The 6th Commandment "Thou Shalt Not Murder"

Questions: What constitutes authorized and unauthorized killing? Who has the right to authorize the taking of life?

The Commandment’s Meaning

It does not prohibit all killing

It does not teach that it is sinful in every case to kill human life

This commandment forbids deliberate, unauthorized killing.

Questions: What constitutes authorized and unauthroized killing? Who has the right to authorize the taking of life?

The Commandment’s Basis

This commandment rests on three basic facts

1) Human life belongs to God

2) Human life is made in the image of God

3) God alone has the right to terminate life

Under some circumstances He delegates that right to human government.

The Commandment’s Application

Unauthorized Killing

The Question of Personhood

The Deeper Issue

What Should Our Response Be?