The Doctrinal Heading for this section of questions (Q63-81) is The Means of Grace: The Commandments: The Second Table. (see Harmony Index)
WSC Q67. Which is the sixth commandment?
The Shorter Catechism turns now to the sixth commandment, “Thou shalt not kill.” The next two questions ask what is required and forbidden by this commandment. The Larger Catechism parallel (WLC Q135), asks what “duties” are required, and answers, in part, that “the duties required in the sixth commandment are, all careful studies, and lawful endeavors, to preserve the life of ourselves and others by resisting all thoughts and purposes, subduing all passions, and avoiding all occasions, temptations and practices, which tend to the unjust taking away the life of any; by just defense thereof against violence, patient bearing of the hand of God, quietness of mind, cheerfulness of spirit…” WLC Q135 has more to say, and is worth considering as we commence our WSC study of the sixth commandment.
Again, let us pray that the truth of God’s Word and commandments will continue to guide our thoughts, words, and deeds as we live before others in the presence of our God – coram Deo.
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Westminster Shorter Catechism Q67
Illustrations by John Whitecross – #4 of 7: The power of the Spirit of God in bringing conviction of sin to men who have so long professed innocence that, in some cases, they have almost deceived themselves into believing that they have been wrongly charged with guilt, is sometimes remarkably demonstrated. It is related that a young German who, for the crime of murder, had been long in solitary confinement, was repeatedly visited by a minister of the gospel to whom he made the most positive declarations of his innocence. After six months had elapsed, on leaving him one evening, the minister pointed his attention to three verses in the New Testament about the confession of sin to God and of divine forgiveness for Christ’s sake—I John 1. 8-10—and especially urged upon him the importance of the truths which they taught. He promised to read them; he did so; and when he threw himself upon his pallet to rest, he found that sleep had forsaken him; he turned again and again, but still there was no rest. The verses had made a deep impression on his mind, and although for six months he had asserted that he was innocent of the crime for which he was charged, the first words he uttered to the keeper in the morning were, ‘I did commit that murder.’ Whether he confessed also to God and received the forgiveness and cleansing which the Word of God proclaims is not mentioned.
John Whitecross – 1828
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WSC Q67. Which is the sixth commandment?
Answer: The sixth commandment is, Thou shalt not kill.[a]
[a] Ex. 20:13; Deut. 5:17
Question #67 asks what the sixth commandment is, and answers that the sixth commandment is, You shall not murder.
Comments and considerations:
As has been noted before, these studies always open with a paraphrase of the catechism question at hand, a more modern rendition, as the original catechism was written with reference to the King James Version of Scripture. You should have noticed the word kill (KJV) in the original, but murder in the paraphrase. Although the Hebrew word can be translated either way, murder is a better choice; several more recent translations use the word murder as it is understood in the broader context of God’s teaching regarding the taking and protecting of human life.
First, let it be understood that we are dealing here with the issue of human life. It is mankind that is created in the image of God, and in this commandment, He commands us to preserve human life. Second, God here prohibits the unwarranted and unauthorized taking of human life. There is a difference between “killing” and “murder.”
By definition murder is the act of unlawfully killing a human being with premeditated malice, by a person of sound mind (Webster’s 1828 Edition). The key phrase is “unlawfully killing.” Scripture does teach the lawful means for taking human life by ordained authorities in the case of capital punishment (Gen. 9:6); it recognizes the necessity of taking human life to maintain the peace and security of a society, both in the internal and external defense of life and property. The means for such action is within the due process law of established authorities. Courts render judgments for crimes, and nations render national defense of their citizens. To murder is to take an individual’s life without just cause; to keep this commandment is to protect and promote the life of the innocent.
Still, the commandment is more than a prohibition against killing; it shows God’s hatred of the sinful, murderous heart. See how the definition above mentions unlawful killing “with premeditated malice.” The word malice, in tone alone, aside from the definition, says so much. Jesus taught that murder begins in the heart:
“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment. ‘But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, “Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire (Matt. 5:21).
Our Lord didn’t mince his words, and neither did James when he said,
Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain… Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded (James 4:1-3, 7-8).
The opposition to capital punishment and just war theory so often appeal to “Thou shalt not kill” without regard to the larger context of biblical reasoning. And yet, from all these debates have come more rancor, name calling, and defamation of character; and the world is no closer to peace and harmony. God knows our hearts better than we know ourselves; we ought to keep that in mind as we cast down our vain imaginations before his inspired wisdom (II Cor. 10:5). He has ordained and established structures of justice for an orderly and just society. If we don’t heed his commandments, we do so to our own detriment and the harm of those around us.
Training Hearts and Teaching Minds Questions:
- Read Gen. 9:6. After the flood, when Noah and his family began life on earth all over again, God gave Noah a command for all mankind. What was that command, and what is the reason given for not taking a person’s life?
- In Training Hearts and Teaching Minds, Starr Meade comments on this saying, “To attack people is to attack God who made them in His image. Killing an animal or a bird or a fish is different. These creatures belong to God and we should treat them with compassion and glorify Him in how we use them. But it is not wrong to catch and kill a fish to eat or to put a sick dog to sleep. It is wrong to kill a human being because human beings bear the image of God. To hurt or kill a human being is not only cruel, it is insulting to God.”
- God instructs His people in the Bible as to how they may or may not keep his commandments. There are times when killing a human being does not break God’s command not to murder. Read Ex. 22:2. Here we see that it is permissible to take another life in self-defense. What is defended in this verse? How might we apply this in other forms of self-defense?
- 35:30 gives another example of a time when it is permissible to take another life. The apostle Paul wrote in Rom. 13:1-4 on the same topic. What is described in these instructions? (Also see Gen. 9:5-6.)
- This command applies not only to taking the life of another, but also to taking our own life. Sometimes people are tempted to “end the pain” of difficult circumstances by ending their own life. However, the Bible teaches us that we need to see our circumstances rightly. What does I Pet. 4:19 say about this?
- We need to guard our hearts and thinking, for if we think sinfully, we will act sinfully. What types of attitudes can lead us to murder, and what does I John 3:11-15 say on this issue?
Harmony of the Standards: WSC Q67, WLC 134, and WCF XXIII
WSC Q67. Which is the sixth commandment?
Answer: The sixth commandment is, Thou shalt not kill [a].
[a] Ex. 20:13; Deut. 5:17
WLC Q134. Which is the sixth commandment?
Answer: The sixth commandment is, Thou shalt not kill[a] .
[a] Exod. 20:13
WCF – CHAPTER. XXIII.
Of the Civil Magistrate.
I. God, the supreme Lord and King of all the world, hath ordained civil magistrates to be under him, over the people, for his own glory, and the public good: and, to this end, hath armed them with the power of the sword, for the defense and encouragement of them that are good, and for the punishment of evil doers[a].
[a] Rom. 13:1-4; I Pet. 2:13-14
II. It is lawful for Christians to accept and execute the office of a magistrate, when called thereunto[b]: in the managing whereof, as they ought especially to maintain piety, justice, and peace, according to the wholesome laws of each commonwealth[c]; so, for that end, they may lawfully, now under the new testament, wage war, upon just and necessary occasion[d].
[b] Gen. 41:39-43; Neh. 12:26; Neh. 13:15-31; Dan. 2:48- 49; Prov. 8:15-16; Rom. 13:1-4
[c] Ps. 2:10-12; I Tim. 2:2; Ps. 82:3-4; II Sam. 23:3; I Pet. 2:13
[d] Luke 3:14; Rom. 13:4; Matt. 8:9-10; Acts 10:1-2
III. Civil magistrates may not assume to themselves the administration of the Word and sacraments; or the power of the keys of the kingdom of heaven[e]; or, in the least, interfere in matters of faith[f]. Yet, as nursing fathers, it is the duty of civil magistrates to protect the church of our common Lord, without giving the preference to any denomination of Christians above the rest, in such a manner that all ecclesiastical persons whatever shall enjoy the full, free, and unquestioned liberty of discharging every part of their sacred functions, without violence or danger[g]. And, as Jesus Christ hath appointed a regular government and discipline in his church, no law of any commonwealth should interfere with, let, or hinder, the due exercise thereof, among the voluntary members of any denomination of Christians, according to their own profession and belief[h]. It is the duty of civil magistrates to protect the person and good name of all their people, in such an effectual manner as that no person be suffered, either upon pretense of religion or of infidelity, to offer any indignity, violence, abuse, or injury to any other person whatsoever: and to take order, that all religious and ecclesiastical assemblies be held without molestation or disturbance[i].
[e] II Chron. 26:18; Matt. 18:17; Matt. 16:19; I Cor. 12:28-29; Eph. 4:11-12; I Cor. 4:1, 12; Rom. 10:15; Heb. 5:4
[f] John 18:36; Acts 5:29; Eph. 4:11-12
[g] Isa. 49:23; Rom. 13:1-6
[h] Ps. 105:15
[i] Rom. 13:4; I Tim. 2:2
IV. It is the duty of people to pray for magistrates[k], to honour their persons[l], to pay them tribute or other dues[m], to obey their lawful commands, and to be subject to their authority, for conscience sake[n]. Infidelity, or difference in religion, doth not make void the magistrates’ just and legal authority, nor free the people from their due obedience to them[o]: from which ecclesiastical persons are not exempted[p], much less hath the pope any power and jurisdiction over them in their dominions, or over any of their people; and, least of all, to deprive them of their dominions, or lives, if he shall judge them to be heretics, or upon any other pretense whatsoever[q].
[k] I Tim. 2:1-3
[l] I Pet. 2:17
[m] Matt. 22:21; Rom. 13:6-7
[n] Rom. 13:5; Titus 3:1
[o] I Pet. 2:13-16
[p] Rom. 13:1; Acts 25:9-11; II Pet. 2:1, 10-11; Jude 8-11
[q] Mark 10:42-44; Matt. 23:8-12; II Tim. 2:24; I Pet. 5:3
Question(s) for further study:
The two catechism questions are identical; but here in the WCF Chapter XXIII, we bring in the matter of the civil magistrate and the maintenance of a just and orderly society. Our fathers’ do much in helping us understand the two spheres of ordained authority that make for and maintain a justice and peaceful society. What are they, and what two aspects of human action do they address? (1)
1- Civil Authority – “the hand”, and the Church – the thoughts and intents of “the heart.”
