I get it. Killing someone obviously affects our relationship with that person and with those who knew and cared for that person. Societies recognize that murder—wrongly taking the life of someone—is obviously wrong. And because God is the author of life, it violates our relationship with him too.
The implications of this commandment go in many directions. The command speaks to the issues of capital punishment, abortion, “just war,” and suicide. Of course, we can’t cover all that ground here. But we can talk about the heart of this commandment: life.
Concern for life is at the core of the sixth commandment. God says we must respect life because he is its cre¬ator and giver. And we, his unique creations, are made in his image. That’s what makes human life holy.
In Matthew 5, Jesus teaches that anything that diminishes life is equal to murder. Laughing at a clumsy kid for tripping over his own feet, mocking someone’s “poor” taste in clothing; excluding someone because of their race or background; calling someone stupid; gossiping; de¬mean¬ing a child in public; dishonoring our parents—things like these are ways in which we can snuff out someone’s life. And that interferes with our relationship with God. Our love for God must include honoring the life he has given to others.
PRAYER
Thank you, Lord, for life. I want to see others as people whose lives are special. Help me to fight against any way in which I may be snuffing out life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
我明白，杀害一个人必然会影响我与这人的关系，也影响我与那些认识和关怀他的人的关系。社会公认谋杀——无法无天取了人的性命——肯定是错误的。神既是生命的创造者，杀人也妨碍了我们与祂的关系。
这条诫命含义相当广阔，它牵涉死刑、堕胎、「公义的战争」，和自杀等问题，我们当然无法在这囊括全部问题，但我们可以讨论一下诫命的重点︰生命。
第六条诫命的中心是关怀生命。神说，我们必须尊重生命，因为祂是生命的创造者和赐与者，而我们是按祂形像造成的独特创造，所以人的生命是圣洁的。
在马太福音5章，耶稣教导我们，任何贬低生命的事情便等于杀人了；取笑一个被自己的脚绊倒的笨拙小孩、嘲笑某人「低劣」的衣着品味、因某人的种族或背境而排斥他、说某人愚笨、搬弄是非、在众人面前奚落小孩、不孝敬父母 —— 类似上述这些事情，都能损害别人生命的尊严，这样做会妨碍我们与神的关系。我们对神的爱，必定要包括尊重祂赐给人的生命在内。
祷告
主啊，我们为生命感谢祢，我愿意看人人都是有独特生命的人，求祢帮助我，抗拒任何扼杀生命的行为。奉耶稣名求，阿们。