The Sixth Commandment

Brothers and Sisters!

You know, there's a humorous story about a Sunday school teacher who was teaching her class about the Ten Commandments. She was discussing the commandments in depth, and when she reached the sixth commandment, she asked her students if any of them knew what "You shall not murder" means. A little boy raised his hand and said, "It means you must not kill someone unless they really, really get on your nerves!" Well, I'm happy to report the teacher promptly clarified that it indeed does not mean that.

Our focus today is on the sixth commandment found in Exodus 20:13: "You shall not murder." At its simplest, this commandment instructs us to respect the sanctity of life. But as we will discover, it speaks to more profound spiritual truths.

The Hebrew word for "murder" used in this commandment is 'ratsach,' which specifically refers to the premeditated or intentional killing of another human being. It's distinct from the words used for killing in warfare, accidental death, or the execution of justice. 

Jesus expanded upon the sixth commandment during his Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 5:21-22, Jesus says, "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.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment." 

This passage extends the sixth commandment beyond physical action into the realm of the heart and mind. It means that not only must we refrain from physically harming others, but we should also avoid anger, resentment, and hatred.

I love this quote by Martin Luther King Jr.: "Hate begets hate; violence begets violence; toughness begets a greater toughness. We must meet the forces of hate with the power of love." This is the essence of what Jesus was teaching. Our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the powers of this dark world and the spiritual forces of evil.

There's a profound lesson in the story of Cain and Abel, the first narrative of murder in the Bible. Cain's jealousy led him to commit the first act of murder. God said to Cain in Genesis 4:7, "If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it." Unfortunately, Cain did not heed God's warning.

Let's pray: "Lord, help us to understand the deeper implications of Your commandment 'You shall not murder.' Teach us to rule over the sin that crouches at our door and guide our hearts to choose love over hatred, forgiveness over resentment. We ask this in Jesus' name, Amen."

In conclusion, the sixth commandment asks us not just to respect life, but also to cultivate love, forgiveness, and peace in our hearts. It calls us to put a check on our anger and resentment and not let these negative emotions control us. We are all created in God's image, and every life is precious. As we respect life, we honor God.

May God bless us with the wisdom to understand this commandment's depth and the courage to live by it. 

God bless you all!