The Sixth Commandment

“There Has Been A Murder in Savannah!”

Horror, Suspense, True Crime. These are a few genres that millions of Americans are drawn to when listening to podcasts, watching television shows, or reading books. In 2019, 50% of the top 10 podcasts were True Crime.

Frankly, I enjoy the genre of True Crime. I want to know how, why, where, when, and what a specific true story about murder is all about. I’ve seen more than enough of these docu-series on Netflix that Danielle groans anytime I mention the genre.

Even one of my favorite shows, The Office, focuses it attention briefly on the trial of the Scranton Strangler or Michael’s Murder Mystery game where he says in his bad southern accent, “There’s been a murdah!”

William Shakespeare's Macbeth, written around 1606 focuses on Macbeth and Lady Macbeth who murder people so that he can become king; and both of them eventually die.

Throughout human history, murder, has been a tool used to captivate audiences — murder is a tragedy. It takes life at an extreme cost. It alters life in an instant. It shows the depth of evil that is found in the human heart. It only takes one murder for us to find it a heinous act, not to mention serial murders, terrorist attacks, bombings, and more.

And I am glad it is a tragedy. I am glad that murder is outlawed in our state and nation. I am glad that our God spoke long ago about murder, positioning it within the foundational 10 words/commandments that tells us what type of God he is and how his people are to live.

The Command

And we find this word in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5. Today, we will be reading from Exodus 20:13 as we look at the sixth word from the Lord, which we will see is a struggle for us in life. Turn with me in your Bibles to Exodus 20:13 as we read God’s word together.

Exodus 20:13 NIV

13 “You shall not murder.

Some of you are really bummed, or maybe mad, that I made you grab the physical Bible and turn to Exodus 20 so that I could read aloud four words. If you are mad or angry, we’ll address that before we dismiss today.

There is no promise for a reward if you do not murder. There is no mention of the judgement if you do. It is interesting that it comes immediately after, “Honor your father and mother.” It is like the Lord knew something...

But prohibition against murder is nothing new. Murder was reprehensible before this command was given, not only in Genesis (think Cain and Abel), but also in the ancient Near Eastern world as well.

This command clearly does not mean that any taking of human life is wrong. Killing is something both God and the Israelites, by God’s approval, do throughout the Old Testament in contexts of war or just punishment for a crime.

And the word for “murder” is restricted, generally referring to killing someone who is not an “enemy” (think wars and just punishments). It then can apply to unintentional killing, though that is not technically murder then.

At the very least we can state there is legitimate and illegitimate killing in the Old Testament and that this commandment refers to any type of killing that God disallows. That means, no Israelite acting on his own could decide that he had the right to end someone’s life.

This command still applies to us today, no unauthorized “private” person or group has the right to end a human life.

Explained: The Struggle of Do Not Murder

“You shall not murder,” is pretty straight forward; however, Jesus wants to orient our focus on where the action of murder initially sprouts from: the heart. Turn in your Bibles to Matthew 5:21-26 as we read how Jesus provides proper understanding of this command. And I promise, I’ll read more than four words.

Matthew 5:21–26 NIV

21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister, will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. 23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift. 25 “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26 Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.

He begins this teaching by referencing our specific command found in the ten words that the people heard long ago — and the reality that the people of old knew that judgement would come upon them if they did murder someone.

However, Jesus goes deeper than murder to the cause of murder, anger. And anger can be defined in three statements. First,

Anger is open rebellion against God or our fellow creatures, the disregard of the other, and the desire to eliminate any obstacle to our self-seeking.

Anger prompts us to retaliate against any perceived threat and creates a desire to avenge anything that seems an insult or injury.

Anger finds satisfaction or release in striking out at others.

The Apostle John writes in 1 John 3:15 that anger is also murder in the mind. Read with me on the screen.

1 John 3:15 NIV

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

This is serious business and Jesus shows us that a similar fate awaits the angry person and the murderer.

Notice in Matthew 5:22 that it mimics the same pattern as verse 21. Murder is liable to judgement — anger with a sibling makes you liable to judgement.

Matthew 5:22 (NIV)

22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister, will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.

The brother and sister language points us to the reality of how anger is destructive to the community of faith. It causes death, disregard, and eliminates them as an obstacle rather than a person in the family of faith who is beloved of God.

Jesus presents two more illustration in the following sentences.

Matthew 5:22 (NIV)

22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister, will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.

Moving from the local court of “judgement,” it has now progressed to the supreme court of the land — the Sanhedrin. What would cause Jesus to be move a case there? When someone calls another, “Raca.”

“Raca” is a loanword from Aramaic and was used to insult a person. The insult was generally understood as “idiot” or “empty-headed fool.” It’s not a heavy word; in fact most scholars find it to be banal or simple abusive language.

The Sanhedrin would never see anyone over the use of such a simple word. Imagine the uproar we would have if our supreme court saw a simple case that could’ve been handled at the local level. Jesus is using exaggeration to point out how serious distorted anger can become and how dangerous it is amongst the faith community.

But he does not stop there, he provides another example — anyone who says, ‘you fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. In the original language and other translations, you’ll often see the fire of Gehenna rather than of hell. Gehenna refers to the Hinnon Valley, where in ancient times human/child sacrifices were offered to the pagan god Molech and where in Jesus’ day garbage was burned day and night, making it a great metaphor for eternal fiery judgement. So, anger is worthy of both earthly and eternal judgment.

Now, there are clear examples in scripture of righteous indignation, righteous anger. Paul even tells us "be angry and do not sin.” Clearly, the God who created the emotion of anger has also created a way it can be used rightly. What Jesus wants to show us is that specifically at the basic level that anger destroys community harmony. It destroys community harmony. We must discern with God on when to use anger and how to use it rightly for that situation.

Jesus’ point is that each of the three examples lead a person to judgment both on the earthly and heavenly planes. Judgment for anger is understood in the basic principle that anger destroys community harmony. Notice that the anger issue at hand is name-calling. Name-calling is at the core of showing angry contempt.

I had a moment yesterday talking about a tough ministry experiences I had with a friend. When I spoke about the individual I had the most conflict with I said, “that guy is a bum.” I knew it as it left my lips, I have angry contempt toward him.

So, when we get angry — open rebellion, disregard for the other, or the desire to eliminate any obstacle to our self-seeking — what does Jesus tell us to do? How are we to respond to the disordered anger we have towards those in our faith community?

Jesus says this,

Matthew 5:23–24 NIV

23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.

We imagine that this is a pretty quick trip for the person who runs toward reconciliation. Jesus is speaking to a bunch of Galileans who rarely got to Jerusalem because it was a far walk, plus waiting in line to offer your sacrifice at the temple.

Jesus is commanding, “go!”, stressing that the presence of anger in the church is a cancer so destructive that reconciliation is the highest priority. Leave your gift and go to them. In other words, stop what you are doing and reconcile with the person you hate in our church.

It is so important that it has the priority over worship. And notice, the initiative is with the person who learns of the hatred, whether they are the suspect or the victim. We are doomed if we allow animosity to take hold. As long as there is sin in the church between members, worship is compromised.

This connects with Matthew’s theme of forgiveness in the Lord’s prayer — to receive forgiveness from God, we must be forgiving to one another.

Jesus gives us two examples of angry contempt within the church and the importance of reconciling; however, he also includes an illustration between two enemies outside the community. Read with me in

Matthew 5:25 NIV

25 “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison.

The reality in this situation is that your disordered anger has made you guilty because the sentence is one of guilt. Jesus commands us to make peace with or settle matters with the person before it is too late. The picture of heading to court shows the urgency that judgment before God is imminent. Anger can be destructive in our faith community, it can be destructive to our witness, and destructive to every other aspect of our lives.

The point here is we are to be reconciled to our enemies, the adversary. It is no longer, “do not murder,” but now it is “be reconciled!” Notice here the three steps of judgment — judge, court official, and prison. Jesus is making emphasis that you have no chance unless you make reconciliation for the time is short. Anger being the root of murder finds satisfaction in striking out at others and holding grudges — and we all know how long grudges can go on for.

Jesus finish’s this portion with a short word

Matthew 5:26 NIV

26 Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.

This is the second smallest coin — 1/64th of a days wage, 7.5 minutes in an 8 hour shift. Reconciliation is urgent because you will receive the maximum penalty for living out of anger and hatred rather than love.

We cannot allow anger and contempt to hinder the life and worship of God’s people. He stated it then, and states it now through Jesus.

I want you to pause for a moment and think of the times you have been angry with a believer, whether here at First Church or outside of it. I want you to contemplate the way harmony was destroyed and how the Lord desires for you today to reconcile with them.

Now, I want you to consider the times you thought you were better than another human. All of us are so inferior to God that we are equal to one another and there is no basis for superiority. It is evil among us that builds us up to feel anger and contemptuous toward another. I want you to spend time with God seeking his will in how to help another in an area of weakness. To forgive as he forgave us in Christ Jesus.

“Thou shalt not murder” doesn’t seem like an struggle until Jesus teaches us what it is all about: anger. Open yourself to God this week and ask to see the ways in which you struggle with anger — are they for righteous reasons or disordered? How can reconciliation be found before harmony is destroyed?

Lord, reveal our sin to us and may your will be done here on earth as it is in heaven. Will you pray with me?