Sermon Tone Analysis

*Thomas** S. Myers*

 

*The sixth Commandment*

*Exodus 20:13*

 

*"You shall not murder.

"**(NIV)*

 

            Out of all the commandments, you may say, "This one does not apply to me.

I think you'll change your mind as you allow the Spirit of God to speak to you.

There are several reasons why murder is such a serious crime.

First, is because of the source of life.

God is the giver of life.

It is God alone who brings life into existence.

Second, because of the seriousness of the crime.

Once someone is murdered, it cannot be undone.

If you steal, you can make restitution.

But if you take a human life it is impossible for you to give that life back again.

Murder can never be undone.

*FIRST -- WHAT IS NOT FORBIDDEN BY THE 6TH COMMANDMENT?

*

 

*A.

THE SLAYING OF ANIMALS IS NOT FORBIDDEN BY THE 6TH COMMANDMENT.

*

 

            Just look down at verse 24 and notice that God gave a command to slay animals.

*Exodus 20:24** *

*24** **"`Make an altar of earth for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, your sheep and goats and your cattle.

Wherever I cause my name to be honored, I will come to you and bless you.

(NIV)*

 

            There is nothing wrong with slaying of animals fir food.

We are not to treat animals unhumanely.

*Proverbs 12:10** *

*10  **A** righteous man cares for the needs of his animal*.*

(NIV)*

 

            Some people are vegetarians because they believe that when the Bible says in the KJV, "Thou shalt not kill," it is forbidding the killing of animals.

Actually the Hebrew word for "kill" should be translated by the word "murder."

The 6th commandment is directed towards the taking of human life.

Also I do not see how one can come up with that idea that God forbids the killing and eating of animals since Jesus ate fish in Luke 24:42-43.

The Bible does not forbid the killing of animals.

*B.

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IS NOT FORBIDDEN BY THE 6TH COMMANDMENT.*

Contrary to what some believe, the Bible does not forbid capital punishment.

Look at Exodus 21:12 and notice that capital punishment was exercised when someone committed murder.

*Exodus 21:12** *

*12** **"Anyone who strikes a man and kills him shall surely be put to death.

(NIV)*

  

            Someone may say, "Pastor, capital punishment was permitted under the law of Moses, but we're not under law today, we're under grace."

Then look at Genesis 9:5-6 which was given by God before the Old Testament law was given.

*Genesis 9:5-6** *

*5 **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.

(NIV)*

*   *

            God instituted capital punishment long before the Old Testament law was given.

The 6th commandment does not forbid capital punishment.

*C.

THE BIBLE DOES NOT PROHIBIT A PERSON FROM KILLING IN ORDER TO PROTECT ONE'S LOVED ONE'S OR ONE'S LIFE.*

*Exodus 22:2-3** *

*2** **"If a thief is caught breaking in and is struck so that he dies, the defender is not guilty of bloodshed; 3 but if it happens {Or /if he strikes him/} after sunrise, he is guilty of bloodshed.

"A thief must certainly make restitution, but if he has nothing, he must be sold to pay for his theft.

(NIV)*

* *

            What does that mean?

It means that if in the middle of the night, you wake up and there is someone breaking in your house, and you can't see who it is, the sun is not up and you don't know what they have in mind, and your afraid for your life, you may proceed to protect yourself and your family, and if that man's life is taken, God says you are not to be held accountable.

*SECOND -- WHAT IS FORBIDDEN BY THE 6TH COMMANDMENT?

*

 

*A.

INTENTIONAL MURDER IS FORBIDDEN.

*

 

*There Are At Least 3 Kinds of Intentional Murder*

 

*1ST** - HOMICIDE IS FORBIDDEN.

** *

 

            Homicide is taking another man's life without warrant.

*2ND** -SUICIDE IS FORBIDDEN*.

There are 30,000 suicides every year in the United States.

It is estimated that as many as 400,000 attempted suicides every year.

Not only is it wrong to take someone else's life, it is wrong to take your own life.

No one has the right to take his own life, because in the truest sense, your life is not your own life.

It comes from God.

And there is no excuse or reason to take your own life, for that takes out of the hands of God matters that should only be left in God's hands.

Only God is wise enough to handle these problems wisely.

Some may ask, "Could a Christian commit suicide?"

Some may, but it is never God's will and God's plan.

There is always a way out of trouble, suicide is not the answer.

*1** Corinthians 10:13** *

*13 **No temptation has seized you except what is common to man.

And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.

But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

(NIV)*

 

*Psalm 103:14** *

*14  **for** he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.

(NIV)*

 

            Right now there may be someone who is listening to me who is thinking, "I don't know where to turn.

I would just rather end it all!"

Folks, suicide doesn't end it all.

Three is no way to bring more shame upon yourself or family.

Think of the grief that it will bring to your loved ones.

And how ashamed you would be when you face your Savior.

You will have to tell Him, you couldn't trust him with your life.

You will have to tell Jesus that you could not trust Him to see you're through your troubles and to bear your burdens and to carry your griffs.

*3RD** - FANACIED IS FORBIDDEN.

*   

 

            Fanacied is the killing of little infants, or the taking of life of preborn babies.

Some call it abortion.

In United States alone over 30,000,000 babies were killed by abortion.

We live in a nation where it is safer to be a spotted owl than a baby in a womb.

I know it may well be possible that someone here has had an abortion.

I'm not trying to head guild upon you, because the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from all sin.

But it important that the church speak out and stand up and oppose abortion.