Beyond Murder: The Heart's True Condition

Devotional

Day 1: The Deeper Meaning of "You Shall Not Murder"

The commandment "You shall not murder" extends beyond the physical act of taking a life. Jesus, in Matthew 5:21-22, teaches that harboring anger and hatred in our hearts is equivalent to committing murder in God's eyes. This deeper understanding calls us to examine our hearts and attitudes towards others. It challenges us to address the root causes of our actions—anger, hatred, and a critical spirit. By doing so, we align our hearts with God's will and reflect His love and grace in our lives. [50:33]

Matthew 5:21-22 (ESV): "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.' 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."

Reflection: Think of a person or situation that has caused you anger or resentment. How can you begin to release that anger and seek reconciliation today?

Day 2: The Sanctity of Life

Life is a precious gift from God, and taking it unjustly, whether through murder, suicide, abortion, or euthanasia, is a grave sin. We must uphold the sanctity of life in all circumstances, recognizing that only God has the authority to give and take life. This understanding calls us to respect and protect life at all stages, from conception to natural death. It also challenges us to support those who are vulnerable and to advocate for life-affirming choices in our communities. [39:13]

Psalm 139:13-16 (ESV): "For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them."

Reflection: How can you actively support and uphold the sanctity of life in your daily interactions and decisions?

Day 3: Practicing Forgiveness

Forgiveness is essential in combating anger and hatred. When we understand the depth of God's forgiveness towards us, it should inspire us to forgive others, removing the record of wrongs and fostering a tenderhearted spirit. Forgiveness is not always easy, but it is a powerful act of love that can heal relationships and bring peace to our hearts. By practicing forgiveness, we reflect God's grace and mercy to those around us. [01:04:22]

Ephesians 4:31-32 (ESV): "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."

Reflection: Think of someone in your life you need to forgive. Can you ask God to help you begin to extend His love and forgiveness to them today?

Day 4: Meekness and Restraint

Meekness, often misunderstood as weakness, is actually strength under control. It involves restraining our impulses to harm others, even when we feel justified. Jesus teaches that the meek will inherit the earth, highlighting the value of self-control. Practicing meekness means responding to others with gentleness and patience, even in difficult situations. It is a powerful testimony of God's transforming work in our lives. [01:06:46]

Matthew 5:5 (ESV): "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you struggle with self-control? How can you practice meekness and restraint in those areas today?

Day 5: Allowing God to Handle Justice

When wronged, we must trust God to administer justice rather than taking matters into our own hands. Romans 12:19 reminds us that vengeance belongs to God, and He will repay. This trust in God's perfect justice frees us from the burden of anger and revenge. By allowing God to handle justice, we can focus on living in peace and extending grace to others, knowing that God will ultimately make all things right. [01:09:25]

Romans 12:19 (ESV): "Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.'"

Reflection: Is there a situation where you are seeking revenge or holding onto anger? How can you release it to God and trust Him to handle justice?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Good morning, church. It's wonderful to be back with you all. Today, we continue our series on the Ten Commandments, focusing on the commandment, "You shall not murder" from Exodus 20. This commandment, though seemingly straightforward, holds profound implications for our lives. It's not just about the physical act of murder but also about the condition of our hearts.

We began by acknowledging that murder is universally recognized as wrong. However, Jesus expands this commandment in Matthew 5:21-22, teaching that harboring anger and hatred in our hearts is akin to committing murder. This deeper understanding calls us to examine our hearts and attitudes towards others.

We discussed the difference between murder and killing, noting that the Bible does not condemn all forms of killing, such as in self-defense or war. However, murder, whether premeditated or due to recklessness, is a grave sin because it takes away the life that God has given.

We also addressed sensitive topics like suicide, abortion, and euthanasia, emphasizing that these acts are forms of taking life that God has given and are therefore wrong. Suicide is self-murder, abortion is the killing of the innocent, and euthanasia is the taking of life through medical means. Each of these issues requires us to uphold the sanctity of life as given by God.

Jesus' teaching in Matthew 5 challenges us to go beyond the physical act of murder and address the root causes—anger, hatred, and a critical spirit. We are called to love our neighbors, practice forgiveness, and allow God to handle justice. By doing so, we align our hearts with God's will and reflect His love and grace in our lives.

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Key Takeaways

1. control. [01:06:46]
5. Allowing God to Handle Justice: When wronged, we must trust God to administer justice rather than taking matters into our own hands. Romans 12:19 reminds us that vengeance belongs to God, and He will repay. This trust in God's perfect justice frees us from the burden of anger and revenge.

### [66:46]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[05:08] - Gratitude and Prayer
[05:43] - Opening Prayer
[06:58] - Seasons of Life
[07:59] - Heartfelt Worship
[08:55] - Invitation to Worship
[28:17] - Technology and Miracles
[29:08] - Introduction to the Commandment
[30:06] - Murder, She Wrote Analogy
[30:50] - Universality of Murder's Wrongness
[31:43] - Reading of the Commandment
[33:21] - Understanding "You Shall Not Murder"
[34:11] - Definitions: Murder vs. Killing
[36:46] - Biblical Context of Killing
[39:13] - The Sanctity of Life
[41:18] - Modern Applications: Suicide
[44:37] - Modern Applications: Abortion
[47:43] - Modern Applications: Euthanasia
[50:33] - Jesus' Expansion on the Commandment
[52:21] - The Root of Sin: The Heart
[55:26] - Critical Spirit and Words
[59:31] - Love Your Neighbor
[63:23] - Practicing Forgiveness
[66:46] - Practicing Meekness
[69:25] - Allowing God to Handle Justice
[72:40] - The Power of Repentance
[75:09] - Prayer for Healing and Forgiveness
[83:25] - Announcements and Closing

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What does Exodus 20:13 command us not to do?
According to Matthew 5:21-22, how does Jesus expand the understanding of the commandment "You shall not murder"? [50:33]
In Romans 12:19, what are we instructed to do instead of seeking vengeance?

Interpretation Questions

How does Jesus' teaching in Matthew 5:21-22 challenge our understanding of anger and hatred in relation to the commandment "You shall not murder"? [50:33]
Why is it important to differentiate between murder and killing as discussed in the sermon? [34:11]
How does the concept of leaving vengeance to God, as stated in Romans 12:19, help us deal with feelings of anger and hatred? [01:09:25]

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you felt deep anger or hatred towards someone. How can Jesus' teaching in Matthew 5:21-22 help you address those feelings? [50:33]
The sermon mentioned that harboring a critical spirit can be as damaging as hatred. Have you ever found yourself being overly critical of someone? How can you work on changing that attitude? [55:26]
The pastor discussed the sanctity of life and how it applies to issues like suicide, abortion, and euthanasia. How can you uphold the sanctity of life in your daily interactions and decisions? [39:13]
Forgiveness is essential in combating anger and hatred. Is there someone you need to forgive in your life? What steps can you take to start that process? [01:03:23]
Meekness was described as strength under control. Can you think of a situation where you need to practice meekness? How can you prepare yourself to respond with restraint? [01:06:46]
Trusting God to handle justice can be challenging. Is there a situation where you are struggling to let go and let God handle it? How can you remind yourself to trust in God's perfect justice? [01:09:25]
The sermon emphasized the importance of loving your neighbor. Identify one practical way you can show love to someone in your community this week. [01:00:18]

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "You never know when your last day is. So, you pray that God would always have somebody able to step in. And so, we're very thankful for that. This morning, as we get ready for our time of worship, I want to invite you to enter a time of prayer. To enter a time of prayer this morning, asking God to do what only God can do. To change hearts, open hearts, and to give us new hearts." [05:08] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "God, my prayer today is that whether we're in a season of the valley of the shadow of death, or if we're a season where we're on a mountaintop, Lord, that you would meet us where we are. That we would run to you and say, Father, I need you. God, would you break our heart for the sin in our lives? And would you restore us as only you can?" [06:58] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "God, you are worthy of it all. So today we give you every part of ourselves. We thank you that you sent your son, Jesus, and that you give us a chance today to repent and turn towards him." [08:55] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "The essence of this command expresses the value of God given life. See, God gifted life to humans through his own spirit. When we look in Genesis chapter two and verse seven and eight, it says that God breathed life into Adam. It's one of my favorite portions of Genesis because it uses the word nostrils. All right. He breathed life into Adam's nostrils. This is God giving life to us." [39:13] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "When we love people, we begin to recognize that they have value in the eyes of the Creator, just like we do. Jesus commands us to love one another. That's how we fulfill the law of Christ. The love that Jesus doesn't just say, yeah, don't kill each other. That Jesus understood that killing wasn't even close to the problem. But our respect and love for one another." [01:01:07] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "I believe one of the issues we have is that we don't recognize that this commandment literally is about murder, not about killing. Okay? It's important to understand that this commandment is not about killing, but it's about murder. Now, here's where we get into some fun definitions. You didn't know that you were going to have some definitions today." [34:11] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Suicide is self-murder. That is the short, succinct definition for suicide. It is self-murder. And I can imagine, I know that I've been affected by this in my life. I've had people in my life that have taken their own life. And I know that you probably have had the same thing. It is an epidemic in our nation. It is a growing epidemic amongst guys. So we have to understand that this is an area, biblically, suicide is wrong. It is sin. But I want to say this to you because some of you may have been misled. It is not the unforgivable sin." [42:21] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Abortion is killing of the innocent. I know people may go, Well, Pastor, you are getting real political on this one. I just want to be biblical on it, if you do not mind. Taking of life is not your right, whether it is yours, somebody else's, or a child who has yet to take their first breath on this side." [44:37] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "The word hate is a word that I, I hate it. Okay? Like, I'm just not a fan. You know, even as an avid sports fan, as a Cowboys fan, I don't say I hate the Eagles. It's close. But there's a level of, the word hatred envelops this idea that I want something to die, and I want it to die without the chance of redemption. And that's intense." [53:23] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "How do we combat this feeling of murder or rage or anger in our hearts? The first one we have to do is probably the hardest one for us to do. And that is to practice forgiveness. See, when we recognize how much we've been forgiven, it should automatically turn the faucet on in our life of pouring out grace upon people. To pour out forgiveness upon people." [01:03:23] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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