No Murder - Part 2

No Murder - Part II
(Ex 20:13)

You shall not murder.

(most Scriptures NASB - many paraphrased)

The Wider Application
	Even here in pride we have not found the whole of the subject. We may restrain our actions, we may restrain our tongue. But the deed cannot be separated from the desire. Often, we will try and find less obvious ways to satisfy our desire to bolster ourselves at another's loss. Character Assassination
		Perhaps we do pretty well at not fighting. Perhaps we even keep a careful muzzle on our tongues, so as to avoid calling our adversary a fool. Yet, we may feel perfectly fine about attacking his character in other ways. Perhaps we will speak so as to bring his integrity into question, or find ways to question his abilities without directly claiming that he is stupid. We may even convince ourselves that this is acceptable behavior, but it isn't. Such attacks are capable of doing more harm than murder itself. As such, they come under the same rule and penalty. The law we are studying applies equally to whatever would degrade our fellow man. If in any way we are acting so as to harm another's character, we are taking vengeance into our own hands. This avenue is not allowed to us. God has provided for proper justice. Woe to us if we insist on our own. Woe to those around us if we insist on our own!
	Refusing to Help
		As with most, if not all, of God's laws, it is not just the prohibition that is in mind, but there is a commanded action opposed to that prohibition. In this case, it is not enough for us to avoid injuring our neighbor's life and character. It is equally required of us that we do all in our power to preserve both his life and his character.
"*He who neglects to save* life is, according to an incontrovertible maxim in law, the SAME as he who takes it away." (Adam Clarke)
		This is harder for us in many ways. We can handle restraining ourselves. We can perhaps even handle treating others with the dignity and honor that is their due. But now, we are being asked to go out of our way to help and protect them! But God! We're doing OK. We're comfortable, here. We're not doing anybody any harm! Oh! But God sees it differently. Insomuch as you didn't do it unto the least of these, you did it not unto Me. Christ came to serve not those in power but those in need. He told His disciples to lead in service, to be exemplary in their willingness to lay down their interests for those in need around them. 1 Jn 3:16 We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. Lk 10:25-29 25 And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and put Him to the test, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" 26 And He said to him, "What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?" 27 And he answered and said, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself." 28 And He said to him, "You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live." 29 But wishing to justify himself, he said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" Lk 10:36-37 36 "*Which* of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers' hands?" 37 And he said, "The one who showed mercy toward him." And Jesus said to him, "Go and do the same."
Conclusion
	From the Westminster Shorter Catechism:
		The sixth commandment requires all lawful endeavors to preserve our own life, and the life of others. The sixth commandment forbids the taking away of our own life, or the life of our neighbor, unjustly, or whatsoever tends thereunto.
	From Calvin's Institutes:
		By this commandment we are enjoined not to do any thing that might harm another, and to do all we can to prevent harm to another. The commandment is not merely for the physical, but for the mental and spiritual as well, for it is anger grown to hatred that leads to violence, and one cannot be angry without the desire to harm being present. Therefore, anger itself is to be done away with. Our neighbor's well being is commended to us both by the imprint of God's image upon him, and by his resemblance to our own flesh. Both ought to require of us a proper attitude of helpfulness toward them, and moreso toward their souls.
	The Tough Cases
		How poorly we compare with our God! He to whom we truly are vastly inferior does not look upon us as expendable fools, but rather as a prize He has sought to obtain throughout the ages! We, who are so utterly worthless, are the object of all God's work in creation! That one we just can't deal with at work? He's the object of all God's work in creation - it's all directed at saving that one. That one who cut us off on the highway yesterday? Him, too. Another object of God's work in creation. Can we - can I - learn to look on all those that I allow to aggravate me as objects of God's work? As targets of God's mercy? As candidates for brotherhood? Lord, help me. I can be so arrogant and proud. It seems, at times, as though I've been trained to be so. This is the work of the enemy, and it simply needs to go. Father, excise this pride in me. Teach me to walk humbly before You. Remind me always that those who most trouble my days are still Your loved ones. Help me to love your loved ones. All of them, Lord.
What is so dear to Your heart must be dear to mine, as well.

©2002 - Jeffrey A. Wilcox