You shall not kill

This is the sixth post in a series of ten dealing with The Ten Commandments. The content comes from “Basic Christianity”written by John Stott.

This is not just a prohibition of murder. If looks could kill, many would kill with a look. If murder can be committed by cutting words, many are guilty. Indeed Jesus said that to be angry with someone without a cause, and to be insulting, are just as serious, while John draws the right conclusion when he writes, ” Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer.” Every loss of a temper, every outburst of uncontrolled passion, every stirring of sullen rage, every bitter resentment and thirsting for revenge– all these things are murder. We can kill by malicious gossip. We can kill by studied neglect and cruelty. We can kill by spite and jealousy. We have probably all done so.