6th Commandment: Murder

 

"You must not murder"  Exodus 20:13

    The sixth commandment is a social commandment that affects the heart.  The root word for murder used is the Hebrew word ratsakh.  The basic meaning of ratsakh is to unjustly or unlawfully take a human life.  It is about having so much hate in your heart toward someone(s) that you want them dead.  

    God recognized that things happen in life where people are killed accidently.  That is not good, but it is something that happens living in the fallen world.  God is focusing in on the heart condition.  Do you allow rage and vengeance into your heart?  Or do you give it to God to take care of in His time and in His way?  

    God declared vengeance is mine.  Do not try to become God and control things on your own.  It will only destroy you from the inside out and lead you to facing judgment.  To take a life has serious consequences.  It should never be played down to protect the person who committed murder.

   I think the order of the social commandments are very intentional.  Adam and Eve allowed sin into the world.  They became parents after the fall, so the first social commandment was about respecting your parents.  It would be easy for the first kids to blame their parents for not having a perfect life when they themselves were not perfect.  The next social commandment addresses murder because one of those children killed their brother.  The first two children in the world grew up and were involved in murder.

    Life is a gift from God.  To take a life is you determining that God made a mistake allowing that person live.  God never makes a mistake, so you taking things into your own hands is a sin.  All life if precious.  God spoke directly about taking lives, but kept the commandment pretty simple and straight forward.  Do not do murder.  

    Jesus comes along and he expand the meaning.  He makes it personal.  Even if you never act on taking a life, if you allow rage and hate in your heart you are guilty of murder.  You don't have to act to desire someone dead.  In your heart you have already taken them out.  God wants to heal that place in your heart.  Admit your sin and repent to God.  He will forgive you.  

Genesis 9:5-6, Exodus 20:13, 21:12-14, Numbers 35:30-31, Deuteronomy 5:17, Matthew 5:17, 21-22, & 1 John 3:15