Exodus 20:13 You shall not kill. This command forbids the illegal and unrighteous taking of life. What a terrible commentary upon the condition of man that there needs to be such a command as this, "Thou shalt not kill"! Sin is its only explanation. Consider — I. THE MURDERER. 1. This crime comes as the sequence to a life of terrible guilt. 2. It subjects him to the extreme penalty of the law, and holds him up as a monster unfit for human fellowship and life. 3. It does violence to the highest interests of his soul. II. THE MURDERED MAN. 1. Murder cuts him off in the midst of his days. 2. It destroys all his earthly interests, and does him the greatest injustice. No time given to set business in order or provide for household. 3. It endangers his eternal welfare. III. SOCIETY. 1. Murder outrages the rights of life and property. (1) It brings disgrace to the relations of the murderer. (2) It injures the connections of the murdered one. (3) It disturbs the peace of society, and even threatens the stability of good government. 2. Hence to defend life becomes a duty (Psalm 82:3, 4; Job 29:13). (1) We are not at liberty to take our own life (Acts 16:28). (2) When a man is attacked be should defend himself; or, if others need help, he should assist them (Proverbs 24:11, 12). (3) The welfare of society demands that the life of the murderer should be exacted by the government, or that he should be kept in perpetual durance (Genesis 9:6). IV. APPLICATIONS. 1. We should keep the heart free from hatred and the like. 2. We should cultivate a sweet disposition and control over temper and passion. The passionate man may commit murder in the frenzy of his excitement. 3. We should avoid everything that tends toward this crime, such as quarrels, differences, strong drink, and all other things whose tendency is to evolve passion and destroy self.control. (L. O. Thompson.) Parallel Verses KJV: Thou shalt not kill. |
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