“You shall not murder.” (Exodus 20:13 NIV)
The Authorized Version says, “Thou shalt not kill.” From the context, we know that the word used in this commandment is more specific than “kill.” The very next chapter says, “Anyone who strikes a man and kills him shall surely be put to death.” Exodus 21:12 requires the execution of a man who kills another man. If the command in Exodus 20 meant “kill” in a general sense, the execution required in Exodus 21 would be violating this command.
No, the word is “murder.” However, the word is still more specific than that.
“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 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.” (Matthew 5:21-22)
There are murderers (physical and spiritual) who escape judgment on this earth. However, there is no murderer who escapes the judgment of God unless his robes are washed.
“Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.” (Revelation 22:12-15)
The Authorized Version says, “Thou shalt not kill.” From the context, we know that the word used in this commandment is more specific than “kill.” The very next chapter says, “Anyone who strikes a man and kills him shall surely be put to death.” Exodus 21:12 requires the execution of a man who kills another man. If the command in Exodus 20 meant “kill” in a general sense, the execution required in Exodus 21 would be violating this command.
No, the word is “murder.” However, the word is still more specific than that.
“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 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.” (Matthew 5:21-22)
There are murderers (physical and spiritual) who escape judgment on this earth. However, there is no murderer who escapes the judgment of God unless his robes are washed.
“Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.” (Revelation 22:12-15)
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