"You Shall Not Murder"
THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT
Exodus 20:13
Mililani Community Church
Pastor Rick Bartosik

Human life is the most precious and sacred thing in the world. Only God has the right to end it or to direct that it be ended. So this is a command to affirm the dignity and value of all human life.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO "KILL"?

Hebrew word rasah refers to premeditated murder

WHAT IS THE REASON FOR THIS COMMAND?

• Genesis 9:6 - words of God to Noah (cf. Gen. 1:27)
• Exodus 21:12 - how murder is to be handled
• Numbers 35 - Cities of Refuge for manslaughter

HOW CAN THIS COMMAND BE BROKEN?

• Murder with the hand

By violent and unlawful killing of another person
By abortion
   Exodus 21:22
   Jeremiah 1:4-5
   Psalm 139:13-16
   Luke 1:39-45
By suicide

• Murder in the heart

Matt. 5:21-22 - Jesus says that sins of anger and insult make us guilty of murder also!
Murder begins with anger (Genesis 4:3-8)
How to handle the root problem of anger
• Understand the seriousness of the problem of anger
• Understand the root causes of your anger
Because we get hurt
Because we get in a hurry and become impatient
• Understand the solution for your problem of anger
(I Jn 3:14-15: "No murderer has eternal life abiding in him")

CONCLUSION:

This negative command not to kill and destroy life is really a positive command to affirm and build up and develop the lives of others. Ephesians 4:31-32.

THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT
DISCUSSIONS QUESTIONS
" You shall not murder"
Exodus 20:13

OBSERVE

1. Proverbs 1:10-19 teaches us three things about murder. According to the passage, what is one motive for murder? What consequences will an offender face? What are we instructed to avoid?

2. How does Jesus interpret the Sixth Commandment (Matt. 5:21-22)?

3. What allowance did God make for Israelites who killed someone accidentally? (Numbers 35:9-13)

INTERPRET

1. Explain why Jesus' teaching on the Sixth Commandment , in Matthew 5:21-22, is not a correction of the Old Testament but a clarification of its divine intent?

2. Murder is a violation against the victim. Why is it also a violation against God? (Genesis 9:6; Psalm 139:13-16)

APPLY

1. What are the implications of the Sixth Commandment in light of Jesus' teaching? Name one specific action that you need to take to be obedient to this Commandment?

2. Now name one specific action that you need to take in order to restore your relationship with God (I John 1:9)

3. What comfort do you find in Psalm 103:8-13?

Copyright © 1999-2006 Rick Bartosik

Ten Commandment Series

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