“You shall not murder.” -Exodus 20:13

 

The sixth Commandment has been used as a defense against capital punishment. Many of us have memorized the commandment as thou shall not kill. So, many take this as a prohibition against taking any life for any reason. However, the term “kill” in English does not actually convey the meaning of the Hebrew word. The word is best translated murder because it refers to as unlawful killing.  We must remember, when we think we see a    contradiction in Scripture we know it is not God who is wrong but our interpretation of the passage or word that causes the contradiction. In this case it cannot mean any form of killing because scripture speaks of God allowing for capital punishment in 36 circumstances.

Life is precious to God because we are created in His    image, especially the life of the innocent. “There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,” (Proverbs 6:16-17). We are a nation that has allowed the killing of almost 60 million babies since 1973. Sixty million babies murdered in the womb  by state sanctioned abortions. The sixth commandment prohibits murder of all mankind including babies in their mother’s womb.

The Lord Jesus Christ himself affirmed the sixth commandment while expanding the law to include how we feel, “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone   who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment;” (Matthew 15:21-22).

John wrote, “Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal   life abiding in him” ( 1 John 3:15). So, before you say you have never broken the sixth Commandment you must ask yourself, “Have I ever hated anyone? I know that     during my life  I have hated others so I am guilty of    breaking this command. But, I am thankful that the    blood that was shed for me covers this sin and all my   other sins.

I know as this is read there may be one who has had an abortion or encouraged another to have one. If you are     a follower of Christ and repented of your sin I want you   to know that God has forgiven you of every sin that you have committed, even the sin of taking the life of the    unborn. Do not let the enemy tell you that you are    somehow less of a Christian because of past sin. You      are a child of God and are free from the bondage of sin.

Your shepherd,

Pastor Mark