The Presbyterian & Reformed Journal: In publication for over 200 years, since 1813.
Reverence for Life Everyone is responsible to hold life sacred. Exodus 21:22-25 “When men strive together and hit a pregnant woman, so that her children come out, but there is no harm, the one who hit her shall surely be…
Editor’s Note: Sabbath School Lessons writer the Rev. Dr. L. Robert LaMay joined the ranks of Christ’s good and faithful servants on 29 December 2013 when he passed from this world into the arms of his Lord and Savior Jesus…
Manslaughter Not all killing of another is murder. Exodus 21:12-14 “Whoever strikes a man so that he dies shall be put to death. But if he did not lie in wait for him, but God let him fall into his…
A Community Responsibility The death penalty was a community duty. Numbers 35:16-21 “But if he struck him down with an iron object, so that he died, he is a murderer. The murderer shall be put to death. And if he…
For the Community The death penalty is for the sake of a just community. Deuteronomy 19:11-13 “‘But if anyone hates his neighbor and lies in wait for him and attacks him and strikes him fatally so that he dies, and…
Life for Life We must flinch at what God requires. Leviticus 24:17 “Whoever takes a human life shall surely be put to death.” Leviticus 24:21b “…and whoever kills a person shall be put to death.” The fact that this sanction…
Guard Your Heart Murder begins in the heart. Leviticus 19:17, 18 “You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance…
Guard Life We are obligated to preserve the lives of others. Exodus 20:13 “You shall not murder.” Deuteronomy 5:17 “‘You shall not murder.’” This commandment which prohibits the taking of life also obligates men to do whatever is necessary to…
Murder Life must be honored by all. Exodus 20:13 “You shall not murder.” Deuteronomy 5:17 “‘You shall not murder.’” Murder is the unlawful, willful, and premeditated taking of the life of another. God forbids murder, requiring the life of one…
No Wanton Destruction We must not subject the creation to wanton destruction. 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…