The Ten Commandments - Fifth Commandment

The Ten Commandments

 Fifth Commandment

Honoring Human Life

 1st Commandment    

“You shall have no other gods before me.” 

2nd Commandment

“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain…”

3rd Commandment

“Remember the Sabbath day…”

4th Commandment

“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.”

5th Commandment

“You shall not murder.”

-Exodus 20:13

Murder vs. Killing

All murder is killing, but not all killing is murder.

Examples of legal, moral, justified killing:

Hunting to eat

Self-defense

“Just War”

•Abel dying at the hand of Cain, and

•The Egyptian (Ex. 2) dying by Moses’ hand.

Neither Hebrew word for murder or killed was used.

The word used was smote or hit (as their intention was not to kill or murder.) 

“Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. 6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” 8 Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” While they were in the field, Cain attacked [Smote, hit] his brother Abel and killed him.”

-Gen 4:5-8

[Probably categorized as “Manslaughter”]

Hebrew

“And Cain spoke unto Abel his brother. And it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.”

[Interesting: *Not even sure if Cain knew that Abel was dead.]

“Murder in the 1st degree”

(preplanned)

“Murder in the second degree”

(not planned, but none-the-less a murder)

“Man-slaughter”

(cause of death – accident)

Jews were allowed to defend themselves

See Ex 22:2

“Cities of Refuge” [for accidental deaths]

But murder was a Capital Offense/Death.

[See Numbers 35:6-30]

Murder typically begins with Hate/Anger.

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”

-Proverbs 4:23

Jesus is our city of refuge

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous run to it and are safe.”

-Proverbs 18:10

“Come to me all you who labor and are heavily burdened and I will give you rest.”

-Matthew 11:28

“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry [without cause] with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment.”

-Matthew 5:21,22

“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold.”

-Ephesians 4:26

[Make sure that you are in the “Process” of dealing with the anger]

It is not wrong to defend yourself

“Turning the Other Cheek” 

(Matthew 5:39)

was addressing the Honor-based culture of his day that demanded that you:

*Defend your honor by getting even. 

A “JUST WAR” can be thought of as SELF-DEFENSE against those who do not accept a “JUST PEACE”.

“JUST WAR”

1.Just Cause

(defensive, not offensive)

2. Just Intent

(To liberate and not simply to destroy, with motivation as justice and not revenge)

3. As a Last Resort

(After talks, sanctions, etc.)

4. Limited Objectives

(Get in & Get out… Have an exit plan)

5. Limited Means

(Avoid non-combatants, Avoid unnecessary damage to people and the land)

“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”

-Romans 12:18

Get your peace from God. 

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

-Philippians 4:4-7