You shall not murder.
What does this mean?
We should fear and love God that we do not hurt or harm
our neighbor in his body, but help and befriend him in
every bodily need.
Like all the commandments, this one is misunderstood by many people on the one hand, who would use it to insist that animals should not be eaten as food, and it’s ignored by many people on the other hand, who think that words and thoughts are not as deadly as weapons.
The Hebrew word used by God in Exodus 20:13 and Deuteronomy 5:17 is tiraʻ, to murder. Jesus quotes from the Greek translation of the Old Testament when he says ou phoneuseis “do not murder” in Matthew 5:21. Killing and murdering are of course not the same thing.
God permits the killing of animals for food (Jesus himself ate meat, both the lamb at the Passover, Matthew 26:21, and broiled fish, Luke 24:42). We hear the Holy Spirit specifically commanding Peter to “kill and eat” meat that had once been forbidden but was now permitted since Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament law (Acts 10:13). God permits and expects the killing of animals when they pose a threat to people (Exodus 21:28).
God also permits human beings to be put to death for certain reasons (but he no longer commands that we must). One of these is as a punishment for committing murder (Matthew 26:52, All who draw the sword will die by the sword). Another case is self defense, whether of an individual or of a nation. A war fought in defense of an ally because of a treaty is also something described in Scripture (1 Chronicles 19:12-14). We must be careful to remember that other reasons for killing—hatred, conquest, revenge, and convenience (as in the case of an abortion) are forbidden by God as murder.
Suicide is a special case; many or perhaps most of those who attempt or commit suicide suffer from depression or other mental illnesses. We must never condone suicide or assist anyone in suicide, but we should try to get them help and counseling. Ignoring the signs of depression or illness that could lead to suicide is being irresponsible with that person’s life.
Hatred, bullying, slander and other hurtful words and actions are also sinful, and fall under the judgment of this commandment. Jesus warned: “Anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment.” (Matthew 5:22).
Jesus also gave up his life to pay for our sins against this and all the commandments. His love is eternal, and he showed us that even a murderer can be forgiven, whether Moses, David or Paul. We have a Savior who loves us, and wants us love one another, too.
Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs. (Proverbs 10:12)
Pastor Smith serves St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in New Ulm, Minnesota. His wife, Kathryn, attended Chapel from 1987-1990 while studying Secondary Education (Theater and Math) at UW-Madison. Kathryn’s father, John Meyer, was also the first man to serve as a Vicar at Chapel.
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