The Ten Words (6)

The sixth of the Ten Words/Commandments is one of the shortest.  It reads, quite simply: "You shall not kill." (Ex 20:13).  However, it might be, more accurately, translated - as is the case in some of the more modern versions - "You shall not commit murder."  In other words, this commandment has to do with the deliberate, and malicious, taking of the life of another human being.

Life, of course, is a gift from God.  This is why we speak of the process of conceiving children as "procreation" - from the Latin pro =  "in place of, on behalf of" (proconsul, pronoun) + creare  = "to make, bring forth, produce, beget".   In the act of sexual intercourse, a man and a woman are working with Almighty God in the bringing into being of a new human life.  Because life is a gift from God, only He may legitimately take it away.

Of course, this does not include a situation of self-defence; defence of the realm; or the judicial execution of the death penalty.  Indeed, Ex.21:12ff expressly states that there are occasions on which a man must die!   Even before the giving of the Decalogue, we read that God said to Noah that "Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed ; for God made man in His own image." (Gen 9:6).

This is also one of the commandments specifically referred to by the Lord Jesus.  In that collection of His teaching that we know as The Sermon on the Mount, He says: "You have heard that it was said to the men of old, 'You shall not kill; and whoever kills shall be liable to judgment.' But I say to you that every one who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother shall be liable to the council, and whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be liable to the hell of fire." (Matt 5:21-22).  In other words, although I may be able to say that I have never been responsible for the deliberate taking of the life of a fellow human being, that is not enough.   I would need to be able to claim, with absolute honesty, that I have never (as in 'not ever'!) been angry with anyone!   From a personal point of view, having spent a total of 25 years teaching Secondary School pupils (aged 11-18) I have to confess that, in Jesus' terms, I was a serial killer!

So, where does that leave us?   Well, we are also exhorted, in the New Testament: "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (Rom 12:21).  Writing to the Galatian believers, Paul says: "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ." (Gal 6:2).     Jesus, again in the Sermon on the Mount, says: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." (Matt 5:9); and "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'  But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ..." (Matt 5:43-44).

What that would seem to suggest is that Father God wants us to go far beyond not committing murder.  He wants us to actively treat even those who choose to hate us as respectfully as possible, and do all within our power to live in peace and harmony with them.  "Strive for peace with all men , and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord." (Heb 12:14).

To accomplish this we must respect this wonderful gift of the precious possession of human life.

The Ten Words (1)

My latest book (currently at the proof-reading stage) has the title "Foundations of the Faith".  It is based on what is known as The Apostles' Creed but, when I started writing it, I planned to add two other sections to it.  One of these was to be on The Beatitudes, and the other on what are usually referred to as The Ten Commandments.  Regretfully, my self-imposed limit of 50,000 words was reached with the Creed, and a couple of appendices!  I may, at some future date, produce a volume on those two important parts of the written Word of God but, for now, they have been placed on the 'back burner' - where a good chef will place something that needs to simmer gently while other culinary preparations are made.

However, at the beginning of a new year, I thought that it might be helpful to look, albeit briefly, at The Ten Commandments or, as they are known in Hebrew, The Ten Words (also known as The Decalogue).  These, as many will be aware, are recorded in the Old Testament book of Exodus, in the 20th chapter.   This chapter begins:

"And God spoke all these words, saying,  'I am the Lord your God, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me'."   

"You shall have no other gods before Me."  I wonder how you understand those words?!   Basically, they are a command to recognise the one true God, and they are a reminder to the Children of Israel of the authority behind these words.  Moses isn't reporting some celestial suggestions, or providing some alternative opinions.  He is is stating ten commands being given - initially to the Children of Israel but, by extension, to all of mankind - by the very Creator and Sustainer of all that is.

This first command has to do with our relationship with Almighty God.  Jesus gave us the same commandment, in slightly different words, when He was asked: "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" (Matt 22:36).  He replied: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment." (Matt 22:37-38).  In other words, Jesus - Himself, God - is confirming that this command is that nothing, and no-one, else should receive the honour that belongs to God alone.

Some, of course, will claim that they do not believe in the existence of any 'god'.   However, I would contend that all of us have at least one object of our worship.  It may be nature itself; it may be a prized possession; it may even be 'self!   You see, whether we like to admit it, or not, we are 'hard-wired' to be worshipping creatures.  It is, in modern parlance, "in our DNA"!   Romans 1:18ff may have been written almost 2,000 years ago - but it is as up-to-date as tomorrow's newspapers!  A key statement is that people "... exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, Who is blessed for ever!" (Rom 1:25).   That is, quite simply, breaking that first commandment.

So, who or what are you putting before God?  It's not a rhetorical question!  It's a question that each of us must answer - if not now, then later!  If we are breaking that commandment; if we are placing anyone, or anything, before Him in our lives, then we are already guilty in His sight.  James writes: "For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it." (James 2:10).

It's a sobering thought!  

The next post will look at the second commandment.