You shall not MURDER (Exodus 20:13 NKJ)

Thou shalt not KILL (Exodus 20:13 KJV)

• In 400 years since the first KJV was published, the English language has changed. There’s quite a big difference between kill and murder.
• To KILL : the taking of any life whether human being or animal.
• To MURDER: the illegal or immoral taking of a human life only.

The 6^th commandment “You shall not murder” was given by God to set a standard for human civilization.

In the New Testament, Jesus elevated that standard:

You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire. (Matthew 5:21-22 NKJ)

• Jesus took the big act of murder and broke it into tiny acts of murder.
• Jesus is making the point: Murder begins in the heart, where the root is found.
• He challenges us to dig to the root.

“When solving problems, dig at the roots instead of just hacking at the leaves.” Anthony  J D’Angelo

ROOT # 1: THE ROOT OF MURDER IS HATE

But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him. (Genesis 37: 4NKJ)

Now when they saw him afar off, even before he came near them, they conspired against him to kill him. (Genesis 37:18 NKJ)

• The root of murder is hate.

Whoever HATES his brother is A MURDERER, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. (1 John 3:15 NKJ)

ROOT#2: THE ROOT OF HATE IS ANGER

When it was time for the harvest, Cain presented some of his crops as a gift to the Lord. Abel also brought a gift—the best portions of the firstborn lambs from his flock. The Lord accepted Abel and his gift, but he did not accept Cain and his gift. This made Cain very angry, and he looked dejected. (Genesis 4:3-5 NLT)

• Cain was angry because God rejected his offering.
• His anger was never dealt with. He instead directed his anger towards Abel.
• Anger is an emotion. One can be angry but not act on it.
• When acted upon, anger becomes sin.

And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, (Ephesians 4: 26 NLT)

• Sin is when anger controls you.

One day Cain suggested to his brother, “Let’s go out into the fields.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother, Abel, and killed him. (Genesis 4: 8 NLT)

ROOT #3: THE ROOT OF ANGER IS OFFENSE

And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue.  And many hearing Him were ASTONISHED, saying, “Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands! Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” So they were OFFENDED at Him. (Mark 6:2-3 NKJ)

• Astonished: to strike, to expel by a blow, to drive out. (Strong’s Concordance)

So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were FILLED WITH WRATH and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff. (Luke 4:28-29 NKJ)

• Their offense led to anger. Anger to hate. Hate to murder.

The Greek word for offense is: Skandalon: A trap

• A trap-stick: a bated stick holding open a trap, tempting the prey to touch it, and causing the trap to shut on them.

Offense: Skandalon also means “a stumbling stone”

• An offense is a stumbling block on your path.
• You can step over it or trip over it.
• You can pick it up and carry it.

How should we reconcile all of this: Murder, Hate, Anger, Offense? FORGIVENESS.

The root of Forgiveness is Love!

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you. (Matthew 5:43-44 NKJ)

• The word forgiveness means “RELEASE”. When God forgave you, He released you.
• When you truly forgive someone, you release them!

 

CONCLUSION

What is the Holy Spirit saying to you through this message?