27th March 2025

27th March 2025


Pray (ACts)


Read (Exodus 20v13)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


The sixth commandment states that we should not kill and as always the demands of God’s Word go beyond our imperfect obedience. I have never taken a life but I have no reason to boast before the Lord. The Larger Catechism outlines fully what is required by the sixth commandment.


“The duties required in the sixth commandment are, all careful studies, and lawful endeavours, to preserve the life of ourselves and others by resisting all thoughts and purposes, subduing all passions, and avoiding all occasions, temptations, and practices, which tend to the unjust taking away the life of any; by just defence thereof against violence, patient bearing of the hand of God, quietness of mind, cheerfulness of spirit; a sober use of meat, drink, physic, sleep, labor, and recreation; by charitable thoughts, love, compassion, meekness, gentleness, kindness; peaceable, mild, and courteous speeches and behavior: forbearance, readiness to be reconciled, patient bearing and forgiving of injuries, and requiting good for evil; comforting and succoring the distressed, and protecting and defending the innocent.”


What jumped out at you as you read the previous paragraph? Allow me to ask you for a moment to consider someone  who you regard as an enemy. Praise God if you don’t have one but for many of us there are people in our lives that we hate to see coming. They have wounded us, talked harshly about us and it seems that they would rather be anywhere than in our company. Consider that person in light of God’s command.


I doubt you would ever consider lifting your hand in violence against your “enemy” but you might allow your mouth to speak harshly about him. How do we obey the Lord in the sixth commandment? By bearing with the faults of our enemy, by seeking reconciliation with him, by meeting hostility with patience and answering their evil with good. Here is where the rubber meets the road because long before you turn to life-taking violence you allow yourself to wallow in sinful rage against someone made in God’s image. You have taken their life countless times.


To you and I the Lord says you should not kill. You should not be in the business of destruction. You should not live with violence in your hands and upon your lips. Brothers and sisters, we should not kill by word, deed or thought. This is what the sixth commandment requires and I fall far short. God have mercy on me a sinner and turn my violence to dust!


“When Jesus was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.” (1 Peter 2v23)


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC


Q42 What is the sum of the ten commandments? The sum of the ten commandments is, to love the Lord our God, with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our strength, and with all our mind; and our neighbor as ourselves.
​