12 - do not murder - bfg

8/6/2019 12 - Do Not Murder - BFG

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Do not murder

Review: The last few weeks we talked about:

1. The Ten Commandments. God gave the Ten Commandments.2. You shall have no other gods before me. Joshua challenges the people to chose,

but for him and his household they would serve God.3. Do not make idols in any form, nor shall you worship or sever them. The

Israelites made a golden calf to worship.

4. Do not misuse or dishonor the name of God. The seven sons of Sceva, the chiefpriest.

5. Keep one day of the week as a holy day to honor God. The manna provided byGod.

6. Honor your father and mother. Two stories: 1) the sons of the prophet Samuel an example of children who do not honor their father; and 2) Joseph honors his

father, Jacob, when he brought him to Egypt and by honoring his fathers request tobe buried in Canaan.

Review:Let's review the two stories from last week. These stories address the command found in

the fifth of the Ten Commandments: honor your father and mother. The first is a story of

the sons of the prophet Samuel. It is an example of children who do not honor their father.

The second story is about Joseph when he brought his father to Egypt to provide food for

him and his family and by honoring his fathers request to be buried in Canaan.

Lets review by retelling these two stories as a group. We want to retell them as faithfully as

we can to the story from the Bible. We do not want to add to them or leave out anything

important. Who will get us started?

God spoke the Ten Commandments to Moses:

1. There is only one God; you shall have no other gods.2. Do not make idols in any form, nor shall you worship or sever them.3. Do not misuse or dishonor the name ofGod.4. Keep one day of the week as a holy day to honor God.5. Honor your father and mother.6. Do not murder.7. Do not commit adultery.8. Do not steal.9. Do not lie.10. Do not covet other people or their things.

Background:

The sixth of the Ten Commandments is: Do not murder. There are two stories. The first is

an event that occurs very early in history. The second event occurs during the time Jesus is

teaching his disciples and other followers in what has become known as the Sermon of the

Mount.


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Do not murder: First Story

Cain and Able Genesis 4

Adam and Eve were the first humans thatGod created. Their first-born was a son and they

named him Cain. Later they had another son and they named him Able. Cain became a

farmer and Able became a herdsman.

They both made an offering to God. Cain brought some of the first fruits of the things he

grew as an offering to God. Able brought fat portions of some of the firstborn of his flocks

as his offering to God.

God looked with favor on Ables offering but he did not look with favor on Cains offering.

So Cain became very angry.

Then God spoke to Cain and asked him why he was angry. He told Cain that if he would dowhat was right, he would be accepted. God also warned Cain that if he did not do what was

right that sin was crouching at the door. He warned him that he must overcome the sin.

Cain invited Able to go out into the field with him. Cain attacked his brother and killed him.

God knew what Cain had done. He asked Cain where his brother was. Cain lied and said he

didnt know. He asked God, Am I my brothers keeper?

God said to Cain, What have you done? Listen, your brothers blood cries out to me from

the ground. God told Cain that he was cursed because of what he had done. He told him the

earth would not produce crops for Cain. He told him he would be a restless wanderer on

the earth.

Cain complained that his punishment was too harsh and that everyone would want to kill

him. ButGod said that anyone who kills Cain would suffer seven times over. So Cain left the

presence ofGod and became a restless wanderer on the earth, just as God had said.

This is the story from the Bible.

Do Not Murder: Second Story

Matthew 5:21-26

Jesus is teaching his disciples and his other followers who had gathered on the

mountainside. He begins this part by reminding them of something that they all would haveknown from the Old Testament.

He said; You've been told do not murder and anyone who murders will be subject to

judgment. But I tell you that anyone who is angry with another person is subject to

judgment.


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Jesus gives another example. They all knew that if they called another person "Raca," they

could be taken to court. But Jesus said, that even calling a person of fool would be in

danger of the fire of hell.

Jesus also taught them that if they had an offering to make at the altar and remember that a

brother or sister had something against them, they were to leave their gift there in front ofthe altar and go and get things right with them. Only after they had been reconciled were

they to come back and offer their offering on the altar.

He instructed them to settle matters quickly with any adversary who was taking them tocourt. Matter of fact, they were to settle on their way to court (or before they went to

court), rather than come before the judge. If not they were in danger of being thrown in

prison.

This concludes this story from the Bible.

Other stories:

y Detailed laws about murder Numbers 35:9-31y Joab murders Abner 2 Samuel 3:22-39y King Ahab takes Naboths Vineyard 1 Kings 21y Hatred is the same as murder 1 John 3:11-15

Retelling the story

Lets review these stories by retelling them as a group. We want to retell them as faithfully

as we can to the stories from the Bible. We do not want to add to them or leave out

anything important. Who will get us started?

Questions:

The questions and discussion about the Ten Commandments should be focused beyond the

events that tell the story of how God gave them to Moses and address the fact that they

were given by God for his people to follow. A foundation should be laid for obedience to the

commandments.

These two events are from very different times. Cain killed his brother Able very early in

the history of the world and demonstrates Gods response to murder. The second story is

from the time of Jesus and demonstrates how Jesus takes the command not to murder andteaches his followers that they are not to even hate someone. The questions should address

our attitude, as well as our actions.

What is the fifth of the Ten Commandments?

Do not murder.


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Why did Cain murder his brother Able?

How did God respond to what Cain had done?

What does Jesus say about the fifth commandment (Do not murder)?

He said we are not to murder or even get angry with someone. Both will be judged.

How many of us have not committed murder but are guilty of becoming angry even with a

fellow believer?

Memory verses

Lets review the memory verses, Matthew 22:37-39

Jesus replied: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your

soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. Andthe second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.

Deuteronomy6:5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul andwith all your strength.

12 - do not murder - bfg

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