When Jesus spoke of murder in the Bible, he said that we should not kill. He told us that if we had anger toward someone, then we should not murder. However, He did not say we should not get angry with someone or that we should not take the time to explain why we are getting angry. In fact, I would argue that the opposite is true. Rather, if we get angry with someone, we should seek the help of God and pray for mercy.
You shall not murder
The sixth commandment in the Ten Commandments says, “You shall not murder”. Though this is a fairly simple command, it has been misinterpreted by some people. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus clarifies this teaching. He also expands the scope of the commandment.
The word for “murder” in Hebrew is “rasah.” This is a more specific term than the Greek “murder.” It describes negligent homicide, assassination, and assassination for revenge. Murder is often punished with a capital punishment.
Murder is often viewed as the ultimate crime. There is a variety of punishments for different kinds of murder. Some types of murder are punishable by death, while others are only subject to a fine.
Another interpretation of the Sixth Commandment is that God is looking at the motive behind the act. In Jesus’ time, murder was a very serious crime. Because of this, the law provided protection against revenge.
Anger with murder is Jesus’s plain equation
Anger and murder are biblical equations for which there is more than one possible answer. Jesus does not mince words when he says, “It is not good to be angry, but to be sinful.” In other words, don’t get so riled up that you blow the minds of your fellow human beings. Likewise, don’t spout off insults and nitpicky criticisms. This is especially true if your motivation is a desire to be a king or a priest, or even a leader.
The Bible is full of stories about angry folks, and the New Testament has no shortage of them. Among them is the story of the riotous pagan crowd in Ephesus. Similarly, a look at the life and times of King Josiah, or Herod the Great, shows that he too was not above being angry.
God places a higher priority on the heart condition of the giver than on the gift itself
In a nutshell, generosity is about more than just giving, it’s about what we do with what we get. We’re grateful for what we’ve been given and we look for opportunities to use that knowledge to help others. This includes both our fellow humans and the animals we share our planet with. For example, we’re thankful for a roof over our heads and food to eat. We’re also thankful for our friends and family and the many ways they touch our lives.
The generous givers will not only be thankful for what they have, but they’ll be glad to see what’s on the horizon. The same goes for the recipients of their gifts. In fact, the best way to show your gratitude is to let them know how special they are.
Avoiding pronouncing the name of God
There is a clear biblical prohibition against using the name of God in murder. It is the third of the Ten Commandments. The prohibition, outlined in Deuteronomy 12:4, reads: “Thou shalt not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord thy God.”
Historically, the Jewish people never pronounced the holy name of God. Their reason is generally attributed to reverence. They believed that the Name was too sacred to pronounce. Despite the commandment, they continued to honor and use the Name during the temple service.
During the Second Temple period, the priests still pronounced the Name during daily sacrifices. Those who were not allowed to pronounce it were sentenced to death. This prohibition evolved into a ban in 400 BC.
