A Study Of The Ten Commandments #4
6. Rule #6, Respect Human Life:
Exodus 20:13 “Thou shalt not kill.”
The Israelites are told that to take a human life is a crime. God Forbids it. Here the sin is simply and emphatically denounced. The brevity of the precept increases its force. When Cain slew Able He could scarcely have known the consequences of his actions. Yet a terrible punishment was awarded him for his transgression.
After the Flood the punishment for this terrible crime was set by God Himself. Genesis 9:6. Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.
The Sixth Commandment was given to guard the sacredness of human life. It was and still is given by the breath of God.
Genesis 2:7. And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Three things in this verse sets man above and apart from all the rest of God’s creation. The first part of the verse tells us that “God formed man”…… The rest of the Earth’s living creatures were brought out of earth by the sound of His Voice. Genesis 1:24. And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so. But man according to the Psalmist David, “Is fearfully and wonderfully made.”
The second part of the verse tells us that the Breath of God brought life. Life on earth did not start by the warm temperature of the sun on some microorganism or a lightening bolt. All life is given by God. Acts 17:25. Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, “seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;” The last part of the following verse tells us the most valuable thing about man. Genesis 2:7. ……. “and man became a living soul.” What is so important about this? Man became an imperishable Being. The Soul of man shall live on through eternity. Someday God will reclaim the souls He has given.
Ecclesiastes 12:7. Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
So in the light of the immortality of the soul we want to look at the Sixth Commandment. We must respect human life and not intentionally be responsible for ending it. When a wound is inflicted upon the body sufficient to cause death then the soul is released to the Spirit World, There it awaits the Judgment. Never to be born into this world a second time.
As long as there is life in the body a person has a chance to be saved. We want to take a look at the first homicide in the world. Sin had entered the world through his parents.
Genesis 4:1. And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.
2. And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
3. And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.
We do not know what prompted the first sacrifice. It is said an offering or sacrifice is given to appease or entice, God or to release one’s guilt. Cain was first.
Genesis 4:4. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
5. But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
I feel like there was something wrong in Cain’s heart or life. Jesus says in,
Matthew 5:23. Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
24. Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
Could it have been that there had been a falling out? Let us notice the progression of unresolved sin.
Genesis 4:6. And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
7. If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
“You do what is right that’s all I require”
Genesis 4:8. And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
9. And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper?
10. And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground.
13. And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear.
16. And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.
Cain had blood on his hands. David was forbidden to build the Temple because he had blood on his hands. Paul felt the load of remorse of his early life.
Acts 7:58. And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.
Acts 8:1. “And Saul was consenting unto his death.” ……..
3. As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
Acts 9:1. And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
Paul heard the disciples sing, pray and preach and testify. It seemed that nothing would touch Saul. He had hardened his heart until all had given up hope that he would be saved.
Then the Damascus Road, the Burning Sand, A Heavenly Voice and Saul was praying. Paul became his Lord’s greatest Disciple and was driven by a compulsion to reach the whole world with the Gospel.
Romans 15:20. Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man’s foundation:
1 Corinthians 9:16. For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!
Why did he have to do it? Because he still heard the screams of men, women and children. He still saw the face of Stephen shining like an Angel.
Acts 22:4. And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.
Could this have been Paul’s “Thorn in the flesh, the messengers of Satan to buffet him?”
Brother J.T. Pugh said He is disturbed by failing to be a witness to some of his boyhood friends. What if someone had failed to tell John Fuller about the love of Jesus. God gave us the Sixth Commandment to let us know the value of life.
Jesus says these things originate in the heart. Almost 3,000,000 abortions are performed annually in our country alone. More deaths this way in one year than all the soldiers we have lost in all the wars since American became a nation. Over 200 years.
Some people are killing themselves, some slowly some violently through harmful habits. Tobacco and alcohol is a killer.
Matthew 26:52. Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
Have respect for human life. The Bible was written during a cruel age. Human life was almost meaningless and of little value. But we have really advanced in this respect. Last year in the U.S.A. there were almost 30,000 murders. Souls sent to meet their God.
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Rule #7, Be faithful To Your Spouse:
Exodus 20:14 “Thou shalt not commit adultery.”
The Commandment which safeguards human life is followed by this rule which protects the family. This Commandment asserts the sacredness of marriage union. The connection of the two commandments suggests that the home is the next most sacred thing to life itself.
The original marriage was sealed with these words. Genesis 2:20. …. “but for Adam there was not found an help mate for him.”
21. And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; 22. And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
23. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. 24. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
Marriage is two people coming from two different roads, two different environments, two different backgrounds and two different families. They meet at the altar, there to be fused and forged into one. They join hands and hearts to travel life’s road as one. Adam says “As one flesh.”
It is a union of two persons to face the difficulties of life, all the hardships that may come, and all the disappointments. Together they share the joys of life as well as the responsibilities which go with it. Dishes, Curtains, and Paintings.
These responsibilities weigh heavily on each partner in keeping the seventh commandment. Something new and distinct takes place in the marriage vows. Old ties are broken and this new one is formed. This phrase ‘One Flesh’ is all important. This principle runs right through the Bible. Whenever, this subject is dealt with. In 1 Corinthians 6:16, Paul says that the terrible thing about fornication is that a man becomes one flesh with a harlot. Thou shalt not go outside this union to fulfill certain fleshly lust. The Christian Law of Marriage was raised to lofty heights by Paul.
Ephesians 5:25. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
28. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
Paul tells us this signifies the mystical union between Christ and His Church.
1 Peter 3:7. Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
Honor from the same Greek word which was translated in 1 Peter 1:19, “The Precious Blood of Christ.” Husbands are to deem helpmates which God has given them precious, and are to treat them with honor.
Giving “To assign to, to portion off.” Husbands are to keep a special place of honor in their hearts for their wives. Husbands are to treat their wives with special deference, courtesy, respect and kindness.
Vessel — Refers to a vessel or instrument used in the service of the Temple. Sacred
Paul is called “A Chosen vessel” a Chosen Instrument of God. Peter says the wife is the “Weaker Vessel” Not morally, or intellectually but physically. The Husband should pay due honor to the wife because she is a joint heir together with Him of the Grace of Life, Eternal Life, and the Gift of God.
Hindered — To Interrupt
Failure to give due honor to the wife will result in an interruption of their prayers. There should be a bond, a relationship, an intimacy between husband and wife which is shared with no one.
Husbands and wives should have secrets which they do not share with anyone else. Watch your contacts with the opposite sex which could lead to unfaithfulness to your spouse. Be true to your spouse.
Hebrews 13:4. Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
Honorable — Held as of great price, esteemed, especially dear.
Titus 2:4. That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
5. To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
Sober – “To make sane or sober minded, to recall a person to his senses.”
We should all be familiar with the results of David’s adulterous affair.
1. Joab became his master
2. One of David’s son’s had an incestuous affair with his sister, Tamar.
3. Another son then slew the brother for this.
4. Absalom, David’s son, led a rebellion against David.
5. Absalom was slain by Joab.
6. The child, which was conceived in David’s adulterous affair died. Even after David prayed and sought God for him.
God “Set aside” David’s sin, but allowed trouble to plague David all the rest of his life. Adultery and fornication are sins which are especially clinging.
1 Corinthians 6:16. What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.
But he that is joined unto the Lord is one Spirit. Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that commiteth fornication sinneth against his own body. Be faithful to your spouse.
Matthew 5:27. Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
28. But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
Jesus offered them hope. Even adultery is not the unpardonable sin. Following is what Paul says: 1 Corinthians 6:18. Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
It is a terrible sin, but God forbid that there should be anyone who feels that he or she has sinned himself outside the love of God or hopelessly lost forever. No; If you truly repent and realize the awfulness of your sin and cast yourself upon the boundless love and mercy and grace of God, you can be forgiven and receive pardon. But hear the Words of Jesus “Go and Sin No More.”
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