Aug 30
Divine Service
Exodus 20:13
You shall not murder.
Where are we in the Bible?
The Fifth Commandment, “You shall not murder,” begins with the understanding that God Himself is the source and protector of life. All life comes from Him, and therefore He desires that life be honored and preserved. In contrast, Jesus described the devil as “a murderer from the beginning” because Satan destroys what God creates. He destroyed the unity between God and humanity, between people themselves, and even between mankind and creation. This contrast reveals that God’s kingdom is a kingdom of life, while the enemy seeks division, destruction, and death.
Jesus deepened the meaning of the Fifth Commandment during the Sermon on the Mount. He taught that murder begins long before a violent act occurs outwardly. In Matthew 5:21-22, Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder,’ but I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without cause shall be in danger of the judgment.” The book of 1 John later adds that whoever hates his brother is a murderer (1 John 3:15). These teachings reveal that anger and hatred are spiritually connected to murder because destructive actions first develop within the heart. Even when we are right in the wrong way, we can cause damage that is hard to remedy. Jesus was warning that sinful attitudes act like seeds that eventually produce a harvest. This verse gives us orientation to do the work of examining our own hearts.
Summary:
The Fifth Commandment reaches beyond physical murder to the attitudes of the heart. It warns against anger, hatred, revenge, bitterness, harmful speech, and selfishness, while calling believers to protect life by practicing forgiveness, mercy, reconciliation, and active love. As Jesus teaches, violence begins in the heart, so we are called to respect, protect, and promote life. When we fail, we can humbly return to God, trusting that His mercy is greater than our imperfection.
NOTE: “Nobody can claim to govern or to rule a country in the name of Jesus Christ. No one can pretend to go to war on behalf of Jesus Christ. No one. No one can use the gospel of Jesus Christ to justify violence and hatred... you cannot justify war, violence, hatred with the gospel.”
Chief Apostle Schneider, Pentecost 2026
Foundational Reading
Scripture: Matthew 21-22 | 1 John 3:15
Catechism: 5.2.1-3
Services held in both Houston locations