Killing is a great evil.
Killing is evil for at least 7 reasons.
- It is forbidden in Scripture repeatedly and explicitly.
Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy explicitly condemn murder. Also, the Sermon on the Mount, the Synoptic gospels (Rich Young Ruler), and the epistles (Rom. 13:9; James 2:11) all condemn murder. Murders is listed as one of the 7 sins that God hates (Pro. 6:17)
2. It is punished in the heaviest way.
The death penalty is the punishment for murder. Since the punishment must fit the crime, and God has told us the equivalent punishment, we know the severity of the crime.
3. It includes a great many other sins.
Murder includes temptation to other sins. How many laws did Jezebel break when attempting to kill Naboth?
Murder includes other sins by default.
The 6th Command = The 8th Command: Murder (the 6th) is a kind of theft (the 8th) because it takes away someone else’s most scarce possession.
The 6th Command = The 9th Command: Murder (the 6th) is a kind of lying (the 9th) because it is a plain statement that his life is not valuable or dignified; further that I have the authority and right to take that life. The passions that tempt to murder often tempt to lying. See Jezebel and David who both lied in the efforts to murder.
The 6th Command = The 10th Commdn: Murder (the 6th) is a kind of coveting (the 10th) because it is a lusting for a world without this other man in it (James 4:2).
The 6th Command = The 5th Command: Murder (the 6th) is a kind of dishonor to parents (the 5th) because there is no more public dishonor in society than this sin.
The 6th Command = The 7th Command: Murder (the 6th) is adultery (the 7th) because it is the most basic kind of unfaithfulness (James 4:4) to God.
The 6th Command = The 1st Command: Murder (the 6th) is placing yourself as god above Jehovah (The 1st).
The 6th Command = The 2nd Command: Murder (the 6th) is making an idol (the 2nd) of a life without that person in it.
The 6th Command = The 3rd Command: Murder (the 6th) is a taking of God’s name in vain (the 3rd) since His name rests on His image which is found in each man.
The 6th Command =The 4th Command: Murder (the 6th) is the opposite of resting (the 4th). It is a restless soul that refuses to rest in God as the final authority and Christ as a the Savior of sinners.
The 6th Command = All the commands because James 2:10 teaches that he who breaks one law bears guilt for all the laws.
4. It cannot be undone.
5. It takes away what men by nature desire most.
Satan correctly said, ““Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life” (Job 2:4).
“And might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.” Hebrews 2:15
Men desire life for at least 3 reasons. They are afraid of meeting God in judgment. They secretly love this world and its pleasures. They love their sin, and only during this life may they go on freely in their sin.
6. It leads to eternal torment in the lake of fire. Rev. 21:8
All sins separate men from God. But to prick the conscience, God explicitly connects this sin and a few others with the Lake of Fire.
7. It marks a man as a follower of Satan.
“You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning…” (John 8:44).
Satan murders souls (John 10:10). He entices men to murder one another. He distracts us from doing the good of saving life. “No murderer has eternal life…” (1 John 3:15).
All sins are evil, but murder is particularly so.
