Preacher’s Pulpit by Dr. Joe Tims
Ten Commandments #6: The Right to Live
Exodus 20:13
INTRODUCTION
First of all the word KILL is the word MURDER in the Hebrew.
The Sixth Commandment is the smallest of the Commandments containing only SIXTEEN LETTERS.
Yet, it touches all our lives in its implications.
This commandment is most easily accepted by people in our society today.
Most everyone supposes that they understand it and therefore, they don’t need any explanation of it.
The truth of this commandment is: “Man is of Infinite value.”
God would have us to know that man is more than a molecule or indivisible atom.
Man is created in the image of God and therefore, he is a spirit being.
Therefore, murder is not only a crime against man; it is also a crime against God in whose image man is made.
The Ten Commandments are rules for the abundant living that Jesus promised in John 10:10.
Out of the Ten Commandments there are six that govern our relationship with our fellow man.
This is the first one: “Thou shalt not kill.”
I. “THOU SHALT NOT KILL” – THYSELF
(I Chron 10:4) “Then said Saul to his armour-bearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and abuse me, But his armour-bearer would not; for he was sore afraid. So Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.”
A. We want to be real gentle concerning SUICIDE because we know that SUICIDE is a consequence of some form of insanity:
1. Permanent.
2. Temporary.
B. Nevertheless, we must not be too sentimental, for what is called “insanity” is often a moral madness rather than a mental disease, for which the person is to blame himself.
C. Listen carefully, “SUICIDE,” when committed by a sane person, is MURDER, a violation of God’s Law!
D. Do you know that a person can commit SUICIDE the following ways:
1. Violating the laws of health.
2. Exposing himself to needless physical risk.
3. Harmful pleasures: Smoking, alcohol, drugs, illicit sex.
4. Needless spiritual risks – putting off getting saved or serving the Lord.
(I Cor 3:17) “If any man defile the temple (his body) of God, him shalt God destroy: for the temple of God is holy which temple ye are.”
E. We need to be very careful how we live our lives, least we be guilty of SUICIDE!
(I Cor 6:19-20) “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you: which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? (20) For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your BODY, and in your spirit which are God’s.
II. “THOU SHALT NOT KILL” – OTHERS
A. This commandment prohibits MURDER!
B. This part of the commandment has been misinterpreted by our society today.
C. This commandment is talking about Murder and not killing!
D. This commandment is not prohibiting killing in WARS, Capital Punishment or self-protection.
E. The difference between killing and murder is: Murder applies to the taking of a human life and is a deliberate act of the will because of envy, covetousness, malice or hatred.
F. Human life is sacred and belongs to God who gave it.
G. Life is the tiny beginning of an endless existence.
H. To murder is to destroy that which belongs to God and God strictly prohibits such.
III. “THOU SHALT NOT KILL” – THY FAMILY
(Eph 4:31-32) “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: {32}And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”
A. A husband can MURDER his wife by cruelty, selfishness and unfaithfulness.
B. A wife can murder her husband by greed, nagging and a domineering spirit.
C. Children can murder their parents by ingratitude, irreverence, disobedience or a sinful life style.
D. To prevent murder of the spirit we must follow the golden rule: (Mat 7:12) “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.”
CONCLUSION
This is a very important commandment concerning our treatment of one another. God will not take it lightly if we kill one another physically or spiritually. Don’t be guilty of Murder whether self, others or family!