Exodus 20:13 You Shall Not Murder

Biblical Church Worship: A Study of the Ten Commandments 
Exodus 20:3-17

Exodus 20:13 You Shall Not Murder[1]
Reading: Proverbs 1:10-16; I Timothy 1:8-11

Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. 
I John 3:15 NASB

27  "But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28  bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Luke 6:27, 28 NASB
​
I. You Shall Not Murder.
  A. Murder: (Heb. “raw-tsakh”: Dash to pieces, kill, murder)
    1. Cain the first to be guilty of (Gen. 4:8)
    2. Punishable by death (Gen. 9:6; Lev. 24:21; Dt. 19:11-13)
    3. An act done by wicked people (Ps. 10:8)
    4. The opposite of love (Rom. 13:9)
    5. Linked with hatred (I Jn. 3:15)[2]
II. The Origin of Murder (Mt. 5:21, 22): Hatred
  A. Hatred: (Gr. “mis-eh-o”: detest, abhor) (Mt. 5:43, 44; I Jn. 3:15)
    1. Manifestation of (Mt. 5:22)[3]:
      1a. Anger (Gr. “or-geed-zo”: become exasperated, be angry)
        1b. There is a righteous anger (Eph. 4:26)[4].
      2a. Raca (Gr. “rhak-ah”: empty person, worthless)
        1b. Rachel calls her husband Nabal worthless[5] (I Sam. 25:25).
      3a. Fool (Gr. “moe-ros”: dull or stupid)
        1b. The Psalmist speaks of a fool[6] (Ps. 53:1; Mt. 23:17[7]).
  B. Murder reckons people as less than human; less than the image of God (Gen. 1:27; 9:6).
III. Implication: True Worship of God Excludes Hatred of Any Person.
  A. We are called to love our enemies (Mt. 5:43, 44).
  B. We are called to love the Christian brethren (I Jn. 4:20)[8].
IV. Challenge
  A. Who do you view as less than human?
  B. Who do you view as being undeserving of humane treatment?


[1] February 16, 2025 Renewal Bible Fellowship and Hall Church
[2] Hatred is the beginning of murder (Jamieson, 1871).
[3] The heart behind the words rather than the use of the words is what the Lord condemns (Jamieson, 1871).
[4] Ephesians 4:26 and Matthew 5:22 use the same word for “anger” (Gr. “or-geed-zo”).
[5] Heb. “bel-e-yah-al”: worthless, evil, wicked
[6] Heb. “naw-bawl”: stupid, wicked, vile
[7] Jesus uses the word “Raca” in Matthew 23:17.
[8] Gr. “mis-eh-o” is used for hatred in I John 5:20.