10 Commandments - #6

We have turned the corner and are now on the back side of the 10 commandments as we focus on number six today. This is one that seems like a no brainer. One that on the surface you may be like "oh yeah I got that one!" but as we look deeper you may be like "oh. Yeah. I got that one." So lets jump right into it shall we?

* And God spoke all these words -Exodus 20:1

* “You shall not murder. -Exodus 20:13

So is it me or do you think that murder, taking another persons life should be a little higher on the list? Like maybe number two under don’t have any other Gods. Or maybe it's that humans just kind of instinctually know that killing is wrong and that's why it found it's way down to number 6. Or maybe it is that there is a double meaning here. Could it be that the sixth commandment is like a transformer? Could there be more than meets the eye going on here?

Lets face it telling someone they should not kill is kind of like telling someone they should not jump into a bon fire. You know it's wrong and something that should not be done. But what did Jesus say?

Jesus says in Matthew Chapter 5 verse 22 that…

* Anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgement. -Matthew 5:22

And then John goes on to explain that later by telling us that

* Anyone who hates brother or sister is a murderer -1 John 3:15

Wow. So when you first heard You Shall not murder I bet you were thinking that’s an easy one to keep. But now that you understand that you can be a murder even if you hate someone… how you doing?

I know I have been guilty of feelings of anger and hate toward people. Ever get cut off when you are driving? You ever yell at that driver? "Watch were your going you moron! MAN I hate that guy."

Ever have someone that just for one reason or another rubs you the wrong way. Someone that you just can not get along with and every time you see them.. . "UGH, I hate this person they are soooo annoying." Jesus tells us that we will be brought to judgement for this. And we learn that by treating others this way we are in some way killing at least a part of that person. We become murderers.

I think the lesson here is that once again we need to try to be more Christ like. To love our fellow man, our brothers and sisters. That in loving them, we treat them with a level of respect because we cant know what they are going through. We need to love them as Christ loved us and not kick them when they are down.

* Anyone who hates brother or sister is a murderer -1 John 3:15

Sheds new light on number six doesn't it. Love others as Christ loves you. Do not commit murder, in any form.

Press on. Fight the good fight. As a Soldier for Christ.