Exodus 20:13 You shall not kill. I. THE SIN FORBIDDEN. In this, "thou shalt not kill," is meant the not injuring another. 1. We must not injure another in his name. We injure others in their name when we calumniate and slander them. No physician can heal the wounds of the tongue. 2. We must not injure another in his body. The life is the most precious thing; and God hath set this Commandment as a fence about it, to preserve it. All these sins which lead to murder are here forbidden: As(1) Unadvised anger. Anger boils up the blood in the veins, and oft produceth murder; "in their anger they slew a man."(2) Envy. Anger is sometimes "soon over," like fire kindled in straw, which is quickly out; but envy is a radicated thing, and will not quench its thirst without blood; "who is able to stand before envy?"(3) Hatred. How many ways is murder committed?We may be said to murder another: 1. With the hand: as Joab killed Abner and Amasa; "he smote him in the fifth rib, and shed out his bowels." 2. Murder is committed with the mind. Malice is mental murder; "whoso hateth his brother is a murderer." 3. Murder is committed with the tongue, by speaking to the prejudice of another, and causing him to be put to death. 4. Murder is committed with the pen. Uriah. 5. By consenting to another's death. Saul. 6. By not hindering the death of another when in our power. Pilate. 7. By unmercifulness. 8. By taking away that which is necessary for the sustentation of life. 9. By not helping him when he is ready to perish. We must not injure another's soul. Who do this? (1) Such as corrupt others by bad example. (2) Such as entice others to sin. (3) Ministers are murderers, who starve, poison, or infect souls. (4) Such as destroy others, by getting them into bad company, and so making them proselytes to the devil.The second thing forbidden in it is, the injuring one-self; "thou shalt not kill": thou shalt do no hurt to thyself. 1. Thou shalt not hurt thy own body. One may be guilty of self-murder, either(1) Indirectly and occasionally; as, first, when a man thrusts himself into danger which he might prevent. Secondly, a person may be in some sense guilty of his own death, by neglecting the use of means. If sick, and use no physic, if he hath received a wound and will not apply balsam, he hastens his own death. Thirdly, by immoderate grief: "the sorrow of the world worketh death"; when God takes away a dear relation, and one is swallowed up with sorrow. How many weep themselves into their graves! Queen Mary grieved so excessively for the loss of Calais, that it broke her heart. Fourthly, by intemperance, excess in diet. Surfeiting shortens life; "more die of it than by the sword"; many dig their grave with their teeth; too much oil chokes the lamp; the cup kills more than the cannon. (2) One may be guilty of self- murder, directly and absolutely. First, by envy. Envy corrodes the heart, dries up the blood, rots the bones; "envy is the rottenness of the bones." It is to the body, as the moth to the cloth, it eats it, and makes its beauty consume; envy drinks its own venom. Second, by laying violent hands on himself, and thus he is felo de se; as Saul fell upon his own sword and killed himself. A man's self is most near to him, therefore this sin of self-murder breaks both the law of God, and the bonds of nature. Self-murderers are worse than the brute-creatures; they will tear and gore one another, but no beast will go to destroy itself. Self-murder is occasioned usually from discontent; discontent is joined with a sullen melancholy. The bird that beats herself in the cage, and is ready to kill herself, is the true emblem of a discontented spirit. 2. Here is forbidden hurting one's own soul.Who are they that go about desperately to murder their own souls? 1. Such wilfully go about to murder their souls, who have no sense of God, or the other world; they are "past feeling." 2. Such as are set wilfully to murder their own souls, are they who are resolved upon their lusts, let what will come of it. Men will, for a drop of pleasure, drink a sea of wrath. 3. They murder their souls, who avoid all means of saving their souls. 4. They do voluntarily murder their souls, who suck in false prejudices against religion; as if religion were so strict and severe, that they who espouse holiness, must live a melancholy life, like hermits and anchorites, and drown all their joy in tears. This is a slander which the devil hath cast upon religion: for there is no true joy but in believing. 5. They are wilfully set to murder their own souls, who will neither be good themselves, nor suffer others to be so. II. THE DUTY IMPLIED. That we should do all the good we can to ourselves and others. 1. In reference to others. (1) To preserve the life of others. Comfort them in their sorrows, relieve them in their wants, be as the good Samaritan, pour wine and oil into their wounds. Grace makes the heart tender, it causeth sympathy and charity; as it melts the heart, in contrition towards God, so in compassion towards others. (2) Love. Love loves mercy: it is a noble bountiful grace. Love, like a full vessel, will have vent; it vents itself in acts of liberality. To communicate to the necessities of others, is not arbitrary, it is not left to our choice whether we will or no, but it is a duty incumbent; "charge them that are rich in this world that they do good, that they be rich in good works." God supplies our wants, and shall not we supply the wants of others? Shall we be only as a sponge to suck in mercy, and not as breasts to milk it out to others? (3) It is implied, that we should endeavour to preserve the souls of others; counsel them about their souls, set life and death before them, help them to heaven. 2. In reference to ourselves.The Commandment, "thou shalt not kill," requires that we should preserve our own life and soul. 1. It is engraven upon every creature, that we should preserve our own natural life. 2. This Commandment requires, that we should endeavour, as to preserve our own life, so especially, to preserve our own souls. ( T. Watson.) Parallel Verses KJV: Thou shalt not kill. |
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