Murder: The Unlawful Taking of Human Life

Human life is sacred because humanity is made in the image of God (Gen 1:27). Because God gives life, it is His right alone to end it. No person has the authority to unilaterally decide the fate of another for personal reasons — as distinct from killing by soldiers in a war for national defence (Gen 9:5-6; Ex 20:13).

Life is sacred — protect it

In the Old Testament, when a person took the life of another in intentional murder, the offender was to be put to death — the will of God carried out by human agency, because of the violation of the sacredness of human life (Lev 24:17). No one had the right to take life except by a direct command from the Lord to execute righteousness and rid the land of evil.

Only God has the right to end life He has given

Murder is against the law of most countries as well as contrary to Bible teaching. The command to love underpins the prohibition: "Love does no harm to another; rather we should love people and do to them as you would they do to you" (Lk 6:31; Rom 13:9-10). The law of love extends beyond the physical act to the attitudes that give rise to it.

Love does no harm to another

The New Testament gives a fuller understanding — that evil thoughts and intentions are wrong, not just the physical act, and we will be answerable for them (Mt 5:21-22; 1 Jn 3:15). Wrong thoughts and emotional reactions violate God's command to love. We are to guard our heart more than any treasure, for out of it proceed the desires and motivations that often result in sinful outward actions (Prov 4:23; Mt 15:18-19).

Guard your heart — sin begins within

We need to deal with the bitterness, anger, hatred, aggression and frustrations that churn within, so our lives are not corrupted or relationships broken. Unrepentant murderers, along with all who don't accept Christ, will be doomed to hell (Rev 21:8).