Our Brothers’ Keepers – The Sixth Commandment

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 men to do whatever is necessary to preserve and defend it. Cain’s question, “Am I my brother’s keeper” (Gen. 4:9) is, in this commandment, answered in the affirmative. Human beings are charged with taking measures to protect the lives of their neighbors and to protect their communities against those who do not regard the lives of men as they should.

Protecting and honoring life begins in the heart, as we shall see. We must guard our own hearts against anything which might put the well-being of our neighbors in jeopardy. Guarding against murder, therefore, begins in the heart of each one of us.

In this series of In the Gates we present a detailed explanation of the Law of God, beginning with the Ten Commandments, and working through the statutes and rules that accompany each commandment. For a practical guide to the role of God’s Law in the practice of ethics, get The Ground for Christian Ethics by going to www.MyParuchia.com and click on our Book Store.

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