The official was simply doing his job, patrolling his beat as he did every other day, except this day would be different. A man suddenly ambushes him from behind, and murders him in cold blood, marking his last day on duty…marking his last day on this earth. The murder of someone on patrol is enough to make your blood boil, and you immediately think, “An eye for an eye,” “a death for a death.”
The brother was envious of his sibling. The sibling was the favored one. The sibling was the one who got the attention and the accolades. The sibling needed to go. So, while the sibling was engrossed in his work, his brother killed him in cold blood. The murder seems senseless, and you immediately think, “An eye for an eye,” “a death for a death.”
The government official lusted for what he wanted. In his capacity…in his high office, he did not need to get blood on his own hands. He could get what he wanted with just a little manipulation of those below. He could just stand back and allow it to happen. And, he did. The person he wanted gone was gone, and the government official got what he desired. The manipulation and the murder is frustrating to the final degree because you know that he will get away with it and that people will even support him because he is beloved. Still you think, “An eye for an eye,” “a death for a death,” even though in this case, it seems unlikely.
“You shall not murder,” God demands. You shall not intentionally, and maliciously end a life in a premeditative way.
King David, God’s own chosen ruler, murders one of his most devoted soldiers by putting him in the front lines of war, all so that he can steal the soldier’s wife as his own. This was the last example, and it was murder.
Cain murders his own brother, wiping away a quarter of all humanity is one swing, all because he is envious that his brother’s offering to God was favored by God over his own. This was the second example and it was murder.
And, the greatest of all prophets, Moses, decides that he is going to take matters into his own hands and free his people singlehandedly. He murders the official keeping watch over some Israelite slaves as if he can take down an empire with his own two hands. Someone’s family did not get to see their father come home. Someone’s children did not get to hug their father that evening, or ever beyond that day. This was the first example and it was murder.
And, a friend of mine aches for his own friend who just lost his brother, sister-in-law, and beloved niece to some seemingly random gun violence while in their tent, camping in a state park. You do not expect something like this in rural Iowa. It is murder, and the ache in everyone’s heart is beyond comprehension.
Murder
is the opposite of carrying God’s love to your neighbors. Murder is the total refusal to recognize that
the neighbor is a child of the holy one.
Murder is intentionally seeking death rather than life. Murder is intentionally refusing to
acknowledge that God may have given us a gift in the person right in front of
us. It is no wonder that the first time
that the word “sin” shows up in the Bible, it is used in a story that has to do
with murder.
“Sin” in the Hebrew simply means, “To fail.” Sin is failing to do what God would have done. Sin is failing to love those who God loves. Sin is missing the mark and not reaching the goal. Sin is failing to carry the image of God to your neighbor, and whenever we fail to carry God’s image to our neighbor, whether in great ways or small, we are aiding in allowing darkness and death to take hold of this world.
I know you thought you had this commandment down. I know that you thought you would get away clean with this commandment. I, for one, have not murdered anyone, and I am willing to bet that you have not murdered anyone either. And, even those of us who have killed (such as in war), most of us have not done with a malicious intent, which is required for murder. Like me, you thought you were good, that is until I mentioned that failing in great ways or small both aid in allowing darkness and death to take hold.
You see, there is this truth, when coming to the scriptures in an honest and biblical way, that we must contend with. When we read something like, “You shall not murder,” we are not allowed by the Bible to simply take that at face value. “No murder, I am good!” No, you cannot do that. Instead, when we read the Bible, it is intended by the writers that we also consider all harm that falls below the threshold of murder. You shall not murder is a statement, by God, that includes all harm underneath.
You do not believe me? Then listen to the words of God. Listen to what Jesus has to say, “You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not murder’; and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell of fire” (NRSV, Matthew 5:21-22).
So, that time that I called my brother a “no good, rotten jerk face,” we did not swear in my family…that was the worst I could come up with; and when I secretly imagined a sinkhole suddenly swallowing my brother whole, that probably was not viewed by God as my most wholesome and holy moment. In fact, my anger was inviting death one step closer to my soul.
Now, I may be wrong here, but I am not certain that death by sink hole was quite an eye for an eye for refusing to play with me. I am certain that showing anger probably was not the way to go if I wanted my brother to be even remotely interested in playing with me. But, when steps toward death are taken rather than toward life…when anger wins out over love…nothing good ever comes as a result. Playtime does not happen.
But, you already know that. You already know the heartache that comes after a falling out. You already know the destruction to family and friends that unbridled anger can cause. You already know. You have seen sin and death lingering like a beast, ready to pounce at any chance it gets. It tears at your soul even today.
Like, the day I came home from college and tore into my Dad because he accidentally mixed my white socks in with my red shirts. That still haunts me. Was it a murder? No, but it kind of was. Our relationship died a little that day. Things like that tear at your soul.
Here is the good news: God still allowed Moses to be his Prophet, God built Cain a city and protected him from harm, and God allowed David to continue to rule during the golden age of his empire. It is almost as if you can hear David singing the words of the Psalm: the Lord “forgives all your iniquity,” the Lord “redeems your life from the Pit,” the Lord, “crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,” and the Lord is “merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.” The Lord does not “keep his anger forever.”
This is the forgiving love that Jesus shows us. God is not in favor of death. God is life. God creates life. God desires that we be able to carry life to our neighbors in all we do and say. So, Jesus takes our sins and dies with them so that we can have life. First Peter 2:24 says it best, “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.”
Here is a second truth about the commandments. Whenever you read a “shall not” you should automatically be thinking of the accompanying “shall.” For example when you read, “You shall not eat Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, they are bad for you” you should automatically think, “You shall eat something healthy like celery…with peanut butter, dipped in chocolate.” OK, I am not very good at this obviously, so let us close out with someone who is: Jesus.
27“But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. 30Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. 31Do to others as you would have them do to you. 32“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 35But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. 36Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. (Luke 6:27-36)
“You shall not murder.”
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