Murder and Killing

Murder and Killing

13 “You shall not murder.

Ex 20:13 (ESV)

13 Thou shalt not kill.

Ex 20:13 (KJV)

17  “You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. 18  You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.

Lev 19:17-18 (ESV)

15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

1 John 3:15 (ESV)

21 “You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’ 22 But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell.

Matt 5:21-22 (NLT)

9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Romans 13:8-9 (ESV)

By definition to murder means to kill or slaughter inhumanly or barbarously we often see the word kill in its place in scripture and it is defined as depriving life in any manner; cause the death of; or to slay. I can honestly say this has been one of those commandments that I had struggled with as a soldier. You see the Old Testament was full of God’s people killing and destroying the inhabitants of Canaan so how do the two together if you have told me not to kill or murder. Everything I have read indicates they are determined by the purpose of the act.

The whole bible is based on the idea of sacrifice and that involves death. It began in the Garden of Eden and ends with Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice on the cross. Death is part of life the difference between death and murder is the actions that cause the death. As a soldier you are fighting to protect those around you and the laws and government of your country. They call this a justified war not unlike what Israeli did as they took over the Promised Land. I can only tell you from my own experience if you are struggling because of your service to your country God will hold nothing against you once you accept His Son Jesus as your Lord and Savior.

Jesus taught something that was very different but the same when it came to murder and killing. That simply was when we have anger or hatred towards one another we are committing murder in our hearts therefor we are sinning against God. You know scripture tells us in the Lord’s Prayer that we are to forgive others as we are forgiven. We have been instructed to be careful in our attitudes and our words to one another for they are as destructive as killing someone outright. You see what we say to others affects what they think and feel about themselves. When we use our tongues to tear each other down we are in a sense lessoning the value that each person has. I challenge you today to watch what you say and the attitudes you might carry towards others. It could and will make the difference for someone between Heaven and Hell. When we hold onto ill will and hatred we are also hurting ourselves you see that sort of attitude destroys the one who cares it more often than the one it is held against. Seek and give forgiveness you see there is no way to unscramble an egg but you have to take it and make something out of it. That is what Jesus can do with your life if you will trust Him. Have a blessed day in the Lord.