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Lord's Day 40

Topics: Sixth Commandment, Murder, Hatred, Government, Love

105. Q.

What does God require
in the sixth commandment?
A.
I am not to dishonour, hate, injure,
or kill my neighbour
by thoughts, words, or gestures,
and much less by deeds,
whether personally or through another; 1
rather, I am to put away
all desire of revenge. 2
Moreover, I am not to harm or recklessly endanger myself. 3
Therefore, also, the government bears the sword
to prevent murder. 4
  • 1. Gen 9:6; Lev 19:17, 18; Mt 5:21, 22; 26:52.
  • 2. Prov 25:21, 22; Mt 18:35; Rom 12:19; Eph 4:26.
  • 3. Mt 4:7; 26:52; Rom 13:11-14.
  • 4. Gen 9:6; Ex 21:14; Rom 13:4.
106. Q.

But does this commandment
speak only of killing?
A.
By forbidding murder God teaches us
that he hates the root of murder,
such as envy, hatred, anger, and desire of revenge, 1
and that he regards all these as murder. 2
  • 1. Prov 14:30; Rom 1:29; 12:19; Gal 5:19-21; Jas 1:20; 1 Jn 2:9-11.
  • 2. 1 Jn 3:15.
107. Q.

Is it enough, then,
that we do not kill our neighbour
in any such way?
A.
No.
When God condemns envy, hatred, and anger,
he commands us
to love our neighbour as ourselves, 1
to show patience, peace, gentleness,
mercy, and friendliness toward him, 2
to protect him from harm as much as we can,
and to do good even to our enemies. 3
  • 1. Mt 7:12; 22:39; Rom 12:10.
  • 2. Mt 5:5; Lk 6:36; Rom 12:10, 18; Gal 6:1, 2; Eph 4:2; Col 3:12; 1 Pet 3:8.
  • 3. Ex 23:4, 5; Mt 5:44, 45; Rom 12:20.
Copyright 2010, Standing Committee for the Publication of the Book of Praise of the Canadian Reformed Churches.
Used by permission.
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