Doctrine of Murder
(1) - DEFINITION: Murder is the overt violation of the sovereignty of God who alone has the right to take life. God gives life, and God takes life. Pride is the inner violation of the sovereignty of God. This is illustrated by Satan's fall in Is 14:12-16, and by the fall of the woman in Gen 3:1-7.
Murder is the removal of an individual's freedom and free will. As a violation against the sovereignty of God, this is a sin. As a removal of an individual's freedom, it is a crime.
(2)-The origin of Murder: The devil was a murderer from the beginning (John 8:44). The origin of murder is the same as the origin of sin. Satan himself thought of a way to eliminate human volition as a part of the Angelic Conflict.
(3)-In our study of Jude we will see that Satan motivated Cain to murder his brother Abel(I Jn 3:12).
(4) Mental sins are reactor factors that motivated the first murder. In Gen 4:5 we saw the sins of pride, hatred and jealousy.
(5)-With the beginning of the laws of establishment, and confirmed by the Mosaic Law, murder is prohibited, and is classified as the number one crime. Ex 20:13, "You shall not murder." Deut 4:17,"You shall not murder."Matt 5:21,"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment."
(6)-Capital punishment, or death as the penalty for murder is taught in Gen 9:6,"Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed."
Num 35:30-31,"Anyone who murders a person is to be put to death as a murderer only on the testimony of witnesses. But no one is to be put to death on the testimony of one witness. Do not accept a ransom for the life of a murderer, who deserves to die. He must surely be put to death."
Rom 13:1-7,"Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God's
servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword(of punishment, including capital punishment)for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience."
(7)-Murder is listed as one of the seven worst sins in Prov 6:16-19.
(8)-Anger as a mental sin is also regarded as mental murder. Matt 5:21-22,"You have heard it was said to the people long ago, do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment. But I tell you that anyone who is angry with is brother will be subject to judgment..." Only overt murder is punishable by death. Mental murder is punishable by God in three different ways.
A-Warning discipline. B-Intensive discipline. C-Dying discipline, known as the sin unto death.
(9)-Murder always involves mental attitude sins as the motivation. Jealousy precedes murder in Rom 1:29, & Gal 5:21.
(10)-Murder is a crime and should be punished by death. Matt 26:52,"...all who live by the sword will die by the sword." The word "sword" in that passage refers to crime, it does not refer to the military as some would have you believe.
(11)-While murder is the worst of all sins it can be committed by a believer who is out of fellowship or in reversionism (retrogression in the spiritual life). I Pet 4:15,"If you suffer, IT SHOULD NOT BE AS A MURDERER or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler." I John 3:15,"Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him."