#175 Against Flesh

13 “You shall not murder." Exodus 20:13

The following is from John Calvin's commentary on Exodus 20:

17. Non occides.

The sum of this Commandment is, that we should not unjustly do violence to any one. In order, however, that God may the better restrain us from all injury of others, He propounds one particular form of it, from which men's natural sense is abhorrent; for we all detest murder, so as to recoil from those whose hands are polluted with blood, as if they carried contagion with them. Undoubtedly God would have the remains of His image, which still shine forth in men, to continue in some estimation, so that all might feel that every homicide is an offense against Him, (sacrilegium.) He does not, indeed, here express the reason, whereby He elsewhere deters men from murder, i e., by asserting that thus His image is violated, (Genesis 9:6;) yet, however precisely and authoritatively He may speak as a Legislator, He would still have us consider, what might naturally occur to everybody's mind, such as the statement of Isaiah 58:7, that man is our "own flesh." In order, then, that believers may more diligently beware of inflicting injuries, He condemns a crime, which all spontaneously confess to be insufferable. It will, however, more clearly appear hereafter, that under the word kill is included by synecdoche all violence, smiting, and aggression. Besides, another principle is also to be remembered, that in negative precepts, as they are called, the opposite affirmation is also to be understood; else it would not be by any means consistent, that a person would satisfy God's Law by merely abstaining from doing injury to others. Suppose, for example, that one of a cowardly disposition, and not daring to assail even a child, should not move a finger to injure his neighbors, would he therefore have discharged the duties of humanity as regards the Sixth Commandment? Nay, natural common sense demands more than that we should abstain from wrongdoing. And, not to say more on this point, it will plainly appear from the summary of the Second Table, that God not only forbids us to be murderers, but also prescribes that every one should study faithfully to defend the life of his neighbor, and practically to declare that it is dear to him; for in that summary no mere negative phrase is used, but the words expressly set forth that our neighbors are to be loved. It is unquestionable, then, that of those whom God there commands to be loved, He here commends the lives to our care. There are, consequently, two parts in the Commandment, -- first, that we should not vex, or oppress, or be at enmity with any; and, secondly, that we should not only live at peace with men, without exciting quarrels, but also should aid, as far as we can, the miserable who are unjustly oppressed, and should endeavor to resist the wicked, lest they should injure men as they list. Christ, therefore, in expounding the genuine sense of the Law, not only pronounces those transgressors who have committed murder, but also that

"he shall be in danger of the judgment who is angry with his brother without a cause; 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 5:22.)

For He does not there, as some have ignorantly supposed, frame t new law, as if to east blame upon His Father; but shows the folly and perversity of those interpreters of the Law who only insist on the external appearance, and husk of things, as is vulgarly said; since the doctrine of God must rather be estimated from a due consideration of. His nature. Before earthly judges, if a man have carried a weapon for the purpose of killing a man, he is found guilty of violence; and God, who is a spiritual Lawgiver, goes even further. With Him, therefore, anger is accounted murder; yea, inasmuch as He pierces even to the most secret feelings, He holds even concealed hatred to be murder; for so we must understand John's words, "Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer," (1 John 3:15;) i.e., hatred conceived in the heart is sufficient for his condemnation, although it may not openly appear. John Calvin

The law convicts us of our sin and its intent was never a checklist to substantiate a man's goodness, "well, I haven't killed any one today." I believe it was Socrates who said, "the unexamined life is not worth living."  Jesus points to the depth of the law, revealing that God's judgment upon sin comes all the way to the heart of men, the very thoughts they think are concealed. God's measure of us is not confined to what we may convince others of, and His word is not subject to our fickle natures. The news of late is filled with stories of be-headings, burning and all manner of atrocities towards those made in the image of God. Those responsible for such crimes should be held responsible, ah but the unexamined life does a lot of talking on the internet. I read the responses of people, who call themselves Christians, and they make a work of justifying their own violent responses. They say the men who do these things are evil, but does that imply that you are good? I hear the voice of prejudice connected to a heart filled with malice. The name calling, sexual innuendos and ethnic references all point to the abundance of our hearts. Tis a slippery slope though, as now some would most fraudulently imply that I am against capitol punishment, and they would be wrong.   

50 Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.”[d]
Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. 51 With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
52 “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. 53 Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”
55 In that hour Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me. 56 But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled. Matthew 26:50-56

All sin leads to death, and the earth testifies to men of the physical death it is under everyday. We deny the spiritual part of death, even those who acknowledge that there is eternity. But when a man raises himself up in his mind, above his peers, and acts upon another with the violence that is most certainly in all of us, he has also forfeited his own life. It is in its simplest understanding, even for those who would convince themselves, that sin does not exist, the equal reaction to the action of murder. He has forfeited even the term of murder or martyr for himself, in that his death will now be just dues. For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same;4for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.5Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience' sake.…Romans 13:3-5 It is a sobering responsibility of governments to do justice, and those that glorify violence, force, bullying and love blood shed are a fearful thing to have as rulers. Those that deny the responsibility of such offices are also a fearful thing, for they let loose those who would destroy the lives of others. I have started to pray more for our leaders, because they are not where my hope rests; they are men just like me and just as capable of making the wrong decisions. I also pray for the evil doer, and those that have been taught by them, for I was not born righteous either. I pray for myself that God search me and remove these things from me, that what I believe will not be decided by popular opinion, but by the words of a righteous God. The arguments on both sides of this are usually steeped in the justifications that come from emotions and feelings, yet the word of God cannot be interpreted nor restrained by what I feel. One set of emotions will demand justice, another will excuse it as passion. It is an emotional argument that allows the murder of the unborn, and releases us from individual responsibility. Instead of thinking ourselves good or righteous, and saying, "hath God really said?" We should examine ourselves and ask, "What hath God said?"