The Bible’s first two chapters tell us about God creating everything in the universe. Chapter 2 details the creation of humans.
The Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being (Genesis 2.7).
God gave the Ten Commandments to guide His chosen people on how to best live with Him and others. Clearly, He instructs us not to harm humans, as He is the Creator with sole authority over life and death.
“You shall not murder” (Exodus 20.13).
How Many?
Believe it or not, the Kansas City metro area has a homicide tracker for its metropolitan area. As of Wednesday, July 12, there have been 145 homicides.
I’ve conducted funerals for several individuals who tragically lost their lives through violent acts.
It’s indescribably painful for the families, and extremely challenging to comfort mothers, wives, or children grieving a loved one taken by violence.
Think about how wonderful our city would be if everyone had followed God’s command not to kill.
In April 2023, Reuters reported that up to 354,000 Russian and Ukrainian soldiers have been killed or hurt in the war.
Events in countries like Sudan or Venezuela demonstrate how life can be undervalued globally. If we adhere to the divine command not to kill, it would vastly improve the lives of thousands of people due to this one rule.
What Jesus Taught
It should surprise no one that Jesus spoke on the important matter of not taking a life. After all, this is a life given by God, and only He has the right to end it.
“You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not murder,’ and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.’
“But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment, and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council,
“And if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell of fire” (Matthew 5.21-22).
Jesus asks us to explore the root causes of killing. Anger within us can lead to murderous thoughts. Another cause is dehumanizing others by calling them names.
Jesus reaches our hearts. He helps us fix what’s inside so we won’t feel like hurting others.
As Jesus advises us on actions to avoid, he also guides us on what we should do. This is all in order to obey his command not to harm anyone’s life.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
“But I say to you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven,
“For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous” (Matthew 5.43-45).
Clearly, following Jesus’ guidance means not harming others. Yet, there are more reasons to pray for and strive to love our enemies. Here are some thoughts we should consider.
(1) Loving our enemies can be tough. But, there’s a reward. When we show love to our enemies and pray for them, God helps us grow more in our spiritual journey.
(2) Someone once compared holding onto resentment and unforgiveness to drinking poison, hoping it will harm the other person. By letting go of these feelings through prayer, God will free us to live more fully.
(3) Undeniably, God is the best example of loving enemies. He overcomes his foes by turning them into friends. When we mirror God’s love, our character becomes more like His.
(4) A friend of mine in New Orleans wouldn’t fight a fellow athlete in college. He got his jaw broken, but the next night he helped this same guy meet Jesus as his Savior. His choice to love his enemy led that man to Christ.
Isn’t it much better to see people become Jesus followers, instead of trying to hurt them with anger, scorn, or even physical harm?
YouTube Video
Rudy Ross and I discuss this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
Real Voices 