• Commandments one and two are in the sphere of thought.

• Commandment three is in the sphere of word.

• Commandments four and five are in the sphere of deed.

In the second five Commandments the order is reversed.

• Commandments six, seven and eight are in the sphere of deed.

• Commandment nine is in the sphere of word.

• Commandment ten is in the sphere of thought.

The first five Commandments are all positive and the second five are in the negative.

First five emphasise the sanctity of God the second five emphasise the sanctity of our neighbour.

The first five show our duty to God, the second five show our duty to man.

• The Sixth Commandment concerns the sanctity of our neighbour’s person, "Thou shalt not kill."

• The Seventh Commandment concerns the sanctity of our neighbour’s purity, "Thou shalt not commit adultery."

• The Eight Commandment concerns the sanctity of our neighbour’s property, "Thou shalt not steal."

• The Ninth Commandment concerns the sanctity of our neighbour’s position," Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour."

• The Tenth Commandment concerns the sanctity of our of our neighbours place, "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's."

These commandments emphasise God’s provision for the well being of mankind.

Let us consider the first of this second group together. There are only four words but how they put a hedge around every one of us and protect the sanctity of our lives.

Perhaps one of the wicked countries is the USA. I was reading that the senate judiciary committee declared that America has been the most violent most self-destructive nation on earth. Life seems so cheap in the USA.

There are 26,300 murdered in the USA every year. During the Gulf War when many Americans were at the front line and some did loose their lives. In Atlanta more people were killed there than in the war. One of the news papers reported that it was safer to be in Saudi Arabia than Atlanta

In spite of God’s Commandment life is very cheap.

Napoleon Bonaparte when he was preparing for a battle was told that this would cost 100000 men.

He replied, "What are 100000 men to me?"

In the UK millions are pumped into the national health to preserve life and yet in the streets many are slain.

Who can forget the Jamie Bulger case? Who can forget the Sarah Payne tragedy?

Not to mention the moors murderers. Even road rage has claimed lives, life seems so cheap. We need look no further than our own shores over three thousand slain during our troubles.

The Extreme Importance Of This Commandment.

If something is stolen it can be returned but if a life is taken it is gone forever. When this commandment is broken there is no going back.

I know from speaking to a senior policeman on one occasion that terrorists have been so overcome with guilt, grief and shame that they wish that they could undo what they have done. Once broken it can never be unbroken.

Evolution teaches that we are a mass of chemicals, if that is the case then life is cheap and we are only a chemical equation. We are nothing but a number. If there is a creator, if there is a God, then we are not just a number and not just a blob of chemicals. We are made in the very image of God.

Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

How special we are?

Genesis 2:7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

Man is a tripartite being made up of spirit, body and soul.

1 Thes. 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Man is the crowning glory of God’s creation as he is made in the image of God.

Acts 17:26-28 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; [27] That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: [28] For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

All we are and have is down to God. He is sovereign Lord and he has given us life.

Eihus testimony was true.

Job 33:4 The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.

Paul further reminds us in Colossians.

Col. 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

We were created by him and for him.

"And for thy pleasure we are created, thou art worthy oh Lord."

Evolution states:

Life originated in a primordial germ, a protoplasmic cell living, but structureless. From this microscopic beginning life developed by the principle of evolution. Along the lines of heredity natural selection and adaptation to environment. And the struggle for existence from lower to higher powers of life from these the higher still till ultimately it culminated in man.

David said:

Psalm 139:14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

John said:

John 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Man was made in God’s image and has the ability to think, to communicate and to have a living relationship with his God. Man was made to glorify God.

When a life is cruelly taken, God’s divine purpose is challenged. The murderer shakes his fist in the face of a life giving God.

When we destroy man we insult God. We are made in his image. Sometimes on a bonfire an effigy will be burned. The idea is to insult the one whom the effigy represents. Murder insults God.

We cannot over emphasise the extreme importance of keeping this commandment. When we hear of someone made in the image of God being murdered. We should be shocked and horrified. Have we not become accustomed to it? It is a God affronting sin. Consider first Corinthians.

1 Cor. 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

Every person is potentially a temple of the Holy Ghost, a place wherein God can dwell.

There are three crying sins in the Bible.

• Oppression.

Psalm 12:5 For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the Lord; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.

• Sodomy.

Genesis 18:21 I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.

• Murder.

Genesis 4:10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.

What a serious thing it is to take another’s life. David had committed adultery but what plagued him the most?

Psalm 51:14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

This is a sin that affronts God, it cries out to God because it is of the Devil.

John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

Man is made in the image of God with the potential for a relationship with his God. Man is made to glorify and worship the Lord. For one to end that possibility by taking another’s life is defiance in the extreme.

Job 1:21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.

The Lord gives, it is the Lord alone who has the sovereign right over our life.

Some Exclusions From This Commandment.

I was in Belfast city centre on one occasion and a lady was selling vegetarian cookery books. I knew she was only masquerading and that she was representing one of the cults. I asked her about the Lord Jesus and she said , "The Bible says, thou shalt not kill and you shouldn’t kill animals," Was she correct?

We have looked at man being made in the image of God. Animals are not. They are not capable of a relationship with a holy and a righteous God.

Exodus 20:24 An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee.

In this very chapter where we find the Ten Commandments, God give instructions for animal sacrifices, God certainly wouldn’t contradict himself.

Genesis 9:3 Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.

Acts 10:13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.

So it is not wrong to kill animals for food. Animal rights people confuse the issue.

However we are not to treat animals unkindly or cruelly.

Proverbs 12:10 A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.

Luke 12:6 Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?

What about the question of war?

John 18:36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

Some would look upon verses like these and say that Jesus was opposed to war and war is wrong.

No doubt war is terrible.

70000 bombed into eternity at Hiroshima. World War Two claimed the lives of 20 million Russians, 6 million Jews, 6.5 million Germans and 1 million allies.

War is terrible.

Vietnam cost 4 million Vietnamese and 58000 Americans lives.

Is it wrong to go to war? Should Christians abstain?

In the Old Testament God authorised the use of war on many occasions.

Ezekiel 14:17 Or if I bring a sword upon that land, and say, Sword, go through the land; so that I cut off man and beast from it:

In the New Testament we meet some soldiers.

Luke 3:14 And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.

John The Baptist didn’t tell the soldiers to leave the army.

The Lord commended the centurion’s faith.

Matthew 8:10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

Another soldier, Corneilus was mentioned for his piety.

Acts 10:1-4 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, [2] A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. [3] He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius. [4] And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.

Paul was happy to employ a military guard.

Acts 23:31 Then the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris.

The government of the day has a right and a duty to defend their people.

Romans 13:4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

1 Peter 2:14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.

I believe it is not wrong to go to war in certain circumstances. Unjust and hasty wars are surely wrong especially when undertaken without good and necessary cause. Wars undertaken for ambition or avarice or in order to extend the boundaries of a country are despicable.

When President George Bush declared war in the Gulf he described it as a just war that was the term used by Augustine many years ago.

Jerry Vines lists some concepts that are involved in a just war.

• To stop aggression in the world.
• As an intent to secure justice for all.
• Only as a last resort.
• Only established governments have that right.

There are times when war is justified.

I believe capital punishment doesn’t break this commandment.

A judge who has capital punishment at his disposal, but lets a murderer go free would be guilty of breaking this commandment if the culprit should re offend. .

The danger with this is that courts are not infallible but the principle is laid down in scripture.

Genesis 9:6 Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.

Leviticus 24:17 And he that killeth any man shall surely be put to death.

Romans 13:3-4 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: [4] For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

Governments have a God given responsibility to deal effectively with murderers.

"They should not let the sword be too sharp that is severity nor should the edge be too blunted that would be leniency." Thomas Watson.

Examples Of How This Commandment Is Broken.

This commandment is broken by homicide that should be pretty obvious.

This commandment is broken by suicide. We do not have the right to take our own lives. Whilst every sympathy goes out to those who have felt no other way to turn, suicide is self murder and is a sin.

But let me mention one other way in which this commandment is broken that is by abortion.

Over 30 million babies in USA have been aborted from 1973.

The courts have declared it is the mother’s right to do what she wants with her body. The rights of the unborn child are not recognised.

In 1967 before the abortion act, there was a major conference among medics on abortion, they said:

"The majority of our group could find no point in time between the union of the sperm and egg and the birth of the infant at which point we could say that the foetus was not a human being, the stages between implantation, a six week embryo, a six month foetus, a one week old child, a mature adult are just stages of development."

Something that has the potential to become something that is made in the image of God should be treated with respect.

Jeremiah 1:5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

Luke 1:41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:

Psalm 139:13-16 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. [14] I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. [15] My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. [16] Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

In the New Testament the word used for baby is ‘brephus.’

Luke 2:12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

The same word was used for an unborn child.

Luke 1:41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:

Abortion is a cruel violation of the sixth commandment.

At seventeen days the unborn baby has new life in its own blood cells. At 18 days the unborn baby has pulsation. At 19 days the eyes start to develop. At 20 days the foundation of the entire nervous system is laid down. At 24 days heart has regular beats. At 28 days arms and legs are forming you can place an object in its hand it will grab it. It can swim, kick and turn summersaults.

At thirty days there is a regular blood flow and a vascular system. The eyes and nasal development have begun. At 40 days heart energy output is 20% of an adult, at 42 days the skeleton is complete and reflexes are present. At 43 days brain wave patterns have been recorded. [Thinking is taking place] At 49 days the baby looks like a miniature doll. At 7 weeks it has fingers and toes. At 8 weeks all the organs are functioning.

For the following reasons we can surely call abortion murder.

• Victim innocent.
• Victim helpless.
• Order comes from mum.
• Calculated act.
• Paid killing [USA].

There are many types of murderers. Drunk drivers implicate also those who sell alcohol.

1 John 3:15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

John 18:30 They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee.

The pen can commit murder.

2 Samuel 12:9 Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.

Matthew 2:8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

Matthew 2:13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.

Acts 22:20 And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him.

There are more murderers around than we might imagine.

Examine The Motives Behind Breaking This Commandment.

Paul declares that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. What else did he say of man?

Romans 3:15 Their feet are swift to shed blood:

Some would say, "not me." All of us have within us that capacity. Praise God for his grace. But what are the root causes of murder?

Do we have some of them abiding in us?

Leviticus 19:17 Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.

1 John 3:15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

Proverbs 14:30 A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.

Matthew 5:21-22 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: [22] But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

Revenge.

Romans 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

Galatians 5:15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.

Perhaps this commandment challenges, if not our actions, at least some of our thoughts.

Thou shalt not kill.

Something Extraordinary.

Is there any hope for murderers?

David, Moses and Paul all found hope yet they all were all guilty of murder.

Acts 3:13-15 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. [14] But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; [15] And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.

Are we not guilty of the murder of Christ? Was it not your sin and mine that killed the Lord Jesus Christ?

Have we not found forgiveness with the Lord?

Pray for those who have committed such terrible deeds that they might find Christ that they might truly repent and become light bearers for the gospel.

Could we ever be guilty of causing the eternal death of someone?

Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Could it be that we are guilty of blocking someone’s view of the Lord Jesus Christ through a poor testimony, through lack of love and by our sinful attitudes?

What a charge would be laid at our feet, if some dear soul was lost in hell because we didn’t pray, we didn’t reach out or we didn’t live before them!

God gives us life. We should do what we can to protect our own, to preserve others and live for his Glory.

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