The Shorter Catechism turns
now to the sixth commandment, “Thou shalt not kill.” The next two questions ask
what is required and forbidden by this commandment. The Larger Catechism
parallel (WLC Q135), takes asks what “duties” are required, and answers, in
part, that “the duties required in the sixth commandment are, all careful
studies, and lawful endeavors, to preserve the life of ourselves and others by
resisting all thoughts and purposes, subduing all passions, and avoiding all
occasions, temptations and practices, which tend to the unjust taking away the
life of any; by just defense thereof against violence, patient bearing of the
hand of God, quietness of mind, cheerfulness of spirit…” WLC Q135 has more to say,
and is worth considering as we commence our WSC study of the sixth commandment.
Again, let us pray that the truth of God’s Word and commandments
will continue to guide our thoughts, words, and deeds as we live before others
in the presence of our God – coram Deo.
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WSC Q67. Which is the sixth commandment?
A. The sixth commandment
is, Thou shalt not kill.[a]
[a] Ex. 20:13; Deut. 5:17
Question #67 asks what the sixth commandment is, and answers that
the sixth commandment is, You shall not murder.
Comments and considerations:
As has been noted before,
these studies always open with a paraphrase of the catechism question at hand,
a more modern rendition, as the original catechism was written with reference
to the King James Version of Scripture. You should have noticed the word kill
(KJV) in the original, but murder in the paraphrase. Although the Hebrew word
can be translated either way, murder is a better choice; several more recent
translations use the word murder as it is understood in the broader context of
God’s teaching regarding the taking and protecting of human life.
First, let it be understood
that we are dealing here with the issue of human life. It is mankind that is
created in the image of God, and in this commandment, He commands us to
preserve human life. Second, God here prohibits the unwarranted and
unauthorized taking of human life. There is a difference between “killing” and
“murder.”
By definition murder is the
act of unlawfully killing a human being with premeditated malice, by a person
of sound mind (Webster’s 1828 Edition). The key phrase is “unlawfully killing.”
Scripture does teach the lawful means for taking human life by ordained
authorities in the case of capital punishment (Gen. 9:6); it recognizes the
necessity of taking human life to maintain the peace and security of a society,
both in the internal and external defense of life and property. The means for
such action is within the due process law of established authorities. Courts
render judgments for crimes, and nations render national defense of their
citizens. To murder is to take an individual’s life without just cause; to keep
this commandment is to protect and promote the life of the innocent.
Still, the commandment is more than a prohibition against killing;
it shows God’s hatred of the sinful, murderous heart. See how the definition
above mentions unlawful killing “with premeditated malice.” The word malice, in
tone alone, aside from the definition, says so much. Jesus taught that murder
begins in the heart:
“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 (Matt. 5:21).
Our Lord didn’t mince his words, and neither did James when he
said,
Where do wars and fights come
from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in
your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot
obtain… Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you
double-minded (James 4:1-3, 7-8).
The opposition to capital punishment and just war theory so often
appeal to “Thou shalt not kill” without regard to the larger context of
biblical reasoning. And yet, from all these debates have come more rancor, name
calling, and defamation of character; and the world is no closer to peace and
harmony. God knows our hearts better than we know ourselves; we ought to keep
that in mind as we cast down our vain imaginations before his inspired wisdom
(II Cor. 10:5). He has ordained and established structures of justice for an
orderly and just society. If we don’t heed his commandments, we do so to our
own detriment and the harm of those around us.
Training
Hearts and Teaching Minds Questions:
1.
Read Gen. 9:6. After the flood, when Noah and his family began
life on earth all over again, God gave Noah a command for all mankind. What was
that command, and what is the reason given for not taking a person’s life?
o
In Training Hearts and
Teaching Minds, Starr Meade comments on this saying, “To attack people is
to attack God who made them in His image. Killing an animal or a bird or a fish
is different. These creatures belong to God and we should treat them with
compassion and glorify Him in how we use them. But it is not wrong to catch and
kill a fish to eat or to put a sick dog to sleep. It is wrong to kill a human
being because human beings bear the image of God. To hurt or kill a human being
is not only cruel, it is insulting to God.”
2.
God instructs His people in the Bible as to how they may or may
not keep his commandments. There are times when killing a human being does not
break God’s command not to murder. Read Ex. 22:2. Here we see that it is
permissible to take another life in self-defense. What is defended in this
verse? How might we apply this in other forms of self-defense?
3.
Num. 35:30 gives another example of a time when it is permissible
to take another life. The apostle Paul wrote in Rom. 13:1-4 on the same topic.
What is described in these instructions? (Also see Gen. 9:5-6.)
4.
This command applies not only to taking the life of another, but
also to taking our own life. Sometimes people are tempted to “end the pain” of
difficult circumstances by ending their own life. However, the Bible teaches us
that we need to see our circumstances rightly. What does I Pet. 4:19 say about
this?
5.
We need to guard our hearts and thinking, for if we think
sinfully, we will act sinfully. What types of attitudes can lead us to murder,
and what does I John 3:11-15 say on this issue?
Harmony of the Standards: WSC Q67, WLC
134, and WCF XXIII
WSC
Q67. Which is the sixth commandment?
A. The sixth commandment is, Thou shalt not kill [a].
[a] Ex. 20:13; Deut. 5:17
WLC Q134. Which is the sixth commandment?
A. The sixth commandment is, Thou shalt not kill[a] .
[a] Exod. 20:13
WCF
- CHAPTER. XXIII.
Of the Civil Magistrate.
I. God, the supreme Lord and King of all the
world, hath ordained civil magistrates to be under him, over the people, for
his own glory, and the public good: and, to this end, hath armed them with the
power of the sword, for the defense and encouragement of them that are good,
and for the punishment of evil doers[a].
[a] Rom. 13:1-4; I Pet. 2:13-14
II. It is lawful for Christians to accept and
execute the office of a magistrate, when called thereunto[b]: in the managing whereof, as they ought
especially to maintain piety, justice, and peace, according to the wholesome
laws of each commonwealth[c]; so, for that end, they may lawfully, now under
the new testament, wage war, upon just and necessary occasion[d].
[b] Gen. 41:39-43; Neh. 12:26; Neh. 13:15-31; Dan.
2:48- 49; Prov. 8:15-16; Rom. 13:1-4
[c] Ps. 2:10-12; I Tim. 2:2; Ps. 82:3-4; II Sam.
23:3; I Pet. 2:13
[d] Luke 3:14;
Rom. 13:4; Matt. 8:9-10; Acts 10:1-2
III. Civil magistrates may not assume to themselves the
administration of the Word and sacraments; or the power of the keys of the
kingdom of heaven[e]; or, in the least, interfere in matters of faith[f]. Yet,
as nursing fathers, it is the duty of civil magistrates to protect the church
of our common Lord, without giving the preference to any denomination of
Christians above the rest, in such a manner that all ecclesiastical persons
whatever shall enjoy the full, free, and unquestioned liberty of discharging
every part of their sacred functions, without violence or danger[g]. And, as Jesus Christ hath appointed a regular
government and discipline in his church, no law of any commonwealth should
interfere with, let, or hinder, the due exercise thereof, among the voluntary
members of any denomination of Christians,
according to their own profession and belief[h]. It is the duty of civil magistrates to
protect the person and good name of all their people, in such an effectual
manner as that no person be suffered, either upon pretense of religion or of
infidelity, to offer any indignity, violence, abuse, or injury to any other
person whatsoever: and to take order, that all religious and ecclesiastical
assemblies be held without molestation or disturbance[i].
[e] II Chron. 26:18; Matt. 18:17; Matt. 16:19; I
Cor. 12:28-29; Eph. 4:11-12; I Cor. 4:1, 12; Rom. 10:15; Heb. 5:4
[f] John 18:36; Acts 5:29; Eph. 4:11-12
[g] Isa. 49:23; Rom. 13:1-6
[h] Ps. 105:15
[i] Rom. 13:4; I Tim. 2:2
IV. It is the duty of people to pray for
magistrates[k], to honour their persons[l], to pay them tribute or other
dues[m], to obey their lawful commands, and to be subject to their authority,
for conscience sake[n]. Infidelity, or
difference in religion, doth not make void the magistrates' just and legal
authority, nor free the people from their due obedience to them[o]: from which
ecclesiastical persons are not exempted[p], much less hath the pope any power
and jurisdiction over them in their dominions, or over any of their people;
and, least of all, to deprive them of their dominions, or lives, if he shall
judge them to be heretics, or upon any other pretense whatsoever[q].
[k] I Tim. 2:1-3
[l] I Pet. 2:17
[m] Matt.
22:21; Rom. 13:6-7
[n] Rom. 13:5; Titus 3:1
[o] I Pet. 2:13-16
[p] Rom. 13:1; Acts 25:9-11; II Pet. 2:1, 10-11;
Jude 8-11
[q] Mark 10:42-44;
Matt. 23:8-12; II Tim. 2:24; I Pet. 5:3
Question(s) for further study:
The
two catechism questions are identical; but here we bring in the matter of the
civil magistrate and the maintenance of a just and orderly society. Our fathers’ do much in helping us understand
the two spheres of ordained authority that make for and maintain a justice and
peaceful society. What are they, and
what two aspects of human action do they address? (1)
1-
Civil Authority – “the hand”, and the Church – the thoughts and intents of “the
heart.”
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