The Sixth Commandment

                                           Exodus 20:13                  November 1, 2009

                                                                                                              Introduction

I.   There is meaning to the order in which the Ten Commandments are listed.  The sixth commandment is about life.  Honor to God: the first four commandments, and honor to family takes priority, even over life.

                                                                                                 Exposition with Application

You shall not murder.

I.   The commandment not to murder imposes a duty upon us to preserve life.  This brings up two important points.

       A.  The relationship between law and love.  Lev. 19:11-18, Rom. 13:10 The biblical concept of love is always defined in terms of actions; actions in fulfillment of God’s law.

  V.   Neither Christ nor the Scripture ever teach love as simply a feeling in your heart.  God demonstrated His love for fallen man through action. John 3:16

       B.  The Ten Commandments are an integrated whole (James 2:10), grounded in the first commandment to have no other gods.

  V.   By breaking any of the commandments, we place our will above God’s.  The result is death (Romans 6:23), a violation of the commandment not to murder, but to preserve life.

II.   The essence of this commandment and of the Ten Commandments is to worship God alone, for God is the fountain of life (Psa. 36:9, Pro. 13:14).

V.    All life has meaning in terms of God sovereignty.  By sin and rebellion, man cannot escape God’s absolute sovereignty.  Man’s attempt to substitute another purpose in place of God’s brings death and misery.

                                                                                                             Application

I.    Every abuse of our body is a violation of the sixth commandment.  This includes,

        A.   Suicide.

        B.   Immoderate behavior that shortens life: smoking, drinking, drug abuse, overeating, inactivity.

        C.   Risky behavior such as extreme sports and sexual promiscuity.

  V.    Anything that discounts the sanctity of human life puts man’s will for sensual pleasure above God’s will for holiness.

II.   Violent or uncontrolled emotions are also a violation of the sixth commandment (Matt. 5:21-22).  Revenge, anger, pride and the like can breed the hatred which leads to murder or neglect (Eph. 4:24).

V.    We lose control of our emotions when we begin to feel sorry for ourselves that we don’t have what we think we deserve.

V.    The born again believer can rest contented that by God’s grace, he has what he could never deserve: Christ and all His fulness.