The Sixth Commandment

The Sixth Commandment

“Thou shalt not kill.”  Exodus 20:13 is often cited as a prohibition of homicide in all circumstances, which is patently absurd given the multiple crimes with mandatory death penalties under the Law of Moses.  In fact, this is sometimes pointed to by skeptics as a “contradiction” in the Bible.  So what does this passage actually mean?  What is being prohibited, why is it wrong, and what broader principles are there here for us to learn?

As we have previously noted, this passage may not be read as a prohibition of the taking of human life in all cases, because in some cases (e.g. Numbers 35:16-19) God explicitly commands that people be killed.  So how do we square these passages?  What exactly is God prohibiting?  First of all, let’s look at who is being addressed.  All ten commandments use the singular “thou”.  These are instructions for individual righteousness.  In contrast, when God commands the execution of criminals or the killing of enemies in war, those are commands for collective action.  For example, Deuteronomy 17:6-7 requires multiple witnesses before anyone can be put to death, and the execution is to be carried out by the whole court.  This commandment in Exodus 20:13 is to the individual - individuals do not have the right to unilaterally decide to put someone to death.  Secondly, when God commands that a person be killed, it is God deciding that someone should die, not man.  He gave life and He may choose to take it away; I may not.  A court delivering a death sentence is not deciding on their own authority that a man must die; they are simply determining the facts of the case and relaying God’s verdict that “he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death”.  So then, what is being forbidden?  God says “thou shalt not kill” - that is, the killing of another human based on my own authority.  In a word: murder.  

Why is this wrong?  Obviously, it is wrong because God said so.  But why does God care?   One reason God cares is because murder is an egregious form of blasphemy.  In Genesis 9:6, God commands that every murderer be killed because “in the image of God made He man.”  He says this immediately after authorizing the eating of meat in Genesis 9:2-3; there is a connection between these things.  To plan the death of another human is to make no distinction between a man made in God’s image and the beasts which God has given into my hand to be killed as needed.  This is an insult to God of the highest order; it is a statement that His image is worth nothing.  Another reason God cares is that murder is a usurpation of God’s place as the judge.  To kill another human is to put myself in the position of God and to claim that I have the right to decide who lives and who dies.  Finally and most obviously, God cares because murder is evil.  It is an irreparable harm for which no restitution is possible; God’s desire is that such a thing never happen.

What broader principle can we take from this?  The tenth commandment - “Thou shalt not covet” - forces us to read the preceding nine as not only regarding physical actions, but concerning thoughts as well.  Coveting, after all, takes place entirely in my own heart.  The principle in the sixth commandment is that I must think of other persons as having great value.  It is not enough to simply refrain from killing others - I must not think or act in any way that would align with killing them. 

ï I must not wish harm upon someone.  This is a mental step toward murder - so much so that 1 John 3:15 says that “whoever hates his brother is a murderer.”

ï I must not think of anyone as having no value.  This too is a murderous attitude, as Jesus reminds us in Matthew 5:22.

ï I must never regard death - and especially murder - as something of little consequence.  Deuteronomy 21:1-9 gives us a picture of how seriously murder should be taken.

ï I must take active measures to safeguard the lives of others.  Deuteronomy 22:8 is an example of the kind of thinking we should have in this area.

-  Paul Gaughan

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Paradoxical Commandments

l. People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered. Love them anyway.

2. If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives. Do good anyway.

3. If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway.

4. The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.

5. Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable. Be honest and frank anyway.

6. The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds. Think big anyway.

7. People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs. Fight for a few underdogs anyway.

8. What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway.

9. People really need help but may attack you if you do help them. Help people anyway.

10. Give the world the best you have and you’ll get kicked in the teeth. Give the world the best you have anyway.

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“We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.”

Sounds like 2026 - right?  But it was written
by the apostle John almost 2000 years ago!

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“The greatest of all mistakes is to do nothing because
you think you can only do a little.”  -  Zig Ziglar

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