May 13
20
Doctrinal Standard #66-69
- Q. What is the reason for the fifth commandment?
- A. The reason for the fifth commandment is the promise of long life and prosperity, if these glorify God and are for the good of those who obey this commandment.
- Q. What is the sixth commandment?
- A. The sixth commandment is: You shall not murder.
- Q. What does the sixth commandment require?
- A. The sixth commandment requires making every lawful effort to preserve one’s own life and the lives of others.
- Q. What does the sixth commandment forbid?
- The sixth commandment forbids taking one’s own life or the lives of others unjustly or doing anything that leads to suicide or murder.
Memory Verses
- “What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask” (James 4:1–2, ESV).
Scripture
- Study Passage: Matthew 5:21-26
- Support Passages: James 2:1-13, 4; Exodus 21:12-14; Joshua 20:1-6; Numbers 35:29-34; John 2:13-22; Psalm 144; Matthew 5:38-48
- Bible Story: Genesis 14:1-16
Thoughts
- If we are not careful, we can read the Ten Commandments and easily dismiss some of them as commandments that we have never nor will we ever break. We must remind ourselves that all of these commands deal not only with our actions but also with our heart. Matthew chapter five records Jesus talking about this very thing. “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. 23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. 26 Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny. 27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:21–28). God is not only concerned with our actions but also with our heart. “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander”(Matthew 15:19). Therefore, when we read the Ten Commandments we must be careful to not dismiss some them too quickly as if we have never or will never transgress them.
- Catechism question sixty-six (What is the reason for the fifth commandment? The reason for the fifth commandment is the promise of long life and prosperity, if these glorify God and are for the good of those who obey this commandment) is combined in this lesson because it reminds of the benefits in honoring our father and mother. The teachings of our fathers and mothers are usually those that are concerned with love for one another and the love of God. Fathers and mothers teach their children character traits and skills that will make them successful and content in this life. If more children honored their father and mother we would see a drastic change in the types of crimes committed each and every day.
Discussion Questions
- What is the sixth commandment?
- Have you every sinned against this command?
- What is Jesus perspective on this command?
- Where does murder and every other sin come from?
- If Jesus is concerned not only with our actions but with our heart, how do we deal with our heart?
- What connection is their between honoring your parents and breaking the sixth commandment?
