HAVE YOU MURDERED?

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

"You shall not murder." Exodus 20:13

"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell." Matthew 5:21-22

"Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him." 1 John 3:15

As we have stepped through each of the first five commandments, I think you would agree that none of us have fared well in upholding them properly. At least for me, I have fallen before the Lord for forgiveness after examining each one, praying that He might refine me and help me be stronger in obedience. Maybe He has done the same for you.

Well I came to this sixth commandment and said to myself, "YES! Finally a commandment that I have kept and not violated because I know I have not murdered anyone." And that would have been valid if it weren't for one slight problem…that being the rest of the Bible.

For we see that Jesus, God's One and Only Son, chimed in on the subject of murder in His Sermon on the Mount, the first teachings that He gave to His new disciples…disciples that were firmly rooted in the Law handed down to Moses from God. I'm sure they too felt they were innocent of murder as they sat and listened to Jesus teach. But then Jesus said something that had to get everyone's attention. He said, ""You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell."
Wow. Now wait a minute Jesus. Are you saying that if I just get angry with or insult someone that is akin to murdering them? If this is true, who can be innocent?

Exactly. None of us are innocent. None of us are vindicated by this commandment after Jesus expanded it. And further, we see the verse from First John, chapter 3, that tells us "Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him." We are all convicted unless you can say with all honesty that you have never been angry or held hatred for someone. If you have, I would like to meet you because I have never met anyone yet who hasn't failed in this area.

So what are we to do with these passages and the words of God and Jesus? The answer is…embrace them. Cherish them. Obey them. Jesus knew that the root of murderous actions came in the way of anger and instigation. Remove the anger and hatred within and you can eradicate murder. This is why so much emphasis was placed on emotions we see played out every day. As Christians, we need to model Christ and there were no murderous thoughts inside Him. Instead of preaching hatred, He preached love and even told us that the second commandment after loving God was to love your neighbor as yourself.

What is in your heart today? Do you harbor anger and hatred for anyone or anything? If so, fall to your knees right now and ask the Lord to take these feelings from you replacing them with the love of Jesus, the only true and pure love…a love that would have us die for others, not kill them. Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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