Kill Joy

“You must not murder.” (Exodus 20:13, NLT)

The sixth commandment seems to only refer to one human being not extinguishing the life of another person. Is this the only way the above verse to be understood?

Have you ever met someone who has recently undergone some traumatic life event? At this point in the healing process, the person probably feels like they are going through the motions of a normal reality. They feel empty (and hollow) inside as they consider themselves the living dead. (Their joy and passion for existing is no longer there.)

Below are a few life examples where I can see this distinctive interpretation of the sixth commandment as appropriate.

1.  1.  Rape is a violent act of sexual power over one person by another. The victim often deals with self blame, trying to get others to believe them, and the death of their internal trust (or innocence). Hopefully, what’s taken away by this horrible act can eventually be resurrected with intensive therapy. (Psalm 9:9, 2 Samuel 13:1-18, Lamentations 5:11, Judges 19:23-27)

  19:23-27)

2.  1.  Before adultery ever happens in a marriage, emotional bonding has already begun between one of the spouses and an individual outside the marriage. Often the adultery process can signal greater commitment to fixing a marriage (if both can work through this challenge), or it can be a murder verdict to the conclusion of the marital union. (Exodus 20:14, Proverbs 6:32, Matthew 5:28, Hebrews 13:4, James 4:17)

3.  Often good people give the wrong advice to someone who wants to reach a goal. That advice sows a seed of doubt in the individual’s mind, and often kills that person’s desires to reach for the impossible. (Psalm 55:22, 56:3, Proverbs 13:12, 18:21, 2 Thessalonians 3:13)

God cares about the real you. Your internal emotions often determine what happens on the external you (in your thoughts, actions, or words). Mark 5:21-22(MSG) gives this advice. You’re familiar with the command to the ancients, “Do not murder.” I’m telling you that anyone who is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder…the simple moral fact is that words kill.

According to the above scripture, how many of us have caused murder with the angry, hurtful words we’ve unloaded on our unsuspecting victim (much like an overflowing volcano). Were the reasons for those words really worth all the pain that’s been inflicted on someone in just a matter of minutes? Metaphorically speaking, should you be placed on death row (or receive a pardon by a divine Governor)?