The sixth commandment of the Ten Commandments is one of the most well known prohibitions in all of Scripture. It says, “Thou shalt not kill” or You shall not murder,” depending on which English translation you use. I imagine that most Christians would contend that murder is not a sin they regularly struggle with, but is the sixth commandment only prohibiting premeditated murder or is its scope much broader than that? In this study we will explore what the sixth commandment is prohibiting and how it should define our biblical ethic of life and death.
MATTHEW 5:21-22
21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.