THOU SHALT NOT KILL
Exodus 20:13 Thou shalt not kill.
Genesis 9:6 Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.
Religion in this generation has failed to teach us the seriousness of that which this verse instructs. Therefore there is not the proper respect shown to our fellowman. “Social media” has provided us with the opportunity, and the acceptance of safely critically attacking anyone for every imagined infraction with which we disagree. But you might think, surely this much-used venue for the attacking of anyone with whom we disagree is not implied with this commandment! Yet listen how the greatest preacher in all the world expounded it.
Matthew 5:21 ¶ Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: 22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: (that is, “the punishment imposed by the court – the Sanhedrin” – Amplified Bible) and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, (“speaks contemptuously and insultingly to his brother” – Amplified Bible) shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
And that preacher is the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Son of God who shall judge us all on the last day. And consider his instruction concerning that. Matthew 12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. Has our present day religious involvement made us aware of the seriousness of this matter?
But why is this matter so serious? Our relating to mankind is very serious as we are made in the very image of God. And to show disrespect to man is to show disrespect to the Lord Himself! Matthew 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. 45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
The reason Adam was given dominion (“complete authority”) over the entire creation of God is because he was made in God’s image and therefore represented God to all creation. Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 5:1 ¶ This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;
Now carefully consider the sole reason God gave Noah as why man’s shed blood must be avenged! Carefully take note of the word, “for,” as it reveals to us the reason. Genesis 9:6 Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.
But less we narrowly conclude that murder and slander of human kind is exclusively a matter of man’s unbridled emotions, let us consider the real danger in this matter. Our Lord clearly reveals to us just who we are dealing with. John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
In that last quoted verse the Lord reveals that Satan, in his character is diametrically opposed to himself. For Satan seeks to kill, while the Lord comes that they might have life. Satan comes to destroy, while the Lord comes to provide more abundant life; even eternal life. If it were not for the mercy of God, no human would survive. For no human is sufficient to withstand the mighty workings of the god of this world. 2 Corinthians 4:4
To back this up let us read that which was involved in the very first murder. 1 John 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
1 John 3:11 ¶ For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous. 13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
As soon as Satan gained access into God’s creation through Eve’s sin, he immediately goes about to satisfy his lust for murder. He seeks to kill out that which presents itself as being in the image of God. And referring back to our Matthew 5:21,22 passage we see the Lord’s point in revealing that being angry with ones brother without a cause goes hand in hand with murder. And our 1 John 3:12 verse, (just listed), shows us that Cain’s anger, which led to his murdering Abel, was simply because his own works were evil! And in that he epitomized the very nature and spirit of the Devil.
The other option which the Lord reveals to Cain, is not thought of by the one whose wicked hands slew his brother, therefore never by his father, the Devil! And what was that option? The other option is that he could have done better himself and been accepted! Genesis 4:6 And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? 7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? But as Peter states, these are cursed children, which cannot cease from sin! 2 Peter 2:12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; 14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:
These are also those whose wicked hands crucified and slew the Lord of glory. Acts 2:22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: 23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: 7:52 Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:
But even with this horrible, vicious being of the Wicked One, the Lord God is still in sovereign control. For neither Satan nor any murdering human are without God’s control and purpose! For Satan’s limitations as how far he could go in the afflicting of Job were set by God! Job 2:6 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.
And thus he protects his redeemed ones. Psalm 91:4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. 5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; 6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. 7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. 8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
Satan stole the “scepter of dominion” from the hands of Adam, due to sin. He then set himself up as the god of this world. He even had the arrogance to claim to the Lord Jesus that everything in the world was his to give him! Matthew 4:8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
But it was through death that the Lord destroyed him who had the power of death and delivered those who were all their lifetime subject to its bondage! Hebrews 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
Then all the world’s kingdoms came under the absolute power of the Lord Christ! Revelation 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. 16 And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, 17 Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.
Revelation 12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
Then the world which lay in darkness began to see the great light of God’s grace and mercy as preached by the gospel. Matthew 4:16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. 17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For that which the Lord God had purposed from all eternity was now brought into being. 2 Timothy 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, 10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:
The first Adam’s sin allowed Satan to reign in death. But the last Adam’s death at Calvary brings forth the reign of life eternal! Romans 5:17 For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.
God did not ‘create’ the Devil! God created the mighty angel in whose heart wickedness was found, who became the Devil! And make no mistake about it, he shall be cast into the lake of fire and burn eternally in the wrath of God’s judgment. Isaiah 14:12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. 15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. 16 They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; 17 That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners? 18 All the kings of the nations, even all of them, lie in glory, every one in his own house. 19 But thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch, and as the raiment of those that are slain, thrust through with a sword, that go down to the stones of the pit; as a carcase trodden under feet. 20 Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial, because thou hast destroyed thy land, and slain thy people: the seed of evildoers shall never be renowned.
This is the primary danger which causes the murder of those made in God’s image! Therefore we are commanded to Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. And the first part of that verse instructs us as how we are to accomplish this. Here is that first part: James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. For if we are submitted to the Lord God, we cannot be under the wicked influences of Satan! Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
And remember, Hell was only “prepared for the devil.” Matthew 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
But murderers shall have their part with him there! Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. 22:15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
Pastor Gene Breed
March 12, 2022
