Respect for Human Life

MEMORY VERSE: “Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.” —I John 3:15

EXODUS 20:13; MATTHEW 5:21-24; 43,44; I JOHN 3:15-18; 4:20,21

“THOU shalt not kill” is a commandment the meaning of which is quite clear. Those who try to justify the taking of human life in war cite the cases in which God directed the Israelites to destroy life. The point in these cases is that the Creator, who was the original creator of life, is the only one who has the right to take it away, and those whom he authorized to destroy life were simply acting as his agents.

There has been no situation among humans comparable to that which existed between God and his chosen people Israel. No other ruler or government has ever had the authority to act or speak for God, nor has God directed them as he directed in the affairs of Israel. With the exception of those who are wilful sinners, those whom God destroys will be restored to life by divine power, so that their sleep in death is similar to the sleep of those whom a physician renders unconscious for a time in order that he might operate on them. The physician is justified in this because he is in a position to restore consciousness—at least, his work is done with this in mind.

God’s penalty for sin brought death upon the entire human family, and in the outworking of his plan to restore life through Christ he has seen fit to hasten the dying process in some instances, particularly in the case of Israel’s enemies. But this was done with his larger purpose in mind to restore those lives during the reign of Christ, when provision will be made for their enlightenment and restoration to perfection and permanency of life.

Jesus and the apostles of the New Testament magnified the requirements of the Law. (Matt. 5:17,18) Jesus implied that anyone becoming angry with his brother was violating the spirit of the commandment, “Thou shalt not kill.” (Matt. 5:21,22) Our Common Version adds to “angry with his brother” the words “without a cause,” but these words are not in older manuscripts. And we can see why, for many would justify their hating of others under the pretext that they did have a cause.

Jesus explained that anyone who says to another, “Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.” The Diaglott translation reads, “Whoever shall say, Apostate wretch! will be obnoxious to the burning of Gehenna.” “Gehenna” is the important word here. It is the Greek word that is translated “hell in this text, as it reads in the Common Version. It describes a valley just outside the ancient city of Jerusalem where the refuse of the city was burned. Corpses of Jews considered unworthy of a resurrection were sometimes cast into the fire of Gehenna. It is a symbol of destruction, not of torment.

In the Christian outlook there is no place for hate. Jesus emphasized that, instead of hating our enemies, we must love them and be willing at all times to do them good. In this way we will truly be the children of our Heavenly Father, who causes the sun to shine and the rain to fall on the just and on the unjust.—Matt. 5:43-4 8

John wrote that a Christian who hates his brother is a murderer (because hate is the basis for murder), and that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. Thus does John agree with Jesus in his emphasis on the terrible sin of hate. Most Christians may feel that they have no inclination to hate, but nevertheless all should be on guard, for the slightest animosity could easily grow into hate. David expressed this subtle approach of presumptuous sins when he wrote, “Cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.”—Ps. 19:12,13

Hate destroys life, but love is willing to give life to aid others. The greatest example we have of this is Jesus, who in his love laid down his life for the whole world. The wording in our Common Version unfortunately suggests that God laid down his life. But it will be noted that the words “of God” (which are omitted in both the Revised Version and the Diaglott) are in italics, indicating they have been added by the translators. True, God also loved the world, and he gave his Son Jesus to die that we might live; but it was the Son, not the Father, who actually died on the cross.

John further explains that one cannot love God and hate his brother at the same time. This is a further admonition to keep our hearts cleansed from the impurity of hate, lest in addition to the sin of hate itself, we make ourselves hypocrites. Truly it behooves every follower of the Master to be on guard.

QUESTIONS

Are there any circumstances under which a Christian may take human life?

Explain how Jesus and the apostles amplified the command, “Thou shalt not kill.”

| Home Page | Table of Contents |