AUG 22

Exodus 20:13
Memorise Exodus 20:13
“Thou shalt not kill”

This is one of those commandments that is universally agreed upon. You don’t have to be a Christian, or even a particularly pious person to acknowledge that killing is never right. Our conscious would tell us that we should never take the life of another human.

We realise however, that this commandment does not mean that we should not kill anything at all. Animals and plants are living things that God had told us we can kill for our nourishment, for He told Noah after the flood, “Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things” (Genesis 9:3). Clearly, this commandment is against the killing of fellow human beings, as was elaborated on in the chapters of Exodus that followed and also in the book of Leviticus.

Also, from a study of the various laws and punishments taught by Moses, we learn that there are instances in which killing of another human is required, as it is at times the punishment for offences that are deemed serious enough. The state or civil law, therefore, does have the authority and right to exercise capital punishment, whereby criminals would have to be put to death for certain crimes that they have done. Other instances in which killing is permitted would be in the case of war, or accidentally in self-defence.

However, as decent moral persons, we naturally know that it is never right to take the life of another, no matter how serious the dispute is, or how justified you feel in doing so. Within this commandment, suicide is also not permitted, for you are killing yourself.

Instead, what we must have is a high view of human life, realising that we are all made in the image of God, and are beings precious in the sight of the Lord. Instead of murder, we must promote life; instead of hate, we have love; instead of anger and malice, we seek joy and peace. There should be no room in a Christian’s heart for hatred, anger or animosity, for he has the love of God shed abroad in his heart. He has experienced God’s love, and thus has the duty to share it with everyone around him.

Thought: Every human life is precious.
Prayer: Lord, help me to see every soul as precious in Your sight, having been made in Your image.