This is part of an ongoing series on the Ten Commandments. God’s word reveals to us the laws he requires for living in the world as he has ordered it, and only by living according to this law are we able to flourish and enjoy our creational purpose: to glorify God and enjoy him. This series explores how Christians, whose identity is in Christ and whose inheritance is stored in eternity, should live under and live out the Ten Commandments.
“You shall not murder.”— Exodus 20:13
The Ten Commandments have long been symbols of justice and moral uprightness, whether inscribed on statues outside public courthouses or worn as jewelry. They’ve been commercialized by Hollywood (made into a 1956 Charlton Heston movie) and watered down by public figures—Ted Turner calls them “the ten suggestions.” Even though the culture may not know what to do with the Ten Commandments, Scripture makes it clear that they are the law of God and they reveal both positive and negative mandates for living (Rom. 13:8–10). Regarding the value of human life, the Sixth Commandment captures our attention.
In a prohibitory sense, this commandment guards us against the unjust taking of life. Even by what is prohibited, however, we see that the scope of the commandment is much more comprehensive than we might first suppose. The Jews of the New Testament took a minimalist view of this commandment—if you don’t murder anyone, you’ve upheld it! But Jesus says anyone who harbors anger in their heart has committed murder (Matt. 5:21–24). Clearly, there is more to this commandment than we might like to acknowledge.
The Westminster Larger Catechism says that this commandment also prohibits “the neglecting or withdrawing the lawful and necessary means of preservation of life” (Matt. 25:42–43, James 2:15–16). For example, we break the Sixth Commandment if we withhold goods from others that would promote their well-being.
In a positive sense, this command not only speaks of restraining evil against our neighbor but of actively promoting their welfare. The Puritan Thomas Watson writes, “This commandment implies that we should be so far from ruining others, that we should do all we can to preserve the lives of others.” This gives us a proper understanding of our duty to show respect and dignity to all people, at all ages, in all circumstances.
This plays out in the societies we live in in various ways. Often in conversations about abortion, both sides accuse each other of holding a position that is too narrow. On one side, the concern primarily lies with the life of a child before birth. The other side prioritizes the life of the mother and family, or the child’s life after birth: the kind of healthcare, education, home environment, and so on that he or she is likely to have. But a robust understanding of the sixth commandment shows the validity of both sets of concerns. We must protect the well-being of both the born and the not-yet-born. While we may share differing views on how best to do that, we should agree that this principle of protecting both unborn life and post-natal life is scriptural. It is part of loving our neighbor as ourselves.
And this commandment not only presses on externals—our actions and attitudes—it puts a magnifying glass on our hearts. We should be filled with “charitable thoughts, love, compassion, meekness, gentleness, kindness” towards all. Jesus doesn’t command an absence of hatred only. He says that love for our neighbors must shape our thoughts and motives.
Seeking to be obedient to this commandment, and all of God’s Word, we’re reminded of how much and how often we fall short of God’s standard (Rom. 3:23). In Christ Jesus, however, we find the one who was perfectly obedient in every way, the one who perfectly loved both God and neighbor at every point with every faculty of his being. In him, we see the one who didn’t take life but instead laid his life down so that many might live through him (Mark 10:45, 1 John 4:9–10).
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- This article was adapted from Sola Media’s resource, Fearfully Made. Read the full devotional here.
Arie Van Weelden
