A silent courtroom. A man stands accused. His crime? Taking the life of another. The gavel will fall, judgment will be rendered, and a decision will be made.
But on what grounds? By what standard do we decide when a life may be taken and when taking a life is an unthinkable crime?
The answers are not found in human sentiment but in the Word of God. Scripture does not flinch from the hard truths that govern life and death, and neither should we.
The Manager of Creation
In the opening pages of Genesis, God declares His intent for man: “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth” (Genesis 1:26).
This is the divine mandate. Man is not a mere creature among creatures. He is God’s vice-regent, placed over creation with authority, responsibility, and accountability.
Animals are under human rule. They may be used for food. They may be taken when they pose a threat. The world is not as it was; the fall has corrupted nature, and sometimes, nature must be controlled. Crops destroyed by wild animals justify their removal. Disease-bearing creatures must be eradicated.
None of this is cruelty; it is stewardship. The dominion granted to man is not a license for wanton destruction, but it is a charge to rule wisely, ensuring the balance and order of creation.
God Himself instituted the sacrificial system, requiring the shedding of animal blood as a temporary covering for sin. “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission” (Hebrews 9:22).
The killing of animals in this context was not only permitted but commanded. The justice and holiness of God demanded it.
When Human Life May Be Taken
The question, then, is not whether killing is ever permissible, but rather when it is. Is there ever a time when the taking of human life is sanctioned? Scripture answers with clarity.
1. Capital Punishment
“Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image” (Genesis 9:6). This decree comes not from the Mosaic Law but from the covenant with Noah, binding upon all generations. Murder is an affront to the image of God, and the penalty is death. This is not mere retribution; it is justice. The sacredness of life is upheld by the gravity of its loss.
The New Testament does not nullify this principle. Paul writes of the governing authorities, “For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer” (Romans 13:4). The state bears the sword with God’s authorization, wielding it against those who commit the ultimate crime against their fellow man.
2. War
War is the great horror of humanity. It is the scourge of nations and the weeping of generations. Yet, it is not always sin. Some wars are just. When God sent Israel into battle against the wicked nations of Canaan, He did not merely permit war—He commanded it. The crimes of those cultures were so vile that divine judgment fell upon them through the sword of Israel. “Go, strike Amalek and devote to destruction all that they have” (1 Samuel 15:3). The execution of justice is sometimes national, not merely individual.
John the Baptist, speaking to soldiers, did not tell them to abandon their posts. He told them to deal justly, saying, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages” (Luke 3:14). Jesus Himself commanded the paying of taxes to a government that maintained a standing army, never condemning the profession of soldiering.
The Apostle Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, used the imagery of a soldier as a metaphor for the Christian life. He would not have done so had soldiering been inherently sinful. War is terrible, but it is not always wrong.
Why Murder is Prohibited
The command, “You shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13), is not merely about the act of killing. It is about unlawful killing—murder. And murder is forbidden for three reasons.
1. It Destroys Something Unique
Man is made in the image of God. He is not an animal. He is not simply biological. He is a bearer of the divine imprint, endowed with wisdom, morality, creativity, and an eternal soul. “What is man that you are mindful of him?” the psalmist asks. “Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor” (Psalm 8:4-5).
To murder is to lay violent hands on that which reflects God Himself. It is an assault on the Creator by the destruction of His masterpiece.
2. It Cannot Be Undone
Murder is final. No restitution can restore what is lost. A thief may return what he has stolen. A liar may recant his words. But the murdered do not return. There is no undoing of this crime. The life given by God, once taken, is gone until the resurrection.
3. It Wreaks Havoc on Humanity
Murder ripples through families, communities, and nations. It leaves devastation in its wake. The family of the victim is shattered. The family of the murderer bears the shame. The neighborhood is shaken. “A murderer arises in our midst,” the people whisper. Fear takes hold. Safety is lost.
Where murder is unchecked, civilization crumbles. This is why God commands justice. This is why the sword is given to the governing authorities. The protection of human life requires the punishment of those who would take it.
The Weight of Life and Death
These truths are not easy. They force us to consider weighty matters. They require us to wrestle with the reality of justice, the horror of war, and the necessity of governance.
But Scripture does not shrink from hard truths, and neither should we.
Killing is permitted in cases of justice, stewardship, and national defense. Murder, however, is an abomination that shakes the very foundations of God’s order.
And in all things, we must remember this: life is not ours to take on a whim. It belongs to the One who gives it and who alone determines its end.
The gavel falls. The decision is made. The question is not whether life is sacred. The question is whether we will honor that sacredness by upholding what is just.
I’m really excited about this series on the Ten Commandments, and as I’ve been preparing, I devoured a book that completely changed my perspective: Kevin DeYoung’s “The Ten Commandments: What They Mean, Why They Matter, and Why We Should Obey Them.”
Seriously, if you’re a Christian and you haven’t read this book, you’re missing out. It’s not just another dry commentary; DeYoung has this incredible gift for making complex theological ideas crystal clear and then applying them to your everyday life in a way that just clicks.
He tackles the tough questions about the relevance of the Old Testament law for us today and shows how these ancient commands are actually the key to a richer, more fulfilling life in Christ. I was so blown away by it that I wrote a full review, and I’d love for you to check it out here. It might just change the way you see the Ten Commandments forever.
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