In Jason Dohm's sermon titled 'The Incomparable Image of God,' he explores the sixth commandment, 'You shall not murder,' emphasizing the sacredness of human life as made in God's image. The sermon delves into the Hebrew nuances of the word 'murder,' highlighting its broader implications beyond mere physical acts. Biblical examples, including the stories of Cain and Abel, David and Uriah, and the parable of the Good Samaritan, illustrate the commandment's spiritual dimensions. Dohm stresses the importance of reconciliation, the dangers of harboring anger or hatred, and the need to uphold the divine image in others. He further asserts that not all killing constitutes murder, distinguishing justified acts like self-defense and capital punishment. The sermon concludes with reflections on God's supreme authority over life and death, urging believers to honor every person as a bearer of God's precious image.

The title of the sermon this morning is the incomparable image of God. God has no compare. His likeness, His being has nothing else that's like him that you can compare him to. We're beginning our study of the sixth commandment today. And this title, the incomparable image of God, references Genesis 9 when God's speaking to Noah just as they've come off of the ark.

The ark has come to rest. They come off the ark. Noah builds an ark and they worship. And then God speaking to Noah institutes the death penalty for murder And right as He commands the shedding of man's blood in payment for, in penalty of murder, He says, for in the image of God He made man. In other words, the image of God in man is so to be revered, so to be respected and held in esteem, that if one man were to harm God's image in another man to take his life, that his life is to be taken because he has touched this incomparable image of God.

Our bearing the image of God is the basis for the penalty for murder being the death penalty. So as we come To the sixth commandment, let's ask the Lord to help us. Our God, you are an all-glorious God. It's impossible that any being in eternity could be more glorious than you. Your image is so precious.

What a privilege to bear a reflection of that image. I pray that you would teach us to hold it in such esteem. Use the preaching of your word to move our hearts, we pray in Jesus name. Amen. Okay, we'll work through our progression.

Number one, what the sixth commandment forbids. Usually I've been starting with what it requires and then going to what it forbids. This is a commandment that is framed negatively. It's a thou shalt not, God telling us what not to do. So in honor of the way God has framed it, we'll begin with what the Sixth Commandment forbids.

It seems straightforward. It is straightforward. You shall not murder. Four words in some ways self-explanatory. The King James renders it this way.

Thou shalt not kill. However, it's very helpful to understand the Hebrew, especially in light of the available options. I don't think we have that many options in English, But in Hebrew there are seven words for to kill and this particular one that was chosen by God for the sixth commandment, you shall not murder, is one that is broad and collects up various kinds of killing. Here's what the Expositors Bible commentary says, While Hebrew possesses seven words for killing, the word used here appears only 47 times in the Old Testament. If any of these seven words could signify murder where the factors of premeditation and intentionality are present, this is the verb.

In other words, God specifically chose the one of the seven that collects up various kinds of killing of murder that reflect premeditation thinking ahead of time of harming and and intentionality intending harm This is that word that collects them all up. Strong says that the primitive root, meaning If you study the usage of the Hebrew word all the way back to its most ancient usage, the primitive root means to dash in pieces. That's what you're doing when you murder. It's to dash in pieces. If you intentionally undertake a violent action and another dies as a consequence, you are a murderer.

Numbers 35 spells it out quite clearly you can turn there if you like. Numbers chapter 35. Numbers chapter 35. Beginning in 15 I will read through 21. Follow along.

Numbers 35, 15 through 21. It's speaking of the cities of refuge. There were cities that were marked out in Israel where if you had unintentionally killed someone so that you could find refuge from someone who would be avenging the death of that person. You could flee to one of these cities and plead for justice because you didn't mean to do it. Beginning in verse 15, These six cities shall be for refuge for the children of Israel, for the stranger and for the sojourner among them, that anyone who kills a person accidentally may flee there.

But, if he strikes him with an iron implement so that he dies, he is a murderer. The murderer shall surely be put to death. And if he strikes him with a stone in the hand by which one could die and he does die, he is a murderer. The murderer shall surely be put to death. Or if he strikes him with a wooden hand weapon by which one could die and he does die, he is a murderer.

The murderer shall surely be put to death. The avenger of blood himself shall put the murderer to death. When he meets him, he shall put him to death. If he pushes him out of hatred, or while lying in wait, hurls something at him so that he dies, or in enmity strikes him with his hand so that he dies. The one who struck him shall surely be put to death.

He is a murderer. The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death when he meets him." So it won't do to say, I struck him with that iron instrument, but I didn't mean to kill him. I struck him with a stone in my hand. I struck him with my hand. I pushed him out of hatred, but I didn't mean to kill him.

If there's any reasonable expectation that a person could die from the action that you intentionally undertook, you are a murderer if the person dies. Or if you engage someone else to end the life of someone for you, Maybe pay them to kill on your behalf. The person you engage is a murderer. The person who actually does what they are paid for is a murderer. And you are a murderer.

You know the account of David and Bathsheba. Bathsheba was married to Uriah the Hittite. She became pregnant by David and David in order to cover up his adultery hatched a scheme to end Uriah's life. He sends a letter to Joab, the general of the army, to when they are engaged in their warfare in the conflict to withdraw from Uriah so that he will be killed by their enemies. Listen to what Nathan the prophet says.

God sends Nathan the prophet to confront David about his sin. Here is what Nathan says in 2 Samuel 12 verse 9. 2 Samuel chapter 12 verse 9, why have you despised the commandment of the Lord to do evil in His sight? You have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword. You have taken his wife to be your wife and have killed him with the sword of the people of Ammon.

Did David actually take a sword in hand and strike Uriah the Hittite? No, he didn't. He left it to the people of Ammon, the enemies of Israel, to do it. But God sends a prophet to say, Ammon was just the sword in your hand. You are the man.

You are the murderer. The point is, you are responsible for ending the life of another, whether you do it directly, you take an iron implement in hand, and you do it with your own arm or whether you engage another to do it. If it wasn't for you, that person would be alive. If it wasn't for David, that person, Uriah the Hittite, would be alive. You intended harm and death resulted you are a murderer.

It's important to say at this point that not all killing is murder. Did you know that? You do know that if you think about it. Is killing an animal Is killing an animal murder? No it is not.

It is lawful to kill animals. Listen to Genesis 9 verses 1 through 3. Genesis 9 verses 1 through 3. This is Noah right as he is getting off of the ark onto dry land after six months on the ark. So God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth, and the fear of you and the dread of you shall be on every beast of the earth, on every bird of the air, and on all that move on the earth, and on all the fish of the sea they are given into your hand every moving thing that lives shall be food for you I have given you all things even as the green herbs this is The point in the Bible where God gives other creatures, other creations to be food for man.

Killing for food is not murder. It is killing. It isn't murder. Is it murder when government officials carry out capital punishment, the death penalty? In other words, when the state puts to death a murderer, is it murder?

No, it is not. It is lawful. Indeed, it is needful. It is commanded by God. It actually restrains so much evil in the world.

When the state puts to death someone for a capital offense, a death penalty offense, the state is not committing murder. The government official who carries out that action is not committing murder. Now this must be governed by the principles of scripture, and I'm not, I have no time to develop that today, but that all has to take place according to the scripture. Multiple witnesses, evidence, proof, so it's obviously not to be undertaken lightly. Is it murder when a person defends his or her own life?

No. Exodus 22 makes it clear that if a person breaks into your house at night and you kill that person, there is no guilt for bloodshed. That's actually the phrase used in Exodus 22. No guilt for bloodshed. You killed, but you're not guilty.

That's Old Testament case law, meaning it's given, not that Every case will be just like that case, but it's been given by God so that we can extract the principles. What are the principles in Exodus 22? If somebody breaks into your house at night, you have the expectation that they're doing it to harm you and maybe to take your life. And so you can defend your life. If somebody breaks into your house at night, their expectation has to be, you're there.

You're sleeping and vulnerable in your house. When you defend your own life and you kill in defense of your own life, this is not murder. This is not a violation of the Sixth Commandment. Is it murder when a nation goes to war and there is killing in combat? No, it is not.

Killing in war is lawful. God commanded his people, men who were soldiers to be specific to kill in war. He commanded them to kill. That was not murder. That was not the breaking of the sixth commandment.

Though murder can happen in war. There are non-combat deaths of innocents in war and so murder can happen in war. Just because there's a war on doesn't mean anyone can kill anyone. That's a complex topic that takes time and care and I don't have the time today. It's not our topic today.

The point is not all killing is murder. You have these other categories of killing that is not a violation of the Sixth Commandment. I'd like to look at three texts which I think shed considerable light on the topic. Text number one, Genesis chapter four. Please turn to Genesis chapter four.

You can see it yourself. It's somewhat extended. Genesis chapter four, verses one through twelve. Follow along as I read. It's the first murder ever of the first person born ever murdered by the second person born ever.

Adam and Eve weren't born, they were fashioned by God. Cain was born, Abel was born, Cain murdered Abel. Genesis chapter 4 verses 1 through 12. Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, I have acquired a man from the Lord. Then she bore again, this time his brother Abel.

Now, Abel was a keeper of the sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. In the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, but he did not respect Cain and his offering and Cain was very angry and his countenance fell so the Lord said to Cain why are you angry and why has your countenance fallen if you do well will you not be accepted And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door and its desire is for you, but you should rule over it." Now Cain talked with Abel his brother and it came to pass when they were in the field that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him. Then the Lord said to Cain, Where is Abel your brother?

And he said, I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper? And he said, what have you done? The voice of your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground. So now you are cursed from the earth, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand.

When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield its strength to you. A fugitive and a vagabond you shall be on the earth." Verse 7, God warns Cain, sins lying at your door. I respected your brother's offering. I did not respect your brother, your offering. It's made you angry, envious.

Sin is at your door. It wants to dominate you. It wants to control you. Either you rule over it or it will rule over God will rule over you. Jesus said, for out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, Adulteries, fornication, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.

Where do these things start? They start in the heart. They start within. They start in the meditations of the mind and the affections of the heart. First John 3.15, here's what the Apostle John says, 1 John 3.15, whoever hates his brother is a murderer.

I never raised my hand. You hate your brother, you're a murderer. And you know that No murderer has eternal life abiding in him. That's what John says. Whoever hates his brother is a murderer and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

In verse 9, Cain asks the Lord, am I my brother's keeper? The truth is because we are his image bearers together, I bear it and you bear it and you bear it and you bear it. God commands us to take an interest in each other. You are your brother's keeper. You are.

Not to know where he is or she is every minute of every day, of course. But you have an interest in their welfare because you, they, like you, bear the image of God. Their maker. Your maker. In verse 10 God says, the voice of your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground.

He spilled his blood and it's crying out for justice. Listen to Numbers 35 verse 33. Numbers 35 verse 33. So, you shall not pollute the land where you are, for blood defiles the land. And no atonement can be made for the land, For the blood that is shed on it, except by the blood of him who shed it.

Murder demands justice. So we learn in all these texts, murder demands for Justice. Blood that has been shed cries out from the soil that soaks it up. Justice! Text number two, Genesis 9.

Get back to Genesis 9. Verses 5 and 6. Listen to Genesis 9 verses 5 and 6. Listen to Genesis 9 verses 5 and 6. Very Similar to what we just read.

Surely for your lifeblood I will demand a reckoning. Justice. Surely for your lifeblood I will demand a reckoning. From the hand of every beast I will require it and from the hand of man. From the hand of every man's brother I will require the life of man.

Whoever sheds man's blood, by man his blood shall be shed. For in the image of God he made man. When the blood of an image bearer is shed, God demands a reckoning. That's how he says it here. I will demand a reckoning.

If a beast kills a man, God demands a reckoning. If a man kills a man, God demands a reckoning. God demands a reckoning. Of course, I'm using man not as a gender specific term, but as mankind, a person. Genesis chapter one, the first chapter in the whole Bible, verse 26, then God said, let us make man in our image according to our likeness.

We bear His likeness, the triune God. How can it be anything other than that? Let us make God in our image. It is God the Father, God the Son, God the Spirit saying, let's stamp our image on A creature. Genesis 1.27, so God created man in his own image.

In the image of God he created him, male and female he created them. Then he blesses them. Men and women bear the image of the triune God. God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. What He is like is reflected in how we are made.

We bear His image. It is a sacred thing to bear the image of the all-glorious God. He is infinitely worthy and He has made us somehow like Him. God insists that this informs how we regard each other and how we treat each other. The fact that His image is stamped on us as creatures requires that we regard each other that way, that we treat each other that way.

We have this valuable stamp of an image upon us to treat the image of God with such disregard, with such contempt, valuing it as nothing, as something which we can simply discard, to just dash in pieces, Is treason against the God whose image we bear. That's not just to be taken and dashed to pieces. It is an all glorious image. It is an infinitely worthy image. Even people in complete rebellion to Him bear that image and makes them have value, makes them precious.

I should tremble at the very thought that just because my will has been violated, I would think that I could raise my hand against a fellow image bearer. Because God has regarded the offering of my brother but not mine, and I can't bear it so I raise my hand against him. He bears God's image. Text number three, Matthew 5. Turn to Matthew 5.

Sermon on the Mount. Sermon on the Mount. Matthew 5. I'll be reading verses 21 through 26. Matthew chapter 5 starting in 21, reading through 26.

Jesus says this, You have heard that it was said to those of old, you shall not murder. And whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment. But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, Rock, I shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, You fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you leave your gift there before the altar and go your way first be reconciled to your brother then come and offer your gift. Agree with your adversary quickly while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge and the judge hand you over to the officer and you be thrown into prison. Assuredly I say to you, you will by no means get out of there until you have paid the last penny. Jesus in Matthew chapter 5 is teaching that murder is much more than just the physical taking of a life. If you thought that was it, just the physical taking of a life, Jesus separates you from that insufficient understanding.

Now what was wrong with what they heard? You have heard that it was said to those of old, you shall not murder. He's just quoting the sixth commandment. What could be wrong with that? Isn't the sixth commandment true and right?

Yes, it is true and right, but the commandment is a category. It is not a single instance which can only be violated by the ending of a human life. It is a category that starts in the heart and includes the meditations of the heart and the words that proceed from the heart. It's not an isolated instance, it's a category. That might be the most important thing I'll say today.

Murder is not an isolated instance, a narrow scope. It is a category with a broad scope that starts in the heart and includes the meditations of the heart and the words that proceed from the heart. You can't simply refrain from physically taking a life and claim, I'm righteous, I've kept that commandment. No! Jesus says there is heart murder, anger without just cause.

Heart murder. Jesus says there is lip murder, speaking evil of your brother. You heard that it's bad to call someone rocka, sort of an ancient cuss word. But I say just saying you fool puts you in danger of judgment. The physical act makes you worthy of hell.

Taking a human life makes you worthy of Hell, so do the thoughts. That's what Jesus says, so do the thoughts, so do the words. The careless words speaking evil against another person make you worthy of hell and the thoughts do. So you who have thought I never physically ended a life, I never physically made a heart stop beating, I'm righteous. I've obeyed that commandment.

No, no, no. Your thoughts make you worthy of hell. Your words make you worthy of hell. So what does the sixth commandment forbid? The sixth commandment forbids the taking, the physical taking of life, because that life bears the image of God.

How dare you touch it? How dare you raise your hand against it? But it is a category, not an isolated, narrow-scope instance. It is a category that begins in the heart. It includes the heart, the meditations of the heart, the thoughts of the mind, the words of the mouth.

Major heading number two, what the sixth commandment requires. It forbids those things. What does it require? Let's start right here in Matthew 5. We won't even move from the text.

I want to read again the second part of that text that I didn't even just touch now. I'll reread Matthew chapter 5 verses 23 through 26. Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go your way first be reconciled to your brother and then come and offer your gift. Agree with your adversary quickly while you're on the way with him lest your adversary deliver you to the judge. The judge hand you over to the officer and you be thrown into prison.

Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there until you have paid the last penny. What is Jesus doing in this section? He is correcting a wrong understanding, an insufficient understanding, a shrinking understanding of the Sixth Commandment that says, I'm righteous if I just don't put someone to death. Part of that correction is to say that it extends to pursuing reconciliation when a relationship has soured. So yes, it forbids the taking of life.

Yes, it forbids anger without a just cause or speaking evil. But it extends to pursuing reconciliation when a relationship has soured. If you come to bring your gift and you realize, my brother has something against me, pursue him, pursue her. Sue her. Go win reconciliation, then come back and make the offering.

Listen to Paul in Romans 12 verses 17 through 21. You can turn there if you like. I am going to spend a minute there so you can turn there. If it makes sense to do so. Romans 12, 17 through 21.

Paul writes this, Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. Now listen, verse 18. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Not all things are possible, but if it's possible, not everything depends on you, but as much as it depends on you, live peaceably with all men.

We should go right to Matthew chapter 5 and Jesus' exhortation to go secure reconciliation if you can. If you can win it, go win it. Romans 12 verse 19, beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath. For it is written, Vengeance is mine. I will repay, says the Lord.

Therefore, if your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil overcome evil with good. This is the other side of the coin.

It is concerned with the interests of other image bearers, even to the outer limit. What's the outer limit? Even your enemies. Even the image bearers of God that you don't like, and you might have real reason not to Like them. When they're hungry, feed them.

When they're thirsty, give them something to drink. Because they bear His image. And because you know there is a God in heaven who can take care of vengeance. Vengeance belongs to Him. It doesn't belong to you.

All of the image-bearers are in His hand. They're not in your hand. Let God take care of vengeance. You take care of doing good to people you have the opportunity to do good to. Even your enemies?

Yes! If people who have received from the gospel can't get that, who in the world will? We were his enemies. He bled and died for us. Let's go to one final text.

Luke 10. Luke 10. The Good Samaritan is in Luke 10. Luke chapter 10, I'll be reading 25 through 37. Luke chapter 10 verses 25 through 37.

Verses 25 through 37. Behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Jesus, saying, Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? Jesus said to him what is written in the law what is your reading of it? So he answered and said You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself. Jesus said to him, you have answered rightly, do this and you will live.

Obey all the laws all the time and you'll live. But he wanting to justify himself said to Jesus who is my neighbor Just to make sure that there's not a broad definition of neighbor that would force me to love people who have been unkind to me, or harmed me or crossed me or spoken ill of me or who I don't even know verse 30 then Jesus answered and said A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a certain priest came down that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion.

So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine, and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn and took care of him. On the next day when he departed he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper and said, take care of him and whatever you spend when I come again I will repay you. So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves? And he said, he who showed mercy on him. Then Jesus said to him, go and do likewise.

The sixth commandment is all over this passage. The thieves didn't quite murder this man, but they left him half dead in a remote place. The expectation was that he probably wouldn't live. The priest sees him but passes by on the other side. The Levite looks, also passes by.

So those are the professionally religious people. The pros, The priest makes his living, earns his bread out of worship of God, so does the Levite. The professionals are on hand For the half-dead man left in a remote place to die. Now, what is Jesus' story related to? Why is He even telling the story?

Jesus is answering the question, who is my neighbor? The priest and the Levite have failed to love their neighbor as they love themselves. They love themselves more. So they see, but they pass by. When the life of this image bearer hangs in the balance, it's the Samaritan.

Now we know from John 4 that Samaritans expect to be despised by Jews. It's not that the Samaritan sees the half-dead man and he despises the half-dead man. It's that the Samaritan knows that in all probability the Half-Dead Man despises him as a no-good half-breed. So there lies the person who probably despises you. He takes the risk of caring for a man on a section of the highway that's worked by thieves.

He takes the pains. He immediately sets aside whatever plans were in motion, and He bears the expense. That is the person who holds your life valuable. Even though they don't even know your name. He didn't even know his name.

But he felt obligated. There's an image bearer dying. How can I count his life for nothing? I have to do good. If for no other reason than he bears that precious image.

That incomparable image. So what is on the other side of the you shall not murder coin? The Samaritan and his willingness to do good, to value this human life, to love his neighbor as himself. That's what's on the other side of this, you shall not murder a coin. Just seems like such an innocent coin, doesn't it, until you flip it over.

So much there. So much obligation to our fellow image bearers. You don't even know their name. They bear this incomparable image of the triune God. God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit have stamped their likeness on these people that we share the earth with.

This is the man in the story who actually obeyed the sixth commandment. And did what the sixth commandment requires. The Samaritan didn't go there to do good to this man. He was on his way somewhere. But when confronted with the need of a fellow image bearer, he answered the call and did good.

Paul says this in Romans 13, 9. Paul's letter to the Romans. Romans 13 verse 9. For the commandments you shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder our commandment, you shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, you shall not coven, and if there is any other commandment are all summed up in this saying, namely, you shall love your neighbor as yourself." Love demands so much more than I just hold back from ending the life of my neighbor. Love makes so many more demands than that.

These are commandments of love. They're all commandments of love. On these two commandments, loving God and loving people hang all the law and the prophets. Major heading number three, what the sixth commandment teaches about God. There's so much more to say, but I'll give you three.

I'm doing okay on time. What the sixth commandment teaches about God. Number one, God has created an expression of his incomparable image, mankind. And he demands that it be held in esteem. Human beings are precious.

Esteem. Human beings are precious. Human beings have value because we bear this incomparable, all glorious, infinitely worthy image. Period. Because of that, God demands that this image be held in esteem, it be held in honor.

God wants to reveal Himself, so He made a creature with His image. God wants His glory to be known so He put a portion of that glory upon a creature so that it could be seen. Now think about abortion and shutter. 61 million images dashed to pieces. Their blood cries out.

Our soil is soaked with it. God have mercy. God has heard it. He's heard the blood. He's heard the blood.

Probably the only reason why our nation is still here is because there are many believers here. We dare not slumber. We should be pleading with God, pleading with God to continue to be patient, to send revival, to have mercy on us and not treat us as our sins deserve Do you think we'll be spared? When he comes to make this right You think that only the only the unbelievers, only the abortion doctors? Number two.

God has built a fence around human life by giving this command. God built a fence around human life by giving this command. Here's what Thomas Watson says, life is the most precious thing. Meaning if you had to give up everything but one thing, what would be the one thing you'd keep your life? It would be the last thing you would part with because nothing else means anything on this earth without your life.

Life is the most precious thing and God has set this commandment as a fence about it to preserve it. We slaughter millions and millions and millions and millions and millions of other creatures for food and we almost never even think about it. Why is murder as rare as it is? Because God commanded. He set a fence around human life.

The commandment restrains evil. Yes, there is still evil. We can point and say, yes, there is a lot of murder. It's nothing compared to what we would be if our hearts were unchecked by this commandment. Nothing.

It is God's kindness that He's commanded, You shall not murder. It keeps us from murdering each other in the literal physical sense every day. Most of us know nothing about it by experience. Why is that? Because God commanded, you shall not murder.

And it was His kindness to restrain evil. The kindness of God is on display in this command. He has put a fence around my life and yours. Number three and finally, God will not yield his supreme right over life and death. Life and Death is in His hand.

You shall not murder. That's why in Romans 12, he says, Vengeance is mine. Don't you take vengeance. Life and death are mine. Deuteronomy 32, 39.

I kill, I make alive. This is God's supreme right. This includes something I've not even touched on before now. Self-murder. Suicide.

The taking of your own life. It's my life. False. You bear his image. It's his life.

You die when he says, not when You say, not when your neighbor says. When people murder, they think they've taken up God's right. That's not even true. No one dies prematurely, not even by murder. But man begins to think he has assumed the supreme right of God.

God holds this to himself. He kills, he makes alive. You have no right to take your life it is not yours to take Your neighbor's life is not yours to take your Your life is no more your own to take. It is God's. Let Him dispose of it in any way at any time that would please Him.

He'll do it in an all wise way. Like I can't take it another day. That's not true. He can sustain you as long as he has plans for you. We shouldn't despair.

Say life's not worth living. God knows all the things you don't know. It's not right to despair like that because God knows all the things you don't know. And if He's purpose to sustain you another day, you should accept it with gratitude from His hand and keep going. Next week, James will take up our failure to keep the sixth commandment and Jesus' perfect keeping of it.

God, I'm not waiting till next week to thank you for Jesus and his perfect keeping of it. We look at the breadth and depth of Jesus' commentary in Matthew chapter 5 on this, seeing that murder is not an isolated act, It's a category that begins in the heart and includes the medications of the heart and the words that proceed from the heart. We begin to rightly get very nervous about how often we've trampled on this command, but we know with all confidence that Jesus never did. He arrived at the cross without a single stain, making him fit to die there, bleed there, die there, pay my penalty there so that I can go free. I praise you, oh God, for Jesus.

Pray that you would bless our time of extended teaching now. Give men wisdom to round out the preaching in Jesus name, amen.