The Ten Commandments - Lesson 8: The Sixth Commandment

The Ten Commandments

Lesson 8: The Sixth Commandment

Exodus 20:13 You shall not murder.

Leviticus 19:18 “‘You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people; but you shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am Yahweh.

Remember the first lesson in this series about the greatest commandment: Love God with all your heart, and love your neighbor as yourself. All of the 10 Commandments fit into the greatest commandment.

The Main Points for This Lesson:

We should not murder or hurt our neighbor, but we should love our neighbor, even when he does not love us.

Anger is not always wrong, but it often leads to hate or doing harm to someone when we don't deal with it as God tells us. Sometimes we get angry when someone else hurts us. Sometimes we get angry when we do something wrong.

If someone hurts you, you should go to that person to try and work out the problem, or ask someone to help you do that. Whether it is possible or not to work out the problem, you should ask God to help you. Tell God what happened, then trust that he will take care of it, and ask him to help you put away your anger and be willing to forgive and to love and do good to the person instead.

Suggestions:

Open each lesson with prayer for the teacher and the students and this class time.

Let the children know that this series of lessons is about the Ten Commandments. This lesson is about the sixth commandment: You shall not murder.

Read the story of Cain and Abel (Genesis 4:1-12). Ask questions about Cain. Why was he angry. Was he angry because someone had hurt him? What did he do with his anger? What should he have done when he was angry?

Read 2 Samuel 13:22 to the children (being familiar with the larger story yourself). Tell them briefly the rest of the story – how Absalom plotted and killed Amnon. Ask the children questions about Absalom. Why did Absalom hate his brother Amnon? Had Amnon hurt Absalom or someone else? What did Absalom do with his anger? What should he have done when he was angry with Amnon?

Read the verses about Jesus on the cross (Luke 23:32-34) and/or about Stephen being stoned (Acts 7:57-60). Ask questions about these stories. What was happening to Jesus? What was happening to Stephen? Why were these things happening to them? How did they respond to the people? Why do you think they responded this way?

Close the lesson with prayer related to the subject and the students. Pray the Lord's Prayer together.

Stories:

Genesis 4:1-12 [1] The man knew Eve his wife. She conceived, and gave birth to Cain, and said, “I have gotten a man with Yahweh’s help.” [2] Again she gave birth, to Cain’s brother Abel. Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. [3] As time passed, Cain brought an offering to Yahweh from the fruit of the ground. [4] Abel also brought some of the firstborn of his flock and of its fat. Yahweh respected Abel and his offering, [5] but he didn’t respect Cain and his offering. Cain was very angry, and the expression on his face fell. [6] Yahweh said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why has the expression of your face fallen? [7] If you do well, won’t it be lifted up? If you don’t do well, sin crouches at the door. Its desire is for you, but you are to rule over it.” [8] Cain said to Abel, his brother, “Let’s go into the field.” While they were in the field, Cain rose up against Abel, his brother, and killed him. [9] Yahweh said to Cain, “Where is Abel, your brother?” He said, “I don’t know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” [10] Yahweh said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries to me from the ground. [11] Now you are cursed because of the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. [12] From now on, when you till the ground, it won’t yield its strength to you. You will be a fugitive and a wanderer in the earth.”

2 Samuel 13:22-34 [22] Absalom spoke to Amnon neither good nor bad; for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.

Absalom hated Amnon, and so formed a plan to kill him.

Luke 23:32-34 [32] There were also others, two criminals, led with him to be put to death. [33] When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified him there with the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. [34] Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” Dividing his garments among them, they cast lots.

Acts 7:57-60 [57] But they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and rushed at him with one accord. [58] They threw him out of the city, and stoned him. The witnesses placed their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. [59] They stoned Stephen as he called out, saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” [60] He kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, “Lord, don’t hold this sin against them!” When he had said this, he fell asleep.

More Stories and Examples:

Genesis 27:41-42 [41] Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father blessed him. Esau said in his heart, “The days of mourning for my father are at hand. Then I will kill my brother Jacob.” [42] The words of Esau, her elder son, were told to Rebekah. She sent and called Jacob, her younger son, and said to him, “Behold, your brother Esau comforts himself about you by planning to kill you.

2 Samuel 3:22-30 – Joab murders Abner.

2 Samuel 11:1-27 – David murders Uriah with the help of Joab.

The murder of Uriah began some time before he was actually killed. David coveted someone else's wife. He looked with lust. With the seed of adultery already sown in his heart, he committed adultery with Uriah's wife, and then planned the murder of Uriah in order to cover up his sin of adultery.

2 Samuel 16:5-13 – As King David is fleeing Jerusalem from Absalom, Shemei cursed and threw stones at David and those with him. David did not kill Shemei for this, but left vengeance in the hand's of God.

2 Samuel 19:13; 20:7-13 – Joab murders Amasa.

1 Kings 2:5-6 [5] “Moreover you know also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, even what he did to the two captains of the armies of Israel, to Abner the son of Ner, and to Amasa the son of Jether, whom he killed, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war on his sash that was about his waist, and in his shoes that were on his feet. [6] Do therefore according to your wisdom, and don’t let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace.

Matthew 26:3-5 [4] They took counsel together that they might take Jesus by deceit, and kill him.

[see also Mark 14:1]

Mark 6:19 – Herodias wanted to kill John the Baptist.

John 5:16,18; 7:1 – The Jews sought to kill Jesus.

Acts 23:12-15 – Some Jews vowed to kill the apostle Paul.

Other Verses:

Genesis 9:5-6 [5] I will surely require your blood of your lives; at the hand of every animal I will require it. At the hand of man, even at the hand of every man’s brother, I will require the life of man. [6] Whoever sheds man’s blood, his blood will be shed by man, for God made man in his own image.

Exodus 21:12-14 [12] “One who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death, [13] but not if it is unintentional, but God allows it to happen: then I will appoint you a place where he shall flee. [14] If a man schemes and comes presumptuously on his neighbor to kill him, you shall take him from my altar, that he may die.

Deuteronomy 5:17 “You shall not murder.

Hosea 4:1-2 [1] Hear Yahweh’s word, you children of Israel; for Yahweh has a charge against the inhabitants of the land: “Indeed there is no truth, nor goodness, nor knowledge of God in the land. [2] There is cursing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery; they break boundaries, and bloodshed causes bloodshed.

Romans 13:8-10 [8] Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. [9] For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other commandments there are, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” [10] Love doesn’t harm a neighbor. Love therefore is the fulfillment of the law.

ANGER / HATE / MURDER

Numbers 35:12,15-25 [12] The cities shall be to you for refuge from the avenger, that the man slayer not die, until he stands before the congregation for judgment. [15] For the children of Israel, and for the stranger and for the foreigner living among them, shall these six cities be for refuge; that everyone who kills any person unwittingly may flee there. [16] “‘But if he struck him with an instrument of iron, so that he died, he is a murderer. The murderer shall surely be put to death. [17] If he struck him with a stone in the hand, by which a man may die, and he died, he is a murderer. The murderer shall surely be put to death. [18] Or if he struck him with a weapon of wood in the hand, by which a man may die, and he died, he is a murderer. The murderer shall surely be put to death. [19] The avenger of blood shall himself put the murderer to death. When he meets him, he shall put him to death. [20] If he shoved him out of hatred, or hurled at him, lying in wait, so that he died, [21] or in hostility struck him with his hand, so that he died, he 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. [22] “‘But if he shoved him suddenly without hostility, or hurled on him anything without lying in wait, [23] or with any stone, by which a man may die, not seeing him, and cast it on him, so that he died, and he was not his enemy, neither sought his harm; [24] then the congregation shall judge between the striker and the avenger of blood according to these ordinances. [25] The congregation shall deliver the man slayer out of the hand of the avenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to his city of refuge, where he had fled. He shall dwell therein until the death of the high priest, who was anointed with the holy oil.

Matthew 15:19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual sins, thefts, false testimony, and blasphemies.

Ephesians 4:31-32 [31] Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, and slander, be put away from you, with all malice. [32] And be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you.

These verses do not mention murder or killing. They do, however, speak of those things which, when allowed to remain in the heart, both lead to murder, and make one a murderer in the sight of God, who says that whoever hates his brother is a murderer. Further, here we are not just warned of the wrong path, but are told of the right path on which we must tread.

James 1:19-20 [19] So, then, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger; [20] for the anger of man doesn’t produce the righteousness of God.

James 4:1-3 [1] Where do wars and fightings among you come from? Don’t they come from your pleasures that war in your members? [2] You lust, and don’t have. You kill, covet, and can’t obtain. You fight and make war. You don’t have, because you don’t ask. [3] You ask, and don’t receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it for your pleasures.

1 John 3:11-15 [11] For this is the message which you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another; [12] unlike Cain, who was of the evil one, and killed his brother. Why did he kill him? Because his works were evil, and his brother’s righteous. [13] Don’t be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you. [14] We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. He who doesn’t love his brother remains in death. [15] Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life remaining in him.

WHAT SHOULD WE DO INSTEAD?

REBUKE YOUR BROTHER WITH THE DESIRE TO FORGIVE

Leviticus 19:17-18 [17] “‘You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him. [18] “‘You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people; but you shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am Yahweh.

It is easy to silently hold onto bitterness and hate against someone who has wronged us. It is easy to speak to others about how bad someone is who has wronged us. God tells us that we are not to silently lay up hatred in our heart. Nor are we to increase the bitterness in our heart against someone by speaking to others about that person. In doing this, we have sinned ourselves. Instead, God instructs us to go to the person who has wronged us and speak to that person about what they have done. We ought to do this with the desire of restoring the relationship between us. If he repents, forgive him.

Matthew 18:15-17 [15] “If your brother sins against you, go, show him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained back your brother. [16] But if he doesn’t listen, take one or two more with you, that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. [17] If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the assembly. If he refuses to hear the assembly also, let him be to you as a Gentile or a tax collector.

Luke 17:3-4 [3] Be careful. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him. If he repents, forgive him. [4] If he sins against you seven times in the day, and seven times returns, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”

BE RECONCILED TO YOUR BROTHER

Matthew 5:21-26 [21] “You have heard that it was said to the ancient ones, ‘You shall not murder;’ and ‘Whoever shall murder shall be in danger of the judgment.’ [22] But I tell you, that everyone who is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment; and whoever shall say to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council; and whoever shall say, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of the fire of Gehenna. [23] “If therefore you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has anything against you, [24] leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. [25] Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are with him on the way; lest perhaps the prosecutor deliver you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and you be cast into prison. [26] Most certainly I tell you, you shall by no means get out of there, until you have paid the last penny.

Jesus tells us that the condition of our relationships with others is more important to God than any service of worship we might give him. In other words, if it is possible for us to be reconciled with someone with whom we are currently at odds, then that is the first and most important thing for us to do if we desire to please God.

INSTEAD – BLESS, DO GOOD, PRAY FOR YOUR ENEMIES, LEAVE REVENGE TO GOD

We must do what is possible on our part to be at peace with all men. That does not mean that all men will be willing to be at peace with us. Some will choose to remain our enemies. What should we do then? We are commanded to love our enemies by feeding them if they are hungry, giving them a drink if they are thirsty, blessing them, doing good to them and praying for them.

Jesus did all that was possible to be at peace with all men. Some men still chose to put him to death. Jesus did not store up bitterness or hate against them. Instead, even on the cross, he prayed for them that God would forgive them for their evil deed (of crucifying the Son of God).

Proverbs 20:22 Don’t say, “I will pay back evil.” Wait for Yahweh, and he will save you.

Proverbs 25:21-22 [21] If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat. If he is thirsty, give him water to drink: [22] for you will heap coals of fire on his head, and Yahweh will reward you.

Matthew 5:43-48 [43] “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.’ [44] But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, [45] that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. [46] For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? [47] If you only greet your friends, what more do you do than others? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? [48] Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Romans 12:17-21 [17] Repay no one evil for evil. Respect what is honorable in the sight of all men. [18] If it is possible, as much as it is up to you, be at peace with all men. [19] Don’t seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God’s wrath. For it is written, “Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.” [20] Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing so, you will heap coals of fire on his head.” [21] Don’t be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.