20
January 2016 • SR
Story of Hate and Murder
So there I was, minding my business when Jono picked up a
metal spoon from the ivy, threw it at me, and hit me between
the eyes.
Now three things about this story so far. Jono may argue that
I was not minding my business, but was beating him or perse-
cuting him in some way. I contend, that as the older brother,
persecuting him was my business.
Second, our house was the kind of house where one could find
a gigantic metal spoon out in the ivy.
Third, he was probably about 100 feet away. Like, he picks up a
giant spoon...you don’t acknowledge that as a threat, it’s more
like a magic trick. And he throws it...still not a threat, it’s a flailing
act of desperation.
And then…it hits me. Between the eyes. That is often like a
metaphor. But actually, getting hit by a giant metal spoon be-
tween the eyes hurts SO BAD.
Jono, little brother, is amazed at what he has done. Then he
thinks about the consequences of what he has done. And then
he flees...about a quarter mile, maybe half a mile down the
street. And there he stays. He is afraid that I am going to murder
him — that I am filled with murderous hate.
When he creeps back (an hour later), what will he find?
Exodus 20:13
:
You shall not murder.
Murder vs. Kill
Now in the back of many of our minds, we remember the
quote differently.
The KJV says “kill.” Back in 1611, the word “kill” had a slightly
different sense and was closer to the word murder. In modern
English, saying “thou shall not kill” gives the entirely wrong
sense. This is about murder, plain and simple. We will see the
very clear distinction in the way different scenarios are handled.
But the distinction is absolutely critical. To be frank, God has
just killed a whole lot of humans in Egypt and in the escape
from Egypt. Probably hundreds of thousands. He is leading the
people of Israel to “take possession” of the Promised Land…
which to a large extent means killing a whole lot of people.
God is about to give a whole bunch of commands, many of
which incur the death penalty. We could expect a certain casual-
ness towards murder.
But God says “NEVER MURDER”
Life as God’s
This is not the first time He said it. Back with Cain and Abel, He
punished Cain for murder. When Noah and his family climbed
out of the ark, he gave a really clear command against murder…
and a really clear explanation of why. That is helpful:
Whoever sheds human blood,
by humans shall their blood be shed;
for in the image of God
has God made mankind.
— Genesis 9:6
Top Ten Words
Murder and Hate:
Exodus 20:13
Sermon Series by Pastor Dusty Mackintosh, Next Step Christian Church, Thornton, CO
