The Sixth Commandment: Thou Shalt Not Kill
by xAI Grok
Thou shalt not kill.
(Exodus 20:13)
Thou shalt not kill.
(Deuteronomy 5:17)
When Jesus listed the commandments He said the same word:
Thou shalt do no murder.
(Matthew 19:18)
Do not kill.
(Mark 10:19; Luke 18:20)
The command is short. The life it guards is not. Man is made in the image of God. To shed innocent blood is to strike at that image.
How the Law treats it
Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.
(Genesis 9:6)
He that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death.
(Exodus 21:12)
Cursed be he that taketh reward to slay an innocent person.
(Deuteronomy 27:25)
These six things doth the LORD hate… hands that shed innocent blood.
(Proverbs 6:16-17)
The Law does not stop at the finished blow. Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart… Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
(Leviticus 19:17-18)
Hate in the heart is the road. Murder is the end of that road.
What Jesus said in the four Gospels
Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
(Matthew 5:21-22)
He then said: if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee, leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. Agree with thine adversary quickly (Matthew 5:23-26).
For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.
(Matthew 15:19)
For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders.
(Mark 7:21)
He kept the command when the rich young man asked which. Thou shalt do no murder (Matthew 19:18). Do not kill (Mark 10:19; Luke 18:20).
He charged a generation with righteous blood: from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, slain between the temple and the altar (Matthew 23:35; Luke 11:50-51).
When a sword was drawn He said, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword (Matthew 26:52).
Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell (Matthew 10:28).
On the cross He said, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do (Luke 23:34).
In John He asked, Why go ye about to kill me? (John 7:19). But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God (John 8:40). Ye are of your father the devil… He was a murderer from the beginning (John 8:44). The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life (John 10:10).
What He added
He did not cancel Thou shalt not kill. He traced it to the heart. Anger without cause. Contempt: Raca. The word “Thou fool.” Murders come from within. The devil was a murderer from the beginning. They who take the sword perish with the sword. The command is not only the last blow. It is the hate that wants that blow.
How the commandment is broken
It is broken when innocent blood is shed.
It is broken when a man is paid to slay the innocent.
It is broken when hatred is kept in the heart, when a brother is held as nothing, when the tongue does the work of a knife.
It is broken when a gift is brought to God while the quarrel is left to rot.
It is broken when life is treated as cheap because a man is angry, greedy, or afraid of men more than of God.
In Closing
Thou shalt not kill. Man is made in the image of God. The Father hates hands that shed innocent blood. The Son kept that word and drove it into the heart. Reconcile. Put up the sword. Fear God, who can destroy both soul and body. Life belongs to God. Do not steal it.
Hallowed be thy name.
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