"THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT" (An Article by Christian Henry) ~ 7/3/25

“Thou shalt not kill.” (Exodus 20:13)

This is a straightforward command that comes in two parts. The sin which is expressly forbidden here is murder, and the duty implied by it is, "...to preserve our own life, and the life of others." It emphasizes the value of human life and condemns any actions that may lead to the killing of another person. The command encourages respect for all human life, including the unborn, the elderly, and the disabled. It also requires people to take reasonable care to avoid risky behaviors and seek help whenever necessary. So, two things are to be understood in this directive, and those are: not injuring others and not injuring ourselves. We shouldn’t hurt or seek to hurt any other human, and the same goes for hurting or seeking to hurt ourselves.

The first thing we will consider is how we should not harm or injure another person, and there are many ways we can do this: in name, body, and soul.

In their name.

It is a great cruelty to murder one’s good name. We injure others in their name when we slander or lie about them. This is to behead others in their good name, which is an irreparable injury; no physician can heal the wounds of the tongue.

In their body.

Life is the most precious thing a person has, and God put this commandment as a fence around it to preserve it. God made a statute which was never repealed. This commandment forbids all those sins that lead to murder as well and are the occasions of it. Things like:

Unadvised anger. This is when anger boils up blood in the veins, often producing murder.

Envy. Satan envied our first parents the robe of innocence, and the glory of paradise and therefore, he never left them alone until he had brought about their deaths. Joseph's brethren envied him, because his father loved him, and took measures to have him killed because of it. The Bible is full of examples showing how envy and murder go hand in hand.

Hatred. The Pharisees hated Christ because He was better than them and had more honor among the people. Therefore, they never left until they had nailed him to the cross and taken His life. Hatred is a cruel vermin that hungers for blood above all and is ever cruel.

All sins which drive the car to the destination of murder are forbidden here.

In their soul.

We must not injure another's soul. This is the greatest murder of all, because there is more of God's image in the soul than in the body. The soul, though it cannot be annihilated, is said to be murdered once it misses out on the joy of Heaven. Those who corrupt others by their bad example or entice others to sin are considered soul-murderers.

The second thing forbidden in the command is injuring of oneself. Persons may be guilty of self- murder indirectly by thrusting themself into danger which could have been avoided. They would be an accessory to their death. Persons may also be in some sense guilty of their death, by neglecting the use of means or medicine, as well as by excess in diet. Persons may also be guilty of self-murder directly and absolutely. They do this by envy, because while the envious man thinks to hurt another, he destroys himself or when one lays violent hands on himself.