Topical Bible: Murder: The Wicked: Perpetrate

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Murder, the unlawful and premeditated taking of a human life, is a grievous sin condemned throughout the Scriptures. It is an act that reflects the wickedness of the human heart and stands in direct opposition to the sanctity of life as ordained by God. The Bible provides numerous accounts and teachings that illustrate the nature of murder as a deed of the wicked.

Old Testament Accounts

The first recorded murder in the Bible is the account of Cain and Abel. In Genesis 4:8 , "Cain said to his brother Abel, 'Let us go out to the field.' And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him." This act of fratricide was driven by jealousy and anger, emotions that God warned Cain about in Genesis 4:7, where He said, "If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you refuse to do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires you, but you must master it."

The Old Testament law explicitly prohibits murder. In Exodus 20:13 , the sixth commandment states, "You shall not murder." This commandment underscores the value God places on human life, created in His image (Genesis 1:27). The law further prescribes severe consequences for those who commit murder, as seen in Numbers 35:16-21, where the penalty for intentional murder is death.

New Testament Teachings

In the New Testament, Jesus expands on the understanding of murder by addressing the heart's intentions. In Matthew 5:21-22 , Jesus teaches, "You have heard that it was said to the ancients, 'Do not murder,' and 'Anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment." Here, Jesus equates harboring anger and hatred with the act of murder, emphasizing that wickedness begins in the heart.

The Apostle Paul also addresses the issue of murder in his epistles. In Galatians 5:19-21 , he lists "acts of the flesh" which include "hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage," and warns that "those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." This passage highlights that murder is not merely a physical act but is rooted in sinful desires and attitudes.

The Nature of the Wicked

The Bible consistently portrays murder as a characteristic of the wicked. In Psalm 10:8 , the psalmist describes the wicked as those who "lie in wait near the villages; in ambush they murder the innocent." This depiction aligns with the broader biblical narrative that the wicked are those who reject God's commandments and pursue their own evil desires.

Proverbs 6:16-19 lists "hands that shed innocent blood" among the things the Lord hates, further illustrating the severity of murder in the eyes of God. The wicked, in their rebellion against God, perpetrate murder as an expression of their defiance and moral corruption.

Divine Justice and Redemption

While the Bible condemns murder as a sin of the wicked, it also offers hope for redemption. In Ezekiel 18:21-23 , God declares, "But if the wicked man turns from all the sins he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is just and right, he will surely live; he will not die. None of the transgressions he has committed will be held against him." This passage reveals God's desire for repentance and His willingness to forgive even the most grievous sins.

Ultimately, the Bible presents murder as a manifestation of human wickedness, yet it also points to the possibility of transformation through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, who offers forgiveness and new life to all who turn to Him.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Job 24:14
The murderer rising with the light kills the poor and needy, and in the night is as a thief.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Ezekiel 22:3
Then say you, Thus said the Lord GOD, The city sheds blood in the middle of it, that her time may come, and makes idols against herself to defile herself.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

"Woe unto You, Because Ye Build the Tombs of the Prophets, and ...
... also which they were about to perpetrate, which would ... mentioned Abel, indicating
that this murder likewise is ... He will miserably destroy those wicked men." [2709 ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily lxxiv woe unto you.htm

Royal Murderers
... She is wicked and strong ... by conniving at evils which they dare not perpetrate, and
then ... be done by worthless men, cool lying, ferocity, and murder,"these are ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/royal murderers.htm

1 Thessalonians v. 1, 2
... he would murder whomsoever he wished, and would retrieve himself by taking vengeance
on his enemies, and would perpetrate ten thousand crimes. For a wicked man ...
/.../homily ix 1 thessalonians v.htm

Twenty Second Sunday after Trinity Paul's Thanks and Prayers for ...
... knaves we are; perpetrating every wicked deed, stirring up strife, discord, war
and murder for the sake ... and treacherous; they fearlessly perpetrate every sort ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol iii/twenty second sunday after trinity.htm

The Genuine Acts of Peter.
... and that the man who should venture to perpetrate the murder should enjoy the ... money
being instantly claimed by the executioner, these wicked purchasers, or ...
/.../peter/the writings of peter of alexandria/the genuine acts of peter.htm

Pseud-Iren??us.
... that an infuriated mob is wont to perpetrate against those ... For the wicked after some
days again tortured the ... and charged with the crime of murder; they had ...
//christianbookshelf.org/unknown/the decretals/pseud-irenaeus.htm

Discussion of the Subject of Permission
... and adequate reason that God permitted Ahab to perpetrate that murder, is that of ...
in those deeds, from the fact that he, by wicked treachery, destroyed men ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 3/discussion of the subject of.htm

Priest and victim
... we may cheat, we may lie, we may murder, and so ... There were wicked men, who were the
instruments employed in ... that they may no longer thus perpetrate an infamous ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 46 1900/priest and victim.htm

Thou Shalt Honor Thy Father and Thy Mother.
... driven to it by blows, and perpetrate what wrong ... hand, it is written of the wicked,
Ps.109 ... full of unfaithfulness, disgrace, calamity, and murder, but because ...
/.../luther/the large catechism/thou shalt honor thy father.htm

Conclusion --Repent Ye, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand.
... only these men who are going by train prepared for murder and torture ... with the more
ease of conscience can such a man perpetrate cruel and wicked acts, as ...
/.../the kingdom of god is within you/chapter xii conclusionrepent ye for.htm