You shall not murder

Exodus 20:13

 

I believe the first thing we have to do when we read this sixth commandment is define the word “murder“. In Hebrew this word is ratsach and it means to dash in pieces, to kill, to murder, to put to death, to slay. As we study the word we see that God makes a differentiation in what it means to kill and what it means to murder.

In Ecclesiastes 3:1, 3 we read “There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven-… A time to kill and a time to heal; a time to tear down and a time to build up.” God has made it clear that there is a time to kill.

In Genesis 9:6 we read “Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed, for in the image of God He made man.” There is never a time to murder, but there is a time to kill.

In Deuteronomy 19-20 God teaches us the difference. A murderer is someone “who hates his neighbor and lies in wait for him and rises up against him and strikes him so that he dies” (Deuteronomy 19:11).

We were given a picture of a murderer way back in the beginning. We meet the first murderer of man in Genesis 3:1. If we look back at this verse we see that Satan laid in wait for his opportunity to deliver his death blow to mankind. Then we see how Satan works in the lives of men to continue his murdering as we read of Cain slaying Able in Genesis 4.

Cain slew his brother in hate, it was not an accident, and it was not in battle. In John 8:44 our Lord declares, “You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning…”

This is why we must be very careful to guard our hearts. We might can look at our hands and say these hands have squashed a few bugs, killed a few spiders, might even have ran over the neighbors cat, but I am not a murderer.

Or are you?

You have heard that the ancients were told, “You shall not commit murder”

and “Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.”

But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother

shall be guilty before the court;

and whoever says to his brother, “You good-for-nothing,”

shall be guilty before the supreme court;

and whoever says, “You fool,” shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.

Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar,

and there remember that your brother has something against you,

leave your offering there before the altar and go;

first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.

Matthew 5:21-24

Could these words of Christ in Matthew 5:21-24 give us a greater understanding as to why God would not accept Cain’s offering in Genesis 4?

God warned Cain that if he did not address this issue with his brother, that sin was crouching at his door and it’s desire was to devour him. Cain did not address the anger and hate in his heart and it led to the murder of his brother.

In the New Testament, James is writing a letter to the church, for the church. In James 4:1-4 he is addressing the quarrels within the church. He shares how the source of the quarrels is simply everyone’s own personal lusts and pleasures at war within them.

In James 4:2 we read, “You lust and do not have; so you commit murder.”

What?

Murder in the church?

Yes!

How many times has the unaddressed hatred and jealousy in the heart of a believer delivered a death blow to another believer?

I believe much more often than we would like to admit. Often enough that God saw fit to address it in His word and preserve it for the church for all generations.

Oh precious one, it all begins within the heart. Jesus came to show us that we must address the evils within us. We must deal with what is hiding in the dark of our hearts and minds. This is why God gave us the Law, so that we might see these hidden things.

The Law of God is a light into our souls to show us how very sinful we are, how very corrupt we are, from the inside out. When we come to the light of the Law and let it do it’s work in us, we realize how desperate we are. Then when Christ comes and offers us life… we run to him.

The light of the Law leads us to the life of Christ.

Then the Holy Spirit moves in and He is ever present with us to let us know when our hearts are leading us wrong. He is there to say to us “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and it’s desire is for you, but you must master it.” (Genesis 4:6-7). 

Oh Father,

Thank You for loving me enough to show me my heart. Thank You for teaching me that I am not to hide deeper what is lurking in my heart and mind, but I am to drag it into the presence of Your light. I do not have to justify my sin, I can bring it to You and You can remove it. How often do we hang on to hate and anger out of justification, thinking that our holding on to this is somehow getting back at the one we are angry with? “See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled.” (Hebrews 12:15). May I live this day offering grace to others, not withholding a single drop. May I walk this day in obedience to Your warning, letting You lift up my face and my countenance and letting Your light shine within me. You have given me power over sin, in and through Christ; it is never to conquer me again. Help me today to master it. 

My Jesus it is in Your name I pray,

Amen