The Ten Commandments--Commandments 5 and 6

Continuing our trip through the Ten Commandments, here are a few comments on Commandments 5 and 6.

Commandment 5: Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16. I will include Deuteronomy 5:16 because it is a little longer than Exodus 20:12. "Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God commanded you, so that your days may be long and that it may go well with you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you." Here are some thoughts:
1. While the first four commandments have to do with our relationship with God, the last six commandments have to do with our relationship with other people.
2. Children have parents for a reason. Biblically, the intention of parents is NOT to dominate or control children, but to raise them in the nurture of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4; Colossians 3:21. When parents raise their children in the Lord, it is only naturally for those children to "honor" their parents, NOT obey or be in subjection to them, but to honor them.
3. The purpose of the fifth commandment is to transmit God's blessings and teachings from one generation to the next. The Bible strongly emphasizes this idea. Read carefully Exodus 10:1-2; 12:26-27; 13:8-9; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; 11:18-21; Psalm 78:1-8. Children "honor" their parents by leaving father and mother, establishing their own family under God, and serving God and others, so that in turn they will transmit these blessings and teachings from God to their children. Genesis 2:18-24 firmly teaches this concept. Genesis 18:16-21 provides an excellent example.
4. Children "honor" their parents by supporting their parents when they cannot support themselves. Matthew 15:1-9 teaches this.

Commandment 6: Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 5:17. "You shall not murder." Here are some thoughts.
1. This commandment forbids a human being to take another person's life. God gives life. Human beings are not to take that prerogative to take away life. This commandment has to do with INTENTIONAL, PREMEDITATED MURDER. There are three specific exceptions explicitly taught in the Bible.
2. Accidental or unintentional killing is NOT a violation of the sixth commandment. As one example, Deuteronomy 19:5 explains: "Suppose someone goes into the forest with another to cut wood, and when one of them swings the ax to ut down a tree, the head slips from the handle and strikes the other person who then dies; the killer may flee to one of these cities [the cities of refuge] and live." Every human being deeply regrets if that person is involved in an accident and another person is killed, or if that person is a pilot and a crash ensues and some of the victims perish, or if that person is swimming with some friends and one of them dies. But, unfortunately, REAL LIFE is full of accidents, and often we are involved or caught. We feel VERY BAD about the situation. BUT, accidental killing is NOT MURDER.
2. Capital punishment is NOT MURDER. The Bible COMMANDS that the punishment of SOME crimes are so heinous that the correct punishment is capital punishment. Exodus 21:12 is a clear example: "Whoever strikes a person mortally SHALL BE PUT TO DEATH." A human being who intentionally MURDERS another person shall be put to death. The old translation: "Thou shalt not kill" is simply NOT a violation of capital punishment. This may seem harsh to some. But HUMAN LIFE is precious, and when a human being takes the life of another person, God COMMANDS the intentional murder to practice capital punishment. NOW, for various reasons, some societies OPT to allow an intentional murderer to stay alive physically in prison. Human societies must make their choices in this matter. OFTEN, the murder escapes and MURDERS yet another person. ALSO, sometimes, God touches the heart of a MURDERER and changes that person's life. Saul of Tarsus regrets for the rest of his life that he participated in the MURDER of Stephen--Acts 7:54-8:1; 1 Corinthians 15:9; 1 Timothy 1:15-16.
3. War is NOT MURDER. NOW, of course, war MAY INDEED be a type of murder. But killing in war is NOT NECESSARILY murder. God COMMANDED the Israelites to "utterly destroy" the inhabitants of the land of Canaan. Deuteronomy 7:1-5. God COMMANDED Saul and the Israelites to "utterly destroy" the Amalekites. 1 Samuel 15:1-3. And God rejected Saul and terminated Saul's dynasty when Saul and the Israelites disobeyed this commandment. Some are "Pacifists." They insist that all "wars" of all kinds are a violation of the sixth commandment. The Bible and history oppose such an idea. All of us, certainly myself included, desire and work for peace, not war. But some military leaders and nations INSIST on war. SOMETIMES, the ONLY response is defensive war to save the greater population. This is a horrible truth, but a reality.

These two commandments are tough. Many of you will disagree with one or more of these thoughts. We need to honestly ponder, study, discuss these ideas. They are fundamental to human life. I personally pray day for universal peace. There are wars everywhere. Isaiah 2:2-4 and Micah 4:1-5, passages on which I have studied diligently for years and punished articles, call for universal peace. God will ultimately bring peace. In the meantime, life goes on.

Share your thoughts with these "tough issues." We need to discuss them.

John Willis