Murder
The deliberate killing of another person, an act forbidden in the Ten Commandments.
Because killing sometimes took place accidentally, and the relatives of the dead person might try to retaliate anyway, God commanded that there be six cities of refuge in Canaan where the perpetrator might live safely until his trial. In Bible times, the penalty for murder was death.
Jesus carried the command not to murder even further by equating hatred and the desire to kill with the act itself; he wants us to control our anger, to love rather than hate our enemies. Christians today have a difference of opinion whether the death penalty remains an appropriate means of punishment for murder.
- The command against murder
- The sixth commandment, Ex. 20:13; Deut. 5:17; James 2:10-11.
- Anger as the root of murder, Mt. 5:21-22
- Hatred as the root of murder, Jn. 3:15
- Murder roots out of a sinful heart, Mt. 15:18-19
- What happens after a murder
- One can be cursed by God, Gen. 4:11
- One can be excluded from heaven, 1Jn. 3:15; Rev. 22:15
- One is subject to capital punishment, Gen. 9:5-6; Ex. 21:12-14,23.
- More than one witness required, Num. 35:30; Deut. 19:15
- Cities of refuge in Israel, Num. 35:16-32; Deut. 19:1-14
- Murderers can be forgiven, Lk. 23:34; Acts 7:60
- Examples of murder-in the Bible
- Cain killed Abel, Gen. 4:8
- Moses killed an Egyptian, Ex. 2:11-12
- Abimelech killed his brothers, Jdg.9:5
- David killed Uriah, 2Sam. 12:9
- Absalom killed Ammon, 2Sam. 13:28-33
- Jezebel killed Naboth, 1Kings 21:8-14
- Hazael killed Ben-Hadad, 2Kings 8:14-15
- Athaliah killed the royal family, 2Kings 11:1
- Herod killed the babies in Bethlehem, Mt. 2:16
- Herod killed John the Baptist, Mt. 14:6-11
- The Jews killed Jesus, Acts 2:23; 1Thes. 2:15
- The Jews killed Stephen, Acts 7:57-60
- Herod killed James, Acts 12:2
The Ten Commandments Notes:
Ex. 20:1-17; 34:28-29; Deut. 5:6-22; 10:1-5; Mt. 19:16-19; 22:36-40; Rom. 7:7-12; 13:8-10; 2 Cor. 3:3; James 2:8-11.
Murders, for various reasons Notes:
Gen. 4:3-8; Gen. 34:25-26; Ex. 1:15-16; 2:11-12; Num. 35:30; Jdg. 9:1-5; 2 Sam. 3:27; 12:9; 1 Kings 16:9-12; 21:1-14; 2 Kings 11:1; Mt. 2:16-17; 14:3-11.
Capital punishment for various crimes Notes:
Gen. 9:6; Ex. 21:12-17; Lev. 20:9-16; Lev. 24:13-17; Num. 35:16-21; Deut. 19:11-12; 22:20-25; 2 Kings 21:21-24; Ezek. 35:5-6; Rom. 13:4.
Control of human anger Notes:
Gen. 4:6-7; Ps. 37:8; Prov. 16:32; 22:24-25; Eccl. 7:9; Mt. 5:22-24; Rom. 12:19; Eph. 4:26-27; Col. 3:8; James 1:19-20.
Living a life of love Notes:
Lev. 19:18; Jn. 13:34-35; 15:12-13; Rom. 12:9-10; 13:8-10; 1 Cor. 13:1-7; Gal. 5:13-14; 5:22; 1 Tim. 1:5; 1 Pet. 1:22; 1 Jn. 3:11-23; 4:7-21.
Love for enemies Notes:
Ex. 23:4-5; Prov. 24:17-18; 25:21-22; Mt. 5:43-45; Lk. 22:50-51; 23:34; Acts 7:60; Rom. 12:20-21.