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The Sixth Commandment – Not to murder
13 “You shall not murder.” Exodus 20:13 NKJV
Murder is not new; it is as old as man. A few years after God created Adam and Eve, they had two sons, Cain and Abel. The murder of Abel by his brother Cain is the first murder. Since that time, men have continued to murder others for many different reasons or just because they can.
Even though God implanted in each of us an understanding that murder is wrong, it is still a major problem in society. People get angry or want something another person has, so they resort to murder to get what they want.
Within many of our cities, people fear for their lives. They do not walk on the streets and fear for their children to play outside or even go to school.
The number of killings increases each year, and places that were once considered safe are now avoided. There were 22,830 recorded homicides in the U.S. in 2023. Many cities do not report murders to the national database, so the number of murders is even higher.
We don’t and never will know how many people are killed in a year in our country or any other.
First, we need to define murder.
People are killed in many different ways. Many of these deaths are not murders, but accidents of various kinds. Lives are ended, but there was no intent in the hearts of anyone to end another person’s life. This is not murder.
The FBI defines murder as the willful (non-negligent) killing of one person by another. It could be a death caused by a fight, argument, quarrel, assault, or in the commission of a crime.
Negligent deaths are those that happen that are not connected with a crime, and there is no intent to kill. However, this type of death may result in some form of penalty for the person who caused it.
Old Testament murder
The Old Testament defines murder in much the same way. God does not want us to kill each other. It says in Genesis 9:6 NKJV, “Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed; For in the image of God He made man.”
If you read on, you find that God gives Moses some very clear rules about killing. What should be punished by death, and what should not? Killings due to negligence allowed the guilty person to live in a city of refuge for a set amount of time.
However, if you intentionally killed someone, God’s Law for the Israelites required that you pay a life for a life.
Murder is a choice made by the murderer.
Our first example of murder is Cain killing Abel. In 1 John 3:12 NKJV, it says, ” Cain who was of the wicked one, murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous.” Cain was angry because God rejected his offering and accepted Abel’s offering. Unlike his brother Abel, he decided that he could offer what he wanted, instead of what God required.
Cain was angry with God for not accepting his offering. He could not strike at God, so he chose to strike Abel instead. A righteous person died because someone wanted what he had.
This story is repeated over and over every day in our country and around the world. Good people die because evil people want something they have.
Jesus speaks in John 8:44 NKJV of the murderer’s evil actions, 44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.
When our desires are evil, we feel getting what we want is more important than how we may hurt others. Doing wrong becomes easy. The more we sin, the easier it gets. We are tempted to just take what we want without regard for others.
Sometimes, people murder someone just to make their lives easier.
Some People commit murder to get what they want.
Murdering an unborn child is an example of this. You can hear hundreds of reasons why a woman does not want to have their baby. It can be pride, finances, clothes, jobs, not being married, fear of rejection, and countless other reasons.
Jesus says in Matthew 15:19 NKIJV, 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. If the heart is not right, a person makes evil choices, choices to kill the innocent.
Satan has even coined a phrase to support the murder of babies. It is the expression, “my body, my choice.” Satan’s choice is not to consider the unborn’s choice to live.
Let us be clear. God defines when life starts.
This is what God says to the Prophet in Jeremiah 1:5 NKJV, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”
Let us analyze what God says here. First, He states that He knew the prophet before He formed him in the womb. Second, he sanctified or set him apart for a special purpose before he was born. Finally, He not only set him apart but He set him apart for a purpose.
This is not the only Scripture that tells us of God knowing us and forming us before our birth. If you have any questions, you should also read Psalm 139:13-16, Isaiah 49:1, Isaiah 44:2, and Galatians 1:15. In your study, do not leave out the birth of Jesus and John the Baptist; both are examples of God knowing and ordaining them before they were in the flesh.
Life starts at conception.
God has defined life as the point of conception.
What is in a woman’s womb is a person that God gave life to and He has a plan for that child.
No one has the right to end that life.
Therefore, abortion is murder!
If we look at the numbers, it is mass murder, worse than the Holocaust.
We really do not know how many babies are murdered each year. Many are never reported. It is such a hot topic that many people just don’t want to know. Let us consider the numbers that we do know.
The CDC lists 609,360 abortions in 2022. Their information comes from the areas that reported voluntarily, but it gives you an idea of how large a number it is. Remember that it is just for one year. This has been going on for many years.
The Society of Family Planning reported a lot larger number. Their research for 2024 showed over one million murders of unborn children.
What happens to those who choose to break the Sixth Commandment of God?
Do the Holy Scriptures tell us what will happen to those who are guilty of murder?
Jesus tells us in Revelations 21:6-8 NKJV, 6 And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. 7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
Yes, the punishment for murder is eternal death in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone. Those who choose wickedness are destined to a place prepared for the devil and his demons.
However, if you are guilty of murder, there is still hope.
God, in His mercy, provided a way for those who confess and repent for their sins.
You must acknowledge that you are guilty of murder and deserve God’s punishment.
You must ask for His forgiveness. It is not possible to ask for forgiveness until you confess that you have, in fact, killed a person, born or unborn.
Paul says in Romans 6:23, For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Remember in Ephesians 1:7 NKJV it says, 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace. If you have not yet accepted Jesus as your Savior it is time. Confess your sins and commit your life to serving Him. You will be saved.
If you are a Christian and are guilty of murder, confess your sin and ask forgiveness. If your confession and your repentance is honest, Jesus will forgive you.
Click the following links to continue your study of all the Commandments, The First Commandment – No Other God!, The Second Commandment – No Idols, The Third Commandment -The Lord’s Name, The Fourth Commandment – The Sabbath, The Fifth Commandment – Honor Father and Mother, The Sixth Commandment – Do Not Murder