The commandment
(Exo 20:13 NIV) “You shall not murder.
The reason why we cannot murder is because man is created in the image of God. There is sanctity in human life.
(Gen 9:5-6 NIV) And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting. I will demand an accounting from every animal. And from each man, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of his fellow man. {6} “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man.
Anger
(Mat 5:21-22 NIV) “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ {22} But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca, ‘ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.
It is so natural to feel anger when someone has hurt us – either physically or emotionally. Yet Jesus gave us such a remarkable example in this area. He was hurt physically while on the cross but He was not angry with His tormentors. He was hurt emotionally when His disciple Peter denied Him three times. Yet He did not display anger. Jesus was never angry at injuries and insults directed towards Himself. He was only angry when His Father’s rights were violated.
(1 Pet 2:23 NIV) When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.
It is possible to be angry and still not sin. Anger is a human response. Even though it is our ultimate aim not to be angry when hurts are directed at ourselves, it is nonetheless true that being angry is natural and in itself does not cause us to sin.
(Eph 4:26 NIV) “In your anger do not sin” : Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,
One way to prevent ourselves from sinning when we are angry is simply to walk away from the situation and give ourselves time to cool off. Count to 100 or even take a walk round the block.
We should also probe our hearts as to why we are angry. Is there something in us that caused us to be angry? Perhaps it is our pride. Maybe we should be changing ourselves. Ask the Holy Spirit to search our heart to reveal the hidden areas.
(Psa 139:23 NIV) Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
Abortion
Abortion is now legal in many countries. Is abortion tantamount to killing? To answer this question we have to determine whether the unborn child constitutes life. Is the unborn child seen as an individual by God? Let’s see what the Bible has to say about this.
(Psa 139:13-16 NIV) For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. {14} I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. {15} My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, {16} your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
Even before we were born, when we were still in our mother’s womb, God already had a plan for our life. All the days that were ordained for us was already decided. Clearly we were already considered by God to be human beings with a divine plan.
If that is the case, then the destruction of the fetus during abortion is the destruction of human life.
Suicide
Suicide is tantamount to killing of oneself. The Bible teaches that life is sacred. That includes our own life. We are all created in the image of God.
There is nothing in this world that should lead us to take our own life. God promises to come to our help if we call upon His name.
(Psa 9:9 NIV) The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.
(Psa 138:7 NIV) Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes, with your right hand you save me.