Thou Shall Not Murder

By Pastor John Hagee

Exodus 20:13 says, 'You shall not murder.' This commandment is often misunderstood, but it calls us to a high standard of respect for human life. Murder is the deliberate, unjust taking of life — a violation of God’s sacred design. In contrast, not all killing is prohibited in the Bible; self-defense, capital punishment, and warfare were not condemned by God in Scripture. Today, however, we see not just physical violence but character assassination, where reputations are destroyed by malicious words. Remember that Jesus, though innocent, was slandered by those in power. May we stand for righteousness, speaking truth and defending life and liberty.