that there was plenty of trash talk on the court.

•     Later that day, Hogg drove his truck to another location where Womack and another friend were seated outside, watching a football game on TV.

•     When Hogg got out of his truck, Womack stood up, ready for another confrontation. But instead of saying a word, Hogg pulled out a firearm and shot her four times.

Woman convicted for attempting to hire hitman online

On Nov. 12, 2021, Wendy Lynn Wein, 52, was charged with solicitation of murder.

•     She found a website called rent-a-hitman.com (which unbeknownst to her was a cybersecurity company)

•     She filled out a service request seeking someone to kill her former husband

•     The owner of the cyber security company sent her service request to the FBI

•     After being contacted and meeting with an undercover agent she offered $5000 for the supposed hitman to kill her former husband.

•     Meeting a second time she came with a down payment and was arrested on the spot.

Teen convicted, sentenced to life in prison for killing mother, attempted murder of stepdad

September 23, 2024, Carly Madison Gregg was sentenced for killing her mother and attempted murder of her stepdad.

A friend of Carly’s had told Carly’s mom that she had been using marijuana.

When approached about the subject she took a gun and shot her mom 3 times

She was then caught on home video saying “I put three in my mom and I got three”

She waited for her stepdad to get home and took shots at him but missed and was wrestled down as he called 911.

John 10:10 NASB95

“The thief (Satan) comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

The stories of senseless murders go on and on… Every day, there is something new on the news about how a person’s life was taken unjustly.

Satan loves to fill our minds with murder and violence to normalize it.

American Psychological Association

American children are exposed to a significant amount of violence through media, which may influence their perception of violence and behavior.

Explanation:

The exposure of American children to violence on television and other media forms is extensive. By the age of 18, the average American has witnessed 200,000 acts of violence on television, including 40,000 murders.

Given that children watch over four hours of television daily, with many programs containing aggression, their perception of reality and norms regarding violence could be influenced. The proliferation of violence not only comes from television but also from movies, video games, and music videos.

Reading another article they combined not just Television and movies, but included video games, and music videos. They said by the time an average American youth has reached the age of 18, he has witnessed more than 80,000 murders via television, movies, or video games. This is from 2009.

These are tragic stories and statistics… but I can imagine there are some of us here today thinking that is not me.

Interestingly, murder, no matter where you go in the world, no matter the culture or religious belief, murder is always viewed as the wrong thing to do.

Even an atheist believes murder is wrong. It is an innate thing within every human.

Why?

Because we were created in the Image of God. Genesis 1:27

Genesis 1:27 NASB95

God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

We are not like any other creature on earth. People love their dogs, cats, and other pets.

People want to save the whales and the planet, and some of these things are not wrong, but at the end of the day, there is nothing more important than another human.

When we murder, we are in a sense killing an image of God himself.

We think this Commandment clearly doesn’t apply to us. After all:

“I’ve never killed anyone.”

“I’m no murderer.”

By that we mean that we’ve never taken a gun killed a person or that we haven’t taken a knife and plunged it into someone’s heart.

We haven’t literally killed anyone so (we think) this Commandment doesn’t really apply to us.

“Haven’t killed anyone? Don’t be so sure.”

Let’s read today’s verse.

Exodus 20:13 NASB95

“You shall not murder.

It seems pretty cut and dry, right? It does seem that way until we understand what murder means.

This word for “murder” in Hebrew is specific to “putting to death improperly, for selfish reasons rather than with authorization”

Murder = putting to death improperly, for selfish reasons rather than with authorization

What does that mean? That means murder and kill are two different things. Your translation may use the word “kill” but the more proper translation from Hebrew is the english word “murder”

What’s the difference?

The Bible gives provision for capital punishment, this can be found in Genesis 9:6; Exodus 21:12; Leviticus 24:17; Romans 13:4, and other portions of scripture as well. In order for capital punishment to be carried out someone is killed but it is not called or defined as murder.

The Bible also gives provision for a just war. We are called to defend those who are not able to defend themselves from those who would cause them harm. Killing for just reasons in war is not murder.

Murder is always surrounded by selfish motivation and or a response to anger like we saw with the news stories I told you at the beginning.

To get a better understanding let’s go back to the first murder.

Cain and Abel

Genesis 4:3–8 NASB95

So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the Lord of the fruit of the ground. Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and for his offering; but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? “If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.” Cain told Abel his brother. And it came about when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.

Cain murdered his brother Abel, because he couldn’t get his anger under control.

In the medical world we see symptoms of a sickness or disease, but for us to understand how to stop the sickness or disease we have to understand the cause or the root.

Murder is no different. Murder is a symptom of a greater problem and that problem is anger.

You might say it this way, Murder is the fruit, but anger is the root.

1 John 3:15 is pretty direct about the motion anger. It says…

1 John 3:15 NASB95

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

Whoa! How does that sit with you? The Apostle John is telling us if we have hatred in our hearts toward someone we are not could be, but we are a murder!

Jesus on the sermon on the mount was addressing some Pius Pharisees, who by the way are not much different than you and I. They were convinced they we keeping the law. After all they had not physically murdered anyone. Jesus however showed them the meaning of murder.

Matthew 5:21–22 NKJV

“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.

What is Jesus telling us here?

He is talking about Uncontrolled Anger. Anger that is uncontrolled and without just cause is a stepping stone to actual murder!

Abusive Speech is murder!

Raca = empty head n. — (Aramaic) a mildly insulting word used to tease; meaning “empty,” used to express a low opinion of someone’s intelligence. When we are insulting someones intelligence the is murder.

You Fool! = not only a lack of wisdom but also a moral deficiency. Therefore, to call someone a “fool” is to attack his character and integrity, essentially deeming him worthless. This dehumanizing act sharply contrasts with Jesus’ command to love our neighbors as ourselves.

Abusive speech stems from Anger which leads to murder.

How are we doing? Anyone guilty of murder here this morning?

Proverbs 18:21a NASB95

Death and life are in the power of the tongue,

With our mouths we have the ability to speak death with angry and foolish words, or we can build up and bring healing to those around us.

Don’t harbor anger in your heart!

Jesus continues in verse 23-24 and says…

Matthew 5:23–24 NASB95

“Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.

Jesus desires us to worship him with a clean heart. We can not do this if we are harboring murderous thoughts. We can not worship him if we are speaking ugly words to and about others.

We want blessing in our lives from God, but we will not recieve blessing if we are not walking with Him. If you are dealing with anger and have not made it right, you are not in fellowship with God.

In Closing there are two things I want you to do.

If this is you this morning I want to encourage you to do the right thing and take care of any anger you are harboring against someone else. You might find that if you go and confess this anger they may or may not receive it, but we are responsible to do right regardless of the results.

Romans 12:17–18 NASB95

Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.

2. If you have confessed it to the person then we also need to confess it to God.

1 John 1:9 NASB95

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:7b NASB95

and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

Folks murder both physical and emotionally are big deal to God and it should be a big deal to you and I.

Let’s pray.