Deuteronomy 5:17 reads “You shall not murder” in both the New American Standard Bible and the English Standard Version of the Bible. In the King James or Authorized Version this verse is translated as “Thou shalt not kill.” What is the difference between a murder and a killing? The distinction between a murder and a killing lies in the intentionality of the one committing it. Murder suggests an intentional act of taking the life of another. Whereas killing is about taking the life of another without intention.
At
the heart of this sixth Commandment is the thought that life is precious
and should be valued. It is a call to preserve the sanctity of life, a call to
respect the life of others. While we cherish our life, we must also cherish the
life of others as well. Whether premeditated or not, no one should take away
the life of another. Living in our fallen world filled with hatred and
violence, this is an important commandment. The fallen nature of man tends to
make a person self-centered and less tolerant. People fly into a rage easily
and become aggressive. If not reminded that we should not take away the life of
another, there is no telling how many murders would have taken place at the
slightest of provocation.
Thinking about the sixth command not to murder begs two questions. How then is taking the life of another in a war justified? How do we reconcile the need to take away life during war? Consider this: as people who seek to live life with the law of love, we must also contend with the reality of the universality of sin. There is the need to get rid of evil for the good of the whole. God’s command to annihilate tribes of pagans was to prevent the spread of evil. It is like dealing with cancerous cells. Aberrant cells had to be removed to prevent the destruction of the good and healthy cells in the body. This becomes a needful exercise to prevent a greater evil from happening.
When we reflect on this sixth commandment, we can never avoid what the Lord Jesus said in Matthew 5:21-22. He said, “You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not commit murder’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.” The prevention of murder or killing begins with one being able to control one’s rage. An appalling act such as murder is the result of one’s inability to keep one’s anger under control. This sixth commandment is a call to keep our negative emotions in check. Christ’s command is clear, that we must not let anger fester in our mind and heart. By the power of God, let us let go of any negative emotion.
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