Am I a Murderer? (Exod 20:13)
Speaker: Rev Dennis Kwok
Date: 06 May 2018

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Sermon notes taken by:

Mrs Sara Wong

God gave the Sixth Commandment (Exod 20:13) to the Israelites. Later when He told them to utterly kill the inhabitants of the Promised Land, He did not contradict Himself. God is the Giver of life, He therefore has the right to take life. God commanded the Israelites to kill because the sins of the inhabitants were full and ready for God’s judgment. Also, it would prevent Israel from going in the idolatrous ways of these inhabitants.

The Sixth Commandment is given to regulate the day to day life of Israel. Hence, it is also found in their civil law – pre-meditated killing (murder): capital punishment; accidental killing: cities of refuge provided.

Killing a man is a serious matter because man is made in the image of God (Gen 9:6). This commandment shows that God is concerned for man’s physical life, besides the spiritual. (Note: The KJV translators were accurate to translate the Hebrew word as “kill” and not “murder” as found in some other English versions.)

Jesus explained this commandment in Matthew 5:21-26. By then, the Jews were just observing the form but not the motives. In verse 22, Jesus pointed out that those who were angry without a cause were in danger of judgment (same punishment as those who kill, verse 21). Being angry is not a sin if it is righteous anger, eg: when God’s Word, work or character are being attacked. Even when we are angry for a just cause, the expression of our anger is also important. When we have unrighteous anger (eg: because of hatred, bitterness, etc, in our heart), it will show forth in our words, like “Raca” (stupid, useless), “fool” (moron). And judgment will be upon us! Check our own heart. When we allow our hatred and bitterness to brew within us, we will kill! Let us quickly repent. It is clear therefore that though we may not take a person’s physical life, the Sixth Commandment is still relevant to us.

Matthew 5:23-26 reveals what we ought to do. Be reconciled with the person who is angry with you, especially before you worship God. Take the initiative to apologise even though you may not be the one who is in the wrong. Apologizing is an essential part of reconciliation. It is needful in order that the parties and witnesses will not be stumbled (we are brothers’ keepers) and can worship God together. This concerns matters of personal grievances. For matters of doctrinal differences, we cannot compromise and reconcile. Instead, we must pray that the other party will see the truth and embrace the truth.



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