The Sixth Commandment; Do Not Murder

Introduction

Recap Series

Commandment 1 - Do not worship anything else

Commandment 2 - Do not worship God through an image

Commandment 3 - Do not misuse the name of God

Commandment 4 - Remember the Sabbath

Commandment 5 - Honor your Father and Mother

Today - The sixth commandment, do not murder.

Do not murder.

There are things that God tells us to do that come with an explanation…

We like the last command, honor your father and mother so that you will live long in the land that I am giving you.

a command with a promise

We even like the first command, we will even take the 2nd command… do not make any idols.

Why… I the Lord your God am a jealous God

Here we are left with a command and we are left with no explanation

in fact the rest of them are that way.

so to fully understand the command we have to place it together with the rest of scripture

We have to look at other places to understand the why and the how.

hopefully that is what we will do today…

if not, we are left with the because I told you so feeling.

Pray!

An Original Value

Separate from God, we have no value

Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations 1435 The Evolution Theory

As taught in our public schools today, the Organic Theory of Evolution accounts for the origin of mankind as follows:

“Life on this planet originated several billion years ago, when electrical disturbances caused reactions to occur in the chemicals of the primeval ocean, and these reactions produced amino acids, and these amino acids organized themselves into living cells. As time went on, more chemical reactions caused the descendants of these one-celled organisms to mutate and develop into a variety of types of multi-celled plants and animals.

“The process continued, and as each new variety of organism appeared, natural selection would result in its being either better or less suited to the environment, and therefore it would either flourish or disappear. In the long run, then, species of plants and animals better and better suited to their respective environments appeared and developed.

“Man is the highest product of this development. He is immediately descended from the same ancestors as the apes; more remotely, from the same ancestors as all mammals. He is himself still developing; that process is stalled by our present lifestyle, but biologically it is inevitable.”

If evolution is correct and we all come from nothing and by all I mean, the human race, the plants animals ext… then there is no value in anything

the value that we have is only based on we place on it

I can place more value on the earth than man, I can place more value on an animals life than that of a human

if we all come from nothing, there is not a moral argument to be made

Man is made in the image of God

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, the whole earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.”

If God is the one that created all things, he is the one who sets the value of things… not us

he separated out the animals and plants and gave mankind dominion over them

he created them differently, speaking everything into existence except for mankind, who he made with his hands and breathed the breath of life into him.

How Serious God is about taking human life

“Whoever strikes a person so that he dies must be put to death. 13 But if he did not intend any harm, and yet God allowed it to happen, I will appoint a place for you where he may flee. 14 If a person schemes and willfully acts against his neighbor to murder him, you must take him from my altar to be put to death. 15 “Whoever strikes his father or his mother must be put to death. 16 “Whoever kidnaps a person must be put to death, whether he sells him or the person is found in his possession. 17 “Whoever curses his father or his mother must be put to death. 18 “When men quarrel and one strikes the other with a stone or his fist, and the injured man does not die but is confined to bed, 19 if he can later get up and walk around outside leaning on his staff, then the one who struck him will be exempt from punishment. Nevertheless, he must pay for his lost work time and provide for his complete recovery. 20 “When a man strikes his male or female slave with a rod, and the slave dies under his abuse, the owner must be punished. 21 However, if the slave can stand up after a day or two, the owner should not be punished because he is his owner’s property., 22 “When men get in a fight and hit a pregnant woman so that her children are born prematurely but there is no injury, the one who hit her must be fined as the woman’s husband demands from him, and he must pay according to judicial assessment. 23 If there is an injury, then you must give life for life, 24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, bruise for bruise, wound for wound.

15 “Whoever strikes his father or his mother must be put to death. 16 “Whoever kidnaps a person must be put to death, whether he sells him or the person is found in his possession. 17 “Whoever curses his father or his mother must be put to death. 18 “When men quarrel and one strikes the other with a stone or his fist, and the injured man does not die but is confined to bed, 19 if he can later get up and walk around outside leaning on his staff, then the one who struck him will be exempt from punishment. Nevertheless, he must pay for his lost work time and provide for his complete recovery. 20 “When a man strikes his male or female slave with a rod, and the slave dies under his abuse, the owner must be punished. 21 However, if the slave can stand up after a day or two, the owner should not be punished because he is his owner’s property., 22 “When men get in a fight and hit a pregnant woman so that her children are born prematurely but there is no injury, the one who hit her must be fined as the woman’s husband demands from him, and he must pay according to judicial assessment. 23 If there is an injury, then you must give life for life, 24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, bruise for bruise, wound for wound.

16 “Whoever kidnaps a person must be put to death, whether he sells him or the person is found in his possession. 17 “Whoever curses his father or his mother must be put to death. 18 “When men quarrel and one strikes the other with a stone or his fist, and the injured man does not die but is confined to bed, 19 if he can later get up and walk around outside leaning on his staff, then the one who struck him will be exempt from punishment. Nevertheless, he must pay for his lost work time and provide for his complete recovery. 20 “When a man strikes his male or female slave with a rod, and the slave dies under his abuse, the owner must be punished. 21 However, if the slave can stand up after a day or two, the owner should not be punished because he is his owner’s property., 22 “When men get in a fight and hit a pregnant woman so that her children are born prematurely but there is no injury, the one who hit her must be fined as the woman’s husband demands from him, and he must pay according to judicial assessment. 23 If there is an injury, then you must give life for life, 24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, bruise for bruise, wound for wound.

17 “Whoever curses his father or his mother must be put to death.

“Whoever strikes a person so that he dies must be put to death. 13 But if he did not intend any harm, and yet God allowed it to happen, I will appoint a place for you where he may flee. 14 If a person schemes and willfully acts against his neighbor to murder him, you must take him from my altar to be put to death. 15 “Whoever strikes his father or his mother must be put to death. 16 “Whoever kidnaps a person must be put to death, whether he sells him or the person is found in his possession. 17 “Whoever curses his father or his mother must be put to death. 18 “When men quarrel and one strikes the other with a stone or his fist, and the injured man does not die but is confined to bed, 19 if he can later get up and walk around outside leaning on his staff, then the one who struck him will be exempt from punishment. Nevertheless, he must pay for his lost work time and provide for his complete recovery. 20 “When a man strikes his male or female slave with a rod, and the slave dies under his abuse, the owner must be punished. 21 However, if the slave can stand up after a day or two, the owner should not be punished because he is his owner’s property., 22 “When men get in a fight and hit a pregnant woman so that her children are born prematurely but there is no injury, the one who hit her must be fined as the woman’s husband demands from him, and he must pay according to judicial assessment. 23 If there is an injury, then you must give life for life, 24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, bruise for bruise, wound for wound.

18 “When men quarrel and one strikes the other with a stone or his fist, and the injured man does not die but is confined to bed, 19 if he can later get up and walk around outside leaning on his staff, then the one who struck him will be exempt from punishment. Nevertheless, he must pay for his lost work time and provide for his complete recovery. 20 “When a man strikes his male or female slave with a rod, and the slave dies under his abuse, the owner must be punished. 21 However, if the slave can stand up after a day or two, the owner should not be punished because he is his owner’s property., 22 “When men get in a fight and hit a pregnant woman so that her children are born prematurely but there is no injury, the one who hit her must be fined as the woman’s husband demands from him, and he must pay according to judicial assessment. 23 If there is an injury, then you must give life for life, 24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, bruise for bruise, wound for wound.

it is interesting to me that the people God describes in these laws are not the rich… the leaders

20 “When a man strikes his male or female slave with a rod, and the slave dies under his abuse, the owner must be punished. 21 However, if the slave can stand up after a day or two, the owner should not be punished because he is his owner’s property., 22 “When men get in a fight and hit a pregnant woman so that her children are born prematurely but there is no injury, the one who hit her must be fined as the woman’s husband demands from him, and he must pay according to judicial assessment. 23 If there is an injury, then you must give life for life, 24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, bruise for bruise, wound for wound.

he does not say, if you kill a military leader, you owe or must do this,

if you kill a political leader, or a rich man

22 “When men get in a fight and hit a pregnant woman so that her children are born prematurely but there is no injury, the one who hit her must be fined as the woman’s husband demands from him, and he must pay according to judicial assessment. 23 If there is an injury, then you must give life for life, 24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, bruise for bruise, wound for wound.

those that he describes, women… the unborn… the slaves

those that we are to protect, not discard their life as if it has no value

He says that accidental deaths, are not to be treated the same

but, where there is intent, the murderer must be punished

why would he do that if there was no value to life

why would he care

Jesus saw the value or every person, and died for those who would believe

For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

A Better Definition

He saw value in every human life…

His desire is that all would come to know him, that none should perish

For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

His value on life was not just physical but spiritual

He died for all who would believe in Him

His desire is that all would come to know him…

we do not understand the forgiveness that we have received

A Better Definition

The taking of innocent life

but what does that mean?

We know that Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount said that we are murdering just by hating somebody…

Can we really sit here and think that we are innocent of this charge just because we have not taken the breath out of somebody?

How do we murder?

With the hand… physically taking the life of another

premeditated - we make plans to kill somebody, can you imagine the darkness in somebody to want to kill, plan it out and then carry it out

reaction… in an emotional response we take the life of another

why… because we think for that instant that wrath and vengeance belong to us… we think that we are god

With the mind

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

we do not understand the forgiveness that we have received

or we really feel that we are owed the forgiveness that we have because we are pretty good people

but that person over there… they do not deserve it

we hate them so much that we would rather them face the judgment of christ, die and go to hell then to see the forgiveness of Christ

With the tongue

we speak death over somebody, or lie to bring the to the judgment that we think they deserve

think of the High Priests with Christ… they knew that he did not do anything, yet they wanted him out of the way

They answered him, “If this man weren’t a criminal, we wouldn’t have handed him over to you.”

then they cried out crucify him! Crucify Him!

With intent to Kill… but not quite getting it done

Herod trying to kill Christ, killing all male children

as if he had murdered christ himself

consenting to death, Paul consenting to the stoning of Stephen

Not preventing death when we have the power

Pilate knew that Jesus was innocent

where in our lives do we have the power to save a life

by letting murderers go free…

Barrabas going free instead of Jesus, any blood he shed would be on the heads of Pilate and religious leaders

We are not simply talking about physically taking the life of somebody that is innocent

this command or law reveals how we view people

do we see them with value, all people created in the likeness of God and do we protect innocent life wherever we can

A Extraordinary Responsibility

We must value life… not just as a campaign slogan.

my attempt is to not be political…

I have my view on politics, just like you have your view.

I am guessing that there are things that we agree on and probably some that we disagree

does that mean that I do not think that we should vote with this in mind… that is not what I am saying at all

my fear of believers is that we have made this such a political fight, that we only think that we have to fight with our vote

If we vote for the lives of the unborn, only to not take actions to care for the widow, orphans, refugees, and the poor among us, we are hypocrites.

Sacrifice to save it and protect it

Physical

we get into the battle with our money, our vote and our hands

there are ways to get involved, places to volunteer

if you cannot find a ministry to volunteer, start a ministry

you have permission from the church to start a ministry!

That we do not simply use our voice but physically stand up and stand in the gap for those that are in need

a pro-life minded person means that we show love for all people, not just in the womb but out of it as well

the disabled, the poor, the homeless, the foster kids to the nursing home

Spiritually

pray that God would end such practices such as abortion…

but also praying, interceding for those in need

being willing to have the Spirit of God lead you personally on how you are to stand for the innocent

But we are murders of the soul if we care only that they are alive in this life

a true pro-life agenda means that we are concerned for their spiritual life as well

if we are concerned only that a baby gains physical breath but then not share the love of Jesus with them as they grow older, we are murders of the soul

A true pro-life position is not just to see people born, but to see them born again.