Murdering in Our Hearts

It seemed the most natural thing to me that our reflections together on the ten commandments

that we started last week should actually take up ten podcasts and spill over into

this second week. They are, after all, meant to be the Christian's friends, not his enemies.

They're like guards posted around our life to keep us safe and faithful. And so it's

worth lingering over them and reflecting on them one by one. And today we've come to

commandment number six. We're not to murder.

I remember my mum and dad taking me to the famous Cecil B. Demille movie, The Ten Commandments,

Carlton, Heston, Magnificent, 80-year-old Moses. I think it was only eight at the time,

but the voice of God booming down on Mount Sinai actually held no surprises for me because

I'd been made to learn the ten words off by heart long before then. And I suppose someone

thought I needed to be kept in order. But if you were anything like me and to learn

the ten commandments when you were young, you'd probably shared my relief when you got

to number six. You might not have loved God with all your heart and soul and strength. And

you'd probably sometimes not fully obeyed your parents. But at least with number six,

you could relax and say with the rich young ruler, this commandment I have kept from my

childhood upwards. But now we know better, don't we? And perhaps for the same reason,

after memorizing the ten commandments, perhaps you were moved on to memorizing the sermon on

the Mount. And if so, you might remember the sinking feeling when you learned that you can murder

with your mouth as well as with a machine gun. And you can lacerate with a look as well as with

a knife, and you can kill with a computer keyboard as well as with a blunt instrument.

That's what Jesus said, this commandment really meant. And of course, when we realize this,

we begin to see that the ten commandments have all got an inside as well as an outside.

And at last we've found a clue that helps us to understand and apply them to our lives.

They all come alive with instruction for us. I wonder if you're familiar with the help

the Westminster Assembly's larger catechism is just at this point. Here are four very helpful

statements it makes an answer to question 99. What rules are to be observed for the right

understanding of the ten commandments? And here's part of the answer. For the right understanding

of the ten commandments, these rules are to be observed. Its rule number two is that it is

spiritual and so reacheth the understanding, will, affections, and all other powers of the soul,

as well as words, works, and gestures. And here is principle number four.

That as where a duty is commanded, the contrary sin is forbidden. And where a sin is forbidden,

the contrary duty is commanded. So where a promise is annexed, the contrary threatening is included.

And where a threatening is annexed, the contrary promise is included. And principle number six,

that under one sin or duty all of the same kind are forbidden or commanded. Together with all

the causes, means, occasions, and appearances thereof and provocations. And then there is even this

principle that what is forbidden or commanded to ourselves, we are bound according to our places

to endeavor that it may be avoided or performed by others, according to the duty of their places.

I think you can tell that they had been listening to the Lord Jesus, that every commandment has

an outside and an inside. And the real significance of the commandments and the real challenge of

the commandments is not just about our outward behavior, but about our inner spiritual condition.

And that's what's so challenging for them as a Christian. Well, I hope you see the inside as

well as the outside. It's not enough for the outside to be washed. The inside needs to be washed too.

And that's why we constantly need to remind ourselves that it's only by the spirit of the Lord

Jesus Christ, that the righteous requirements of the law will ever be fulfilled in us.

So, let's look to the spirit of Christ today to enable us to live like Christ.