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The sixth commandment
You shall not murderGod has made men in His image, and He alone is the Lord of life. We may not unlawfully deprive men of the gift of life; rather, we must do everything in our power to protect and preserve the lives and wellbeing of others.
Exodus 20.13
“You shall not murder.”
Deuteronomy 5.17
“‘You shall not murder.’”
Murder is the unlawful, willful, and premeditated taking of the life of another. God forbids murder, requiring the life of one who murders as appropriate retribution (Gen. 9.5, 6). God is the Giver of life; only He has the authority to take it, and to determine the lawful parameters within which men may do the same. Just war, self-defense, and as retribution for murder: these are the only circumstances under which men may take the life of another.
But taking the life of another is much more complex than what appears on the surface. As we shall see, the Law takes great care both to encourage preventive measures against murder and to assure that fair judgments are rendered when the life of a man is lost. Life is God’s most precious gift to men; it must be honored by all and for all.
This series of In the Gates we present a detailed explanation of the Law of God, beginning with the Ten Commandments, and working through the statutes and rules that accompany each commandment. For a practical guide to the role of God’s Law in the practice of ethics, get The Ground for Christian Ethics by going to www.ailbe.org and click on our Book Store.