The sixth commandment is brief, yet often broken. We keep it on three levels:
LEVEL 1
The Hebrew term means wrongful killing—premeditated or accidental (manslaughter). It excludes capital punishment, self-defense, and some just wars, but includes most abortion, suicide, and euthanasia.
LEVEL 2
Jesus raised the bar: anger, insults, and contempt are “heart-murder.” He also warns against provoking murder in others’ hearts.
LEVEL 3
The summit is not mere avoidance of harm but active, costly love—like the Good Samaritan: love enemies and lay down our lives, as Jesus did.
None of us keeps the Law perfectly; it exposes our sin and drives us to Christ, the only perfect Law-keeper who died to save law-breakers. Risen today, He enables His people to obey. God’s people must be marked by love—may we truly love one another.
