We love others by seeking their good in action and attitude.
Outline • The Act of Murder • The Heart of Murder • The Spirit of Respect
The Act of Murder • What is forbidden? - The sixth commandment forbids unlawful and wrongful killing.
The Act of Murder • Unlawful killing is the intentional taking of another person’s life with malice. “And if he pushed him out of hatred or hurled something at him, lying in wait, so that he died, or in enmity struck him down with his hand, so that he died, then he who struck the blow shall be put to death. He is a murderer. The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death when he meets him.” Numbers 35:20–21, ESV
The Act of Murder • Wrongful killing is the unintentional taking of another person’s life without malice. “…that the manslayer might flee there, anyone who kills his neighbor unintentionally, without being at enmity with him in time past; he may flee to one of these cities and save his life…” Deuteronomy 4:42, ESV
The Act of Murder • The death sentence is not given because of the act of murder, but because of the object of murder. “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image.” Genesis 9:6, ESV
The Act of Murder Our respect for others is a reflection of our respect for God.
The Act of Murder • What is not forbidden? - The sixth commandment does not prohibit killing in times of just war, just self-defense, just capital punishment.
The Act of Murder • The sixth commandment is both negative and positive. - It prohibits us from harming others and it exhorts us to protect others.
The Heart of Murder • The act of murder stems from a heart of bitterness. - Matthew 5:21-26 - Jesus judges as guilty the one who has the heart of a murderer.
The Heart of Murder It is possible to obey the law in action and yet violate it in attitude.
The Heart of Murder We are guilty because we have not treated with respect those who are created in the image of God. Therefore, we have not respected God.
The Spirit of Respect In Christ we are freed from the power of sin that leads to death.
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