Like all the Others – The Sixth Commandment

Like all the Others

The Sixth Commandment

The sixth commandment is holy and righteous and good.

Read Exodus 20:13

“You shall not murder.”

Paul described the Law as holy and righteous and good (Rom. 7.12). We can surely see that in the sixth commandment. The holiness of God is honored, and the dignity of man, the image-bearer of God, is given full respect by the prohibition of murder in any of its forms. As we replace murderous thoughts and ways with what is edifying and good, righteousness and goodness can flourish. We will not save our souls by keeping the sixth commandment. But, if we are saved, we will see the wisdom and glory of God encoded here – as in all the commandments – and we will devote ourselves, out of gratitude for God’s grace and respect for His wisdom, to keeping this commandment from the depths of our being to the details of our daily lives. Thus will the divine economy prosper and the holy Kingdom advance on earth as in heaven.

Can you see any ways that you need to work harder at bringing the holiness and righteousness and goodness of the sixth commandment to light in your life? In your relationships?

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“In the Gates” is a devotional series on the Law of God by Rev. T.M. Moore

T. M. Moore is editor of the Worldview Church. He serves as dean of the Centurions Program of the Wilberforce Forum and principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. He is the author or editor of twenty books, and has contributed chapters to four others. His essays, reviews, articles, papers, and poetry have appeared in dozens of national and international journals, and on a wide range of websites. His most recent books are The Ailbe Psalter and The Ground for Christian Ethics (Waxed Tablet).

Scripture quotations in this article are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, (c) copyright 2001,2007 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Editor’s note: The use of a translation other than the Authorised Version in an article does not constitute an endorsement in whole or in part by The Christian Observer.