“You shall not kill” - Exodus 20:13.
What makes human life precious? Yahuah made us in His own image
for the purpose of creating in us His own character. For that reason He is “not
willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” - 2 Peter 3:9.
In our world however, human life is so often treated with indifference.
We settle our differences with war, killing hundreds of thousands of other
people in the process.
Unwanted pregnancy is seen as simply an inconvenience that
millions of unborn babies are aborted every year.
Violence is woven into the
fabric of society that we glamorize (something desirable) it in our literature and entertainment
(Television, Movies, Sport & Games).
Who possesses the authority to take human life? Who has the right
to make that decision? The emphasis in the Sixth Commandment is on the word,
you. You shall not murder! You are not to deliberately kill premeditated or
in the anger of the moment.
We must control our tempers. Taking another person's life is not
our right to decide. That judgment is reserved for Yahuah alone.
The Sixth Commandment reminds us that Yahuah is the giver of life,
and He alone has the authority to take it or to grant humans permission to take
it.
Yahuah's preference is for us to be merciful. He is especially
merciful to anyone who repents. “Say unto them, As I live, saith Yahuah, I have
no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way
and live” - Ezekiel 33:11.
Yahuah will eventually administer justice to all who refuse to
repent. Paul instructs us on the proper approach to thoughts of retaliation,
“Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good” - Romans 12:21.
He who has a crooked
heart finds no good, and he who has a perverse (unacceptable) tongue falls into
evil - Proverbs 17:20
This should be the approach of every believer in the Messiah.
How can we put this principle into practice? “You have heard that
it has been said, You shall love your neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I
say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that
hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;…” - Matthew 5:43-45.
Yahuah wants us to go far beyond avoiding murder. He requires that
we have no intent to harm another human being in word or in deed.
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