Deuteronomy 5:17 - Murder, Self-Defense, and Hatred

Deuteronomy 5:17 - You shall not murder.

Message: Murder, Self Defense, and Hatred

Time: This book chronicles farewell messages by Moses, the 120 year old leader of the Israelite, primarily intended for the lay person. It covers about one month, at the end of the forty-year period in the wilderness - 1405 BC. It is a renewal of the old covenant given at Mount Sinai to the plains of Moab.

What the Lord is Saying:

For the most part this remains a command that society still prohibits in line with bible believing people. Taking another human life remains an offense. In the Hebrew, to murder is to deliberately take an innocent life. But not all killing is murder. "If the thief is caught while breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there will be no bloodguiltiness on his account (Exodus 22:2)." In this case the innocent party is the one that has been attacked and thus, that is the life that must be preserved. This has been applied to war conflicts as well in defending ourselves against another aggressor. Yet, abortion is an area in which the killing of an innocent life is allowed, believing that a woman's feelings or choices outweigh the child. But the idea of modifying human life has become a common theme now in civilization. Personal choices are becoming a greater concern to people than the sanctity of life or how God has defined life. 

Jesus took this principle of murder a step farther in declaring that ungodly anger breaks the sixth commandment. 

21 “You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not commit murder’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell. 23 Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering. 25 Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way, so that your opponent may not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. 26 Truly I say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last cent."

I'm not sure if Jesus is saying that hatred is murder, but he does seem to be saying that anger and hatred is also an offense to the Lord and so just as murder is an offense, hatred or anger is also an offense. If anything- what Jesus is saying is -it is not simply our outward actions that are an offense before the Lord, but our inner thoughts as well. Our words are as important as our actions.

It is an interesting thought an idea - first regarding murder and then self-defense and now hatred.  

Summary:  Murder is not unforgivable and yet like any other sin, even hatred, we need to avoid it. It has consequences in this life. Fortunately everyone still in society agrees. Self-defense is a little harder to define, but God I believe understands type time of killing. 

Promise: From Tabletalk -- Murder is not the unforgivable sin...as Christians, we are perhaps more prone to break the sixth commandment by harboring angry hearts. Ungodly anger against another person violates the sixth commandment, so let us seek to eliminate that sin in our lives.

Prayer: O Father, you are Holy. This is clear. Forgive me for my anger and hatred over the years. Forgive our society for thinking murder does not apply to unborn babies. Cleanse us from all unrighteousness and help us to focus on You each day. 

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. The month of July is about the right use of God's Law; June was justification by faith alone; May about solus Christus - Christ Alone; April, salvation by grace alone; March, the sovereign providence of God; February, the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve; January, the doctrine of God. 

Bringing me to Christ

The Restraint of the Law - the law is given for lawless, unholy, disobedient people, to restrain us from acting on our sinful thoughts. Restraint and Guilt - the law is meant to restrain Christians and non-Christians alike; so that others may see Christ. The Law's Revelation of Sin - The Law reveals sin, at times making it more desirable, and show the sin which people commit and the complete standard it expects. The Law and Our Powerlessness - We are powerless over the Law and Sin revealed. It is in Christ that we receive forgiveness and the power to resist sin. The Law our Guardian - The law is not a tool of justifying me, but rather it is an instrument to bring me to Christ and show me my need for Him. 

Guiding our Lives

The Guidance of the Law - The Law is a guide in our lives for what pleases God and what it looks like to walk in holiness. The Antinomian Error - We were slaves to sin, but now we are slaves to obedience and righteousness. Judaizing Legalism - The error of Judaizing Legalism is the idea that obedience brings about God's acceptance of us for salvation. The Deadliest Form of Legalism - This legalism is that one would get too focused on external practices instead of focusing on the heart.

The Law is our Guide

The Centrality of Love - Love and the law go hand in hand. We do not belong to God unless we love our neighbor, and we cannot love our neighbor without knowing and doing God‘s law and loving him. Finding Guidance in the Law - God's Word, all if it, is a guide to my life and I am to meditate on it continually. The One and Only God - I seek to trust and love God above all else today. Images and Idols - Pictures, statues, symbols, art, people are not bad; but be careful about placing too much emphasis on these things I see. Using God's Name Frivolously - Blasphemy or using God's name frivolously are examples of taking God's name in vain. Keeping the Lord's Day - It is vital that we are setting apart a day to gather for worship and fellowship, resting from our ordinary vocations. Honoring Father and Mother - Parents are to rear their children in faith, teaching them to respect authority and children are to follow.