The Presbyterian & Reformed Journal: In publication for over 200 years, since 1813.
Life for Life The Sixth Commandment 6.2 Pay life for life Retributive justice, including the death penalty, is required to restore righteousness and peace to the community and to quell inclinations to take revenge. Leviticus 24:17 “Whoever takes a human…
Guard Your Heart The Sixth Commandment 6.1 You shall not hate We must not allow hate, in any form, to take root in our hearts or come to expression in our lives. Leviticus 19:17, 18 “You shall not hate your…
Our Brothers’ Keepers The Sixth Commandment You shall not murder Exodus 20:13 “You shall not murder.” Deuteronomy 5:17 “‘You shall not murder.’” Life must be guarded by all as well. This commandment which prohibits the taking of life also obligates…
Murder The Sixth Commandment You shall not murder God has made men in His image, and He alone is the Lord of life. We may not unlawfully deprive men of the gift of life; rather, we must do everything in…
Stewards of Creation The fifth commandment Deuteronomy 20:19-20 “‘When you besiege a city for a long time, making war against it in order to take it, you shall not destroy its trees by wielding an axe against them. You may…
Conservation The fifth commandment 5.6 Honor creation We are to honor the creation, using it in such a way as to conserve it for the future. Deuteronomy 22:6, 7 “If you come across a bird’s nest in any tree or…
Honor Debtors The fifth commandment Deuteronomy 24:10-13 “When you make your neighbor a loan of any sort, you shall not go into his house to collect his pledge. You shall stand outside, and the man to whom you make the…
For Failing to Stand The fifth commandment 5.5 Honor others We are to show respect to the elderly, the poor, and all other people, because they are the image-bearers of God. Leviticus 19:32 “You shall stand up before the gray…
The Role of the King The fifth commandment 5.4 Civil authorities: Honor God’s Law Civil magistrates must live and rule in accordance with the Law of God. Deuteronomy 17:14-20 “When you come to the land that the LORD your God…
Appeal The fifth commandment Deuteronomy 17:8-13 “If any case arises requiring decision between one kind of homicide and another, one kind of legal right and another, or one kind of assault and another, any case within your towns that is…