6th Commandment

Bible Study Lesson 5.06

The 6th Commandment Bible Verses:
God spoke all these words, saying, "You shall not murder." Exodus 20:1,13 NHEB. Jesus said, "You have heard that it was said to the ancient ones, 'You shall not murder;' and 'Whoever shall murder shall be in danger of the judgment.' But I tell you, that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be in danger of the judgment; and whoever shall say to his brother, 'You good-for-nothing!' shall be in danger of the council; and whoever shall say, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of the fire of hell." Matthew 5:21-22 NHEB.

Previous Bible study lesson: 5th Commandment #5.05.

Preliminary Bible Study Questions:
1) Why does the Sixth Commandment exist?
2) Is envy and hatred murder?
3) Is abortion murder?

Upon first glance at the 6th commandment, most of us believe we're innocent.

Looking deeper at this important Law, though, may lead us to reach other conclusions.

Maybe, just maybe, keeping the sixth commandment isn't quite as easy as we first thought!

We're going to tackle some tough, culturally pertinent issues in this study, so prepare for some practical teaching.

True disciples of Jesus love God's word and the directions found within the Bible. Let's find out exactly what murder is from God's holy standard.

The 6th Commandment

The 6th Commandment, "Thou shall not kill," protects the sanctity of human life. God originally brought life out of his life and created Adam and Eve (Genesis 2:7). From then on, through today, God hand-created every single person in the womb of his or her mother.

God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness"... God created man in his own image... The Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul... In God's image he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them. God said to them, "Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth." Genesis 1:26-28; 2:7 NHEB.

King David shares how all souls are created, "For you formed my inmost being. You knit me together in my mother's womb. I will give thanks to you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made! Your works are wonderful. My soul knows that very well. My frame wasn't hidden from you, when I was made in secret, woven together in the depths of the earth." Psalm 139:13-15 NHEB.

The Creator, God Almighty, holds a place of distinction. Only He is allowed (and able) to create a person, and only He is allowed to bring death to a person.

The sin of murder is a complete and utter abomination against God and his position of life-giver and life-taker. It is the greatest of the sins of humanity against the Creator.

A person who commits murder is in outright rebellion against the Creator of Life.

Heart Sins

The Laws of Christ fill-in between the lines of the Old Covenant's Ten Commandments. Jesus' Commandment tells us that even our envy and hatred are murder. Why? Because those things are the root cause of murderous intentions, and finally, the physical act of murder.

Jesus knows our hearts like no other, "For out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual sins, thefts, false testimony, and blasphemies. These are the things which defile the man." Matthew 15:19-20.

To prove the point, let's watch what developed between the 3rd and 4th men of God's creation.

Cain was very angry, and the expression on his face fell... The Lord said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why has the expression of your face fallen? If you do well, will it not be lifted up? If you do not do well, sin crouches at the door. Its desire is for you, but you are to rule over it." Genesis 4:5-7 NHEB.

Hatred is the root of murder, which is why Jesus' new commandment forbids hatred. Notice where Cain's envy and hatred brought him.

Cain said to Abel, his brother, "Let's go into the field." It happened when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel, his brother, and killed him. The Lord said to Cain, "Where is Abel, your brother?" He said, "I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?" The Lord said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood cries to me from the ground." Genesis 4:8-10 NHEB.

Jealousy and envy rile up hatred. Hatred brings about evil intentions that lead to murder. Finally, the act of murder brings about curses and condemnation for the sinner. 

The Lord told Cain, "Now you are cursed because of the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand"... Cain said to the Lord, "My punishment is greater than I can bear. Behold, you have driven me out this day from the surface of the ground. I will be hidden from your face, and I will be a fugitive and a wanderer in the earth. It will happen that whoever finds me will kill me." Genesis 4:11-14 NHEB.

Thusly, Jesus' New Commandment states that, "He who hates his brother is guilty of murder." Jesus loves you, and desires to protect you from the progressing sins of envy, jealousy, hatred, and finally murder. Heed his commandment as a warning, because it protects your heart from its evil desires.

Obedience to the 6th Commandment

Paul tells us, "Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, and slander, be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you." Ephesians 4:31-32 NHEB.

We're commanded to extract the evil desires of our heart. Well, HOW do we do such a difficult thing?

"But if you bite and devour one another, be careful that you do not consume one another. But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh." Galatians 5:15-16 NHEB.

We must be born again by the Spirit of God (John 3:5-8). We must live by the Spirit of God, turning from the constant pursuit of fulfilling our heart's evil desires (Romans 8:5-7). Loving and living according to God's word, the Bible, is essential to reducing your heart's evil desires to a minimum (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Finally, spending your time serving God through good works to others reveals a changed person (James 2:12-13).

"Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man will see the Lord, looking carefully lest there be any man who falls short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and many be defiled by it." Hebrews 12:14-15.

Is Abortion Murder?

Idolatry and hedonism also lead to murder (Romans 1:28-31). People who passionately pursue the idols of their heart commit grievous sins against mankind, but ultimately against God, for He is our Maker.

America's free sex society has led to a mountain range of murdered babies crying out to God, who specially created them for a long, prosperous lifetime.

Godless, immoral men and women practice sex for pleasure alone. Premarital sex, adulterous sex, and brazen fornication lead to countless "unplanned" pregnancies. Soulless women nonchalantly march up to the dark, creepy abortion mill for a Kill Pill, or the latest, quickest, and most convenient mechanical method of baby torture and murder. The Doctors and Nurses of Death perform their despicable, dirty deeds with no shame or remorse.

This sick practice may be "legal" by the corrupt American government's standards, but abortion in God's book is Mom and her hired cronies torturing and slaughtering her beautiful, precious, innocent baby. The tiny baby was gifted to his or her Mom by God Almighty. God was in the process of hand-knitting the unique person in the baby's mother's womb, when the gruesome murder was committed.

Is abortion murder? Remember, God said, "Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth." He didn't say, "Be fruitful, but slaughter the fruits of the womb."

I ask again, "Is abortion murder?" Abortion is the most vile, cruel, senseless type of murder. The slicing, dicing, sucking, and disposal of precious, pure, helpless babies is the worst of all crimes committed against children of God. There is no acceptable way to excuse the murder of abortion. God's vengeance for this cruel murder of humanity's most innocent, defenseless people will be terrifying. Keep reading for hope.

Obedience to the 6th Commandment

Obey the 6th Commandment by respecting the sanctity of human life, of every single soul. Racism, envy, jealous rage, power-hungry tyranny, and verbal/physical abuse against another person must come to an end.

Let's revisit the foundation of the 6th commandment. If you've ever envied someone, you're guilty of an early stage of murder. If you've ever been jealous of someone, same thing, you're guilty of an early stage of murder. Hating someone ups your involvement along the murderous path. Cursing someone, that is, verbally abusing, threatening, or slandering a person, is yet an increasing stage of murder. The physical abuse, or rape, of another person equates to the highest level of murder without actually taking someone's life.

Finally, if you've taken another person's life you are a murderer. Killing another person is the ultimate form of treason against humanity. You've sinned against your own conscience. You've sinned against your neighbor. And, most importantly, you've greatly sinned against your Creator God, who holds everyone accountable.

Your only hope of forgiveness and eternal pardon is repentance. Repentance is an amazing gift from the Lord God (Romans 2:4). Repentance is a second chance at eternal life for people who recognize the fact that they blew their first chance (Acts 20:20-21). 

You should be sorry for destroying God's beautiful creature. Admit your atrocity. Apologize for play-acting God. Apologize for your brutal, eternal crime against an innocent victim.

You need to throw yourself face down on the ground and pour out your guilt, sin, sorrow, regret, and shame. Apologize to the Lord. You can apologize and receive forgiveness now, or you can apologize at the Great White Throne Judgement, which would be too late to receive forgiveness. Do the wise thing NOW. Drop and beg for mercy.

Fortunately, Jesus did perfectly obey the 6th Commandment, so I pray that God applies Jesus' life to your account and forgives you.

Fruit of the Spirit Response to the 6th Commandment.

For starters, you have to agree with the Scriptures that say life only comes from Life. People, animals, and plants all come from God alone. Ditch the evolutionary guesses and blind theories of when and where life originated. Acknowledge your God, and his creative power (Hebrews 11:3).

Acknowledge God as the sustainer of life. Jesus Christ is in charge of the universe's functions. He is pre-eminent in all things, including the salvation of your soul.

Finally, love your Maker and his Son, Jesus Christ. Love your fellow man. Treat all people well, and serve others, showing them that Christ is in you.

6th Commandment: Grasp This!

All people who hate Jesus Christ and his word are murderers. This includes everyone who denies that Jesus is the Messiah who came and gave his life as a sacrifice (John 8:42-44). Haters of Jesus are represented by those who betrayed, illegally tried, tortured, and finally killed God's Son.

So-called Christians who commit the various forms of murder basically hang Jesus back on the cross. This can be an eternally fatal error (Hebrews 10:26-29). Seek repentance, my friend, seek repentance with ALL of your heart before it's too late (Hebrews 10:30-31; 10:39).

"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin" (1 John 1:7).

There is forgiveness for you. God is exceedingly merciful. However, I will not presume upon something that only God can grant you, so I'm not promising you anything. If you're a murderer, seek to become a disciple of Christ, who values his precious creatures.

You'll know you're forgiven of breaking the 6th commandment when God opens your eyes and teaches you to love all of his beautiful creatures. When that happens, then you're a murderer no more (Ephesians 4:26-28). Now, go and be a Good Neighbor to someone. God is good - tell others the good news.

Next Bible study lesson: 7th Commandment 5.07.

Sixth Commandment Bible Study Questions:
1) What if I'm bitter against someone who harmed me long ago? Am I a murderer? (see Ephesians 4:31-32; Hebrews 12:15).
2) Is the needless harming and killing of animals murder by God's standard? (see Psalm 36:6; Proverbs 12:10)
3) Is the assenting father of a woman's baby's abortion an accomplice to murder? (see Romans 1:32; Isaiah 5:20)

6th Commandment Bible Verses:
Moses (Exodus 2:12), King David (2 Samuel 12:9), and Saul (Acts 9:1-2) were all murderers. Thankfully, God's merciful grace overpowered their rebellious acts of murder. These murderers were not only forgiven, but greatly used by God in building his Kingdom. They're now with the Lord forever and ever (Luke 9:33). He can do the same for you (Luke 23:41-43).

I now rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that you were made sorry, leading to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly way, that you might suffer loss by us in nothing. For godly sorrow works repentance to salvation, which brings no regret. But the sorrow of the world ends in spiritual death. 2 Corinthians 7:10-11.

Paul said, "The saying is faithful and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. However, for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first, Jesus Christ might display all his patience, for an example of those who were going to believe in him for eternal life." 1 Timothy 1:15-16.

Friend, if forgiveness and salvation do happen for you, move on, and forget the past. Accept God's glorious grace and go and serve him forever (Philippians 3:13-14).

The 6th Commandment Prayer:
Dear Father. I've sinned against you. I've envied others who had things I wanted. I'm jealous of those who possess those things I feel I deserve. I've hated and slandered other people. I physically injured someone, and may have driven that person to the point of despair. God, I may have committed murder against your creatures. I'm sorry, Lord, so very sorry. May you forgive my treason against humanity. May you forgive my attempts at playing your role in human life. God Almighty, please, I beg, have mercy on my pitiful soul. Please apply Jesus' perfect life to my sinful account. I don't deserve forgiveness, Lord, but I desire it more than anything else in my life. I promise to follow You, through Jesus, for the rest of my days. In Christ's Name, Amen.

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