Murder And Sin: Biblical Perspective On Killing

is murder a sin in the bible

The Bible is clear that murder is a sin. The Sixth Commandment states: Thou shalt not kill (Exodus 20:13). However, the Bible also recognises that killing is sometimes necessary, especially in self-defence (Neh. 4:11-14) or in times of war. In fact, there are several instances in the Bible where God commands battles to be fought and wars to be waged. So, while murder is undoubtedly a sin, the Bible makes a distinction between murder and killing in certain situations.

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Murder is a sin because humans are made in the image of God

The Bible makes it clear that murder is a sin. In Exodus 20:13, one of the Ten Commandments states: "Thou shalt not kill". In the Bible, murder is distinguished from killing by the issue of motive. Jesus identifies the motive behind murder as anger in Matthew 5:21-22.

The Bible also acknowledges that there are times when killing is not murder. For example, in Exodus 22:2-3, God permits the taking of a life if one's own life is in danger: "If a thief is found breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no blood guilt for him". This is an example of reasonable self-defence, which is recognised in Scripture, but the value of human life remains the rule.

The Bible also describes many instances of war, which involve killing. God at times commanded battles between nations, and these were acts of justice against the wicked. Examples include God's instructions to the ancient Israelites to possess the Promised Land (Joshua 1:6) and to King Saul to "go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy all that belongs to them" (1 Samuel 15:3).

The Bible never condemns the actions of a soldier following orders on a battlefield. In fact, the New Testament has several examples of soldiers who had faith in God, such as the centurion whose faith was commended by Jesus in Matthew 8:10, and Cornelius, who was saved in Acts 10. John the Baptist was approached by soldiers who asked him what they should do, and he replied, "Don't extort money and don't accuse people falsely—be content with your pay" (Luke 3:14). Being a soldier is not inherently sinful, and Paul uses the soldier's life as an illustration of spiritual truth (1 Corinthians 9:7 and 2 Timothy 2:3).

In summary, murder is a sin because humans are made in the image of God, and God forbids it in the sixth commandment. However, the Bible acknowledges that there are times when killing is not murder, such as in self-defence or in war.

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God permits killing in self-defence

The Bible does not explicitly state whether God permits killing in self-defence, however, there are several interpretations of the Bible that support the idea that killing in self-defence is not a sin.

Firstly, it is important to note that the commandment often cited as "thou shall not kill" is more accurately translated to "thou shall not murder". This distinction is important because it suggests that the Bible does not prohibit all forms of killing, but rather condemns the unjustified taking of life.

Several passages in the Bible seem to support the idea of self-defence. For example, in Exodus 22:2-3, the Bible states:

> "If a thief is found breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no bloodguilt for him, but if the sun has risen on him, there shall be bloodguilt for him. He shall surely pay."

This passage has been interpreted to mean that homeowners are justified in using lethal force to defend themselves and their property against intruders. While the interpretation of this passage is debated, some argue that it establishes the principle that those who break into homes at night risk their lives, as they endanger others.

Additionally, in Luke 22:36, Jesus tells his disciples:

> "But now, whoever has a purse must take it, and likewise a bag. And whoever does not have a sword must sell his cloak and buy one."

This passage has been interpreted to mean that Jesus endorses the use of lethal force in self-defence, as he encourages his disciples to arm themselves in preparation for potential threats.

Furthermore, the Bible describes God as a defender and warrior, suggesting that it is not a sin to defend oneself against those who would do harm. For example, in Exodus 15:3, God refers to himself as a "man of war", and in Jeremiah 20:11, he is described as a "dread warrior".

Finally, it is worth noting that while Jesus preached turning the other cheek and loving one's enemies, he also recognised that there were times when violence was necessary. For example, in Revelation 19:11-16, Jesus is described as returning to judge, and it is said that "from his mouth comes a sharp sword".

In conclusion, while the Bible does not directly address the issue of killing in self-defence, there are several passages and interpretations that suggest that God permits killing in self-defence and does not consider it a sin.

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God permits killing in war

The Bible makes a clear distinction between murder and killing, with murder being a sin and killing, in certain circumstances, not being a sin. Murder is defined as the unlawful killing of a person, especially with malice or forethought. The Bible states that "you shall not murder" and that those who do will be subject to judgment.

Killing in war is not the same as murder. God permits killing in war, and there are several examples of this in the Bible. God commanded the ancient Israelites to wage war and conquer the Promised Land. God told King Saul to "go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy all that belongs to them". King David also followed God's strategy in battle against the Philistines.

The Bible never condemns the actions of a soldier following orders on a battlefield. In fact, the New Testament includes examples of soldiers who had faith in God, such as a centurion whose faith was commended by Jesus in Matthew 8:10. John the Baptist was also approached by soldiers who asked what they should do, and he replied, "Don't extort money and don't accuse people falsely—be content with your pay".

The Bible presents warfare as a grim reality in a cursed world, and there are forces of evil that must be stopped. Killing an armed combatant in the context of warfare is not sinful in itself. It is a matter of conscience for Christians to decide whether to serve in the military, but killing in war is not inherently a sin.

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God permits capital punishment

The Bible is clear that murder is a sin. However, the question of whether God permits capital punishment is more complex.

The Old Testament Law prescribed the death penalty for a wide range of crimes, including murder, kidnapping, adultery, and homosexuality. In the Old Testament, God is seen as the one who instituted capital punishment: "Whoever sheds man's blood, by man his blood shall be shed, for in the image of God He made man" (Genesis 9:6). This suggests that God permits capital punishment as a just punishment for certain sins.

Furthermore, the apostle Paul recognised the power of the government to institute capital punishment where appropriate (Romans 13:1-7). He also warned against taking revenge for a wrong done (Romans 12:17-21), suggesting that capital punishment should be carried out by duly constituted authorities rather than individuals.

However, there are also verses in the Bible that can be interpreted as opposing capital punishment. For example, when Cain murdered Abel, God sentenced him to wandering as a fugitive rather than to death (Genesis 4:13-15). Additionally, in John 8, Jesus seems to condemn capital punishment when he says, "Let he who is without sin throw the first stone" in response to the Pharisees presenting a woman caught in adultery, who according to Mosaic law should be stoned to death.

While the Bible does not give a clear answer on whether God permits capital punishment, it is worth noting that the New Testament teachings of Jesus and his apostles emphasise love and redemption over the harsh punishments prescribed in the Old Testament. Christians are bound by Jesus' commands to "Love the Lord your God" and "Love your neighbour as yourself" (Matthew 22:34-40). This shift in focus suggests that, while capital punishment may have been permitted by God in the Old Testament, it is not in alignment with the principles of love and forgiveness taught by Jesus.

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Murder is distinguished from killing by motive

The Bible states that murder is a sin. Exodus 20:13 says, "Thou shalt not kill [wrongly]", and Exodus 21:23 sets up capital punishment for murderers.

The four states of mind recognised as constituting "malice" in common law are:

  • Intent to inflict grievous bodily harm short of death
  • Reckless indifference to an unjustifiably high risk to human life (sometimes described as an "abandoned and malignant heart")
  • Intent to commit a dangerous felony (the "felony-murder" doctrine)
  • Under state of mind (i), intent to kill, the deadly weapon rule applies.

These states of mind are crucial in distinguishing murder from other forms of unlawful homicide, such as manslaughter, which is committed without malice or intent.

While the Bible does not make a distinction between murder and killing, the modern legal system does. The specific motive or intention behind a killing plays a significant role in determining whether it is classified as murder or manslaughter, with murder generally carrying harsher punishments.

Frequently asked questions

Yes, murder is a sin in the Bible. The sixth commandment states: "Do not murder" (Exodus 20:13). Murder is distinguished from killing by motive, with Jesus identifying anger as the motive behind murder in Matthew 5:21-22.

Murder is the crime of unlawfully killing a person, especially with malice or forethought. Killing in self-defence, for example, is not considered murder.

No, killing in war is not the same as murder. There are many wars mentioned in the Bible, and God himself commanded battles to be fought. For example, God told the ancient Israelites to "go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy all that belongs to them" (1 Samuel 15:3).

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