7 Reasons Murder is Evil: The Doctrine of Murder 3

Killing is a great evil.

Killing is evil for at least 7 reasons.

1. It is forbidden in Scripture repeatedly and explicitly.

Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy explicitly condemn murder. Also, the Sermon on the Mount, the Synoptic gospels (Rich Young Ruler), and the epistles (Rom. 13:9; James 2:11) all condemn murder. Murders is listed as one of the 7 sins that God hates (Pro. 6:17)

2. It is punished in the heaviest way.

The death penalty is the punishment for murder. Since the punishment must fit the crime, and God has told us the equivalent punishment, we know the severity of the crime.

3. It includes a great many other sins.

Murder includes temptation to other sins. How many laws did Jezebel break when attempting to kill Naboth?

Murder includes other sins by default.

The 6^th Command = The 8^th Command: Murder (the 6^th) is a kind of theft (the 8^th) because it takes away someone else’s most scarce possession.

The 6^th Command = The 9^th Command: Murder (the 6^th) is a kind of lying (the 9^th) because it is a plain statement that his life is not valuable or dignified; further that I have the authority and right to take that life. The passions that tempt to murder often tempt to lying. See Jezebel and David who both lied in the efforts to murder.

The 6^th Command = The 10^th Commdn: Murder (the 6^th) is a kind of coveting (the 10^th) because it is a lusting for a world without this other man in it (James 4:2).

The 6^th Command = The 5^th Command: Murder (the 6^th) is a kind of dishonor to parents (the 5^th) because there is no more public dishonor in society than this sin.

The 6^th Command = The 7^th Command: Murder (the 6^th) is adultery (the 7^th) because it is the most basic kind of unfaithfulness (James 4:4) to God.

The 6^th Command = The 1^st Command: Murder (the 6^th) is placing yourself as god above Jehovah (The 1^st).

The 6^th Command = The 2^nd Command: Murder (the 6^th) is making an idol (the 2^nd) of a life without that person in it.

The 6^th Command = The 3^rd Command: Murder (the 6^th) is a taking of God’s name in vain (the 3^rd) since His name rests on His image which is found in each man.

The 6^th Command =The 4^th Command: Murder (the 6^th) is the opposite of resting (the 4^th). It is a restless soul that refuses to rest in God as the final authority and Christ as a the Savior of sinners.

The 6^th Command = All the commands because James 2:10 teaches that he who breaks one law bears guilt for all the laws.

4. It cannot be undone.

5. It takes away what men by nature desire most.

Satan correctly said, ““Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life” (Job 2:4).

“And might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.” Hebrews 2:15

Men desire life for at least 3 reasons. They are afraid of meeting God in judgment. They secretly love this world and its pleasures. They love their sin, and only during this life may they go on freely in their sin.

6. It leads to eternal torment in the lake of fire. Rev. 21:8

All sins separate men from God. But to prick the conscience, God explicitly connects this sin and a few others with the Lake of Fire.

7. It marks a man as a follower of Satan.

“You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning…” (John 8:44).

Satan murders souls (John 10:10). He entices men to murder one another. He distracts us from doing the good of saving life. “No murderer has eternal life…” (1 John 3:15).

All sins are evil, but murder is particularly so.