Who Decides the Value of Life?
Every person has infinite worth
The 6th commandment, “Do not murder,” feels straightforward and honestly, a little bit irrelevant. Most of us have no desire to harm others. It can seem like a command meant only for the worst kinds of people.
But in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus exposes how relevant it is to each one of us. As soon as he starts talking about anger, contempt, and the hidden conditions of the heart, we’re all on the hook for breaking it.
As we continue our ongoing series, 10 Keys to the Universe, Austin and John explore why human life is so sacred and why this commandment matters far beyond physical violence. They explain why God gave this commandment, the obvious and non-obvious ways it can be broken, and what Jesus means when he links anger and contempt to murder itself.
They’ll also step into several difficult and emotionally charged topics, including military service, suicide, and abortion. Rather than offering simplistic answers, they thoughtfully engage the real-life complexity, pain, and ethical questions surrounding each one.
Most importantly, this conversation is ultimately about the condition of the human heart—and the grace of Jesus that meets us there. Whether you feel burdened by guilt or tempted to dismiss this commandment altogether, our hope is that this episode moves you toward greater awareness and compassion.
Highlights from this Episode
Have you ever heard of a time when something of great value was thought to be almost worthless? In 2005, art dealers came across what they assumed was a remake of Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece Salvatore Mundi. They bought it for $10,000. But as they examined it later, they realized that it was a legitimate original. Five years later, it ended up being sold for $450 million.
In the same way, the 6th commandment is deceptively simple. It doesn’t seem complicated. There’s a temptation to read it and think that you understand it—and that you’re not guilty of breaking it. If you assume that, you’ve missed it.
Jesus explains why that’s the case in the Sermon on the Mount, in the New Testament book of Matthew 5:21, when he says, “You have heard that it was said to those of old, you shall not murder, and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.” He’s referencing the 6th commandment here.
Then he continues, “But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment. Whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council. Whoever says, you fool, you’ll be liable to the hell of fire.” Jesus took this idea to the deepest place it could go—our inner hearts.
Murder is the end of a terrible process of the cancerous growth of sin. Most of us have never physically murdered anyone. But guess what’s right alongside that? The often sinful desires of our hearts. The pastor and seminary professor Dan Doriani puts it this way: “Jesus probes the depths of our affinity for this law by exploring the pre-murderous dispositions that lie behind the act.”
Why Every Life Matters to God
An important basic principle is that human life is sacred. In Genesis 9, right after the flood, Noah and his family are looking around like, now what? And God comes right out of the gate saying, “You shall not shed any man’s blood.” He doubles down on his valuing of life in Genesis 1 and 2.
So human life is sacred, but why? First, it’s priceless. If somebody gives a diamond ring to their wife, and the wife dies, and another person offers to buy that diamond ring, it would be unlikely for someone to sell it at any price; it’s priceless, because of who and what it represents. Each person is created individually by God and is unique and irreplaceable.
Second, humans are of infinite value because we’re made in God’s image. Every human being that comes into your life was created by God and has a divine imprint. No human being is your property. If you harm another person, it’s as if you’re tearing up a beautiful painting that bears the image of God.
How Sin Distorts the Way We See People
Why does God give the command to not murder? Sadly, sin blinds us to the truth that every person is made in God’s image. The very first story in the Bible after the fall is Cain and Abel. One brother kills another. The philosopher-theologian, John Frame, says that the one word that sums up the fall is death. And what comes right after the fall? Death.
How do you know if you break this command? We can’t come up with every actual and potential way to break the 6th commandment, but we’re going to get into a few specifics that are relevant for Christians today. We’ll divide them into two categories: obvious and non-obvious ways to break this command.
There’s an important distinction that helps bring clarity as we discuss this commandment: the distinction between intent and impact. Intent is the conscious motive and action we’re aware of. Impact is the corresponding result of those actions in the world around us.
Impact always matters. You can be held accountable for something you did not intend to do. Think about a car crash caused by looking at your phone while driving. You didn’t intend to kill someone, but someone still died. The impact is real.
The Destructive Power of Anger
The obvious ways include actual murder, whether premeditated or done in the heat of the moment. Attempted murder also breaks the commandment because the intent was there even if the act wasn’t completed.
In addition to physical harm, Jesus also makes a connection between murder and unrestrained anger. He says anybody who is angry with his brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Why is there a connection between murder and anger? Because harboring bitterness and contempt leads to a desire for revenge and punishment.
If you’re someone with a very sensitive conscience, our goal is not to crush you under guilt. But if you’re someone who leans too heavily on grace and minimizes sin, this is the moment to listen carefully. Grace is not permission to dismiss wrongdoing.
Beyond Intentional Violence
Here are some less-than-obvious ways you might break the 6th commandment:
Distraction. If you look at your phone while driving and someone dies as a result, that qualifies as murder. Another example might be negligence in a job with serious responsibility. Think about an air traffic controller. If you’re distracted and planes collide, people die.
Negligence. This is knowing what needs to be done and failing to do it out of laziness, apathy, or selfishness. Imagine a business owner who ignores safety codes or refuses to update dangerous equipment. If someone dies because those precautions weren’t taken, responsibility falls on the person who neglected those duties.
Lack of care. Our response to the 6th commandment includes being concerned about anything that harms human life or prevents flourishing. That’s called the doctrine of carefulness. The goal of the doctrine of carefulness is to protect life to the fullest extent possible—physically, emotionally, socially, and spiritually.
Exploring Difficult Situations
Have you ever wrestled with a question about the value of life that seems to be too difficult to answer? While we don’t claim to know everything about this issue, here are some thoughts to ponder:
1. Military Service. Can a Christian participate in war? The commandment in Hebrew literally means “no murder.” It does not prohibit all killing. Christian tradition, especially through St. Augustine’s Just War Theory, has wrestled deeply with this question. Augustine proposed three diagnostic questions for determining whether a war is just:
Just cause. War must be fought to correct a serious injustice or prevent a greater evil. Think about soldiers fighting against the Nazis. History makes it easier to see that extreme evil sometimes requires force to stop it.
Legitimate authority. A private individual cannot declare war. Augustine argued that war requires proper authority exercised by legitimate leaders.
Right intention. Even with a just cause and rightful authority, motives matter. Augustine said what’s required is not merely bodily action but inward disposition. War must aim toward good and avoid evil. It cannot be driven by revenge, hatred, or a love of violence.
2. Suicide. Does taking your own life break the 6th commandment? Yes, it does. But where many people struggle is wondering whether someone who committed suicide can still be saved. Because we are created by God, our lives are not ultimately our own. We are accountable for how we treat ourselves.
But Romans 8:1 says, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” That means no condemnation at all for the Christian. Past sins, future sins, and even a last, final sin cannot erase genuine faith and remove salvation.
That means no condemnation at all for the Christian. Past sins, future sins, and even a last, final sin cannot erase genuine faith and remove salvation.
A Christian who takes their own life does not suddenly fall outside the mercy of Jesus. Many people who die by suicide are not thinking clearly or rationally in those moments. Mental anguish can become overwhelming. Jesus is merciful. He knows our hearts.
If someone is not a Christian, then whether they die by suicide or natural causes, they remain under condemnation apart from Christ. The issue is not the method of death. The issue is saving faith in Jesus.
3. Abortion. This is deeply personal and deeply painful for many people. We don’t want to frame this as choosing between caring for women and caring for babies. Real-life situations are messy and heartbreaking. There are women facing impossible circumstances, tragic medical diagnoses, assault, abandonment, fear, and crushing pressure.
There are many thoughtful women who love Jesus and have had abortions. Maybe you’re listening and nobody knows your story. Maybe shame and guilt follow you constantly. Jesus does not want you crushed under condemnation. All of us carry seeds of anger, selfishness, and destruction. But Jesus’ life and death swallow up murder, failure, and sin. There is no condemnation for those who belong to him.
At the same time, we also need to address protecting unborn life. Tim Keller framed the abortion question has having three options: either the fetus is human, the fetus is not human, or you’re not sure. Using the doctrine of carefulness, if there’s even a possibility that a fetus is a human life, caution matters.
Long before ultrasounds or other technology, the Bible presents life as beginning at conception. Psalm 139 says, “You formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.” Jeremiah 1 says, “Before you were born, I consecrated you.”
Current science that shows fetal development, awareness, heartbeat, and movement supports the biblical truth that the fetus is a person with value, dignity, and God’s imprinted image. Anything that harms, weakens, or prevents the baby from growing and developing should be treated with extreme caution.
When Awareness Meets Grace
One great step forward you can take is to become more aware. You need to become mindful and careful when it comes to the value of human life, but not to be a perfectionist or to feel moral superiority. Greater awareness without grace only produces anxiety or pride.
For the person with a dull conscience who rarely thinks about how their actions affect others, this commandment is a wake-up call. For the person with an overactive conscience who feels crushed by guilt, remember this image: your heart has both flowers and weeds in it.
One of the reasons we called this podcast “With You in the Weeds” comes from a quote by Teresa of Avila. She wrote about not trying to pull your own weeds by yourself but inviting Jesus into the garden with you. Jesus is not ashamed of you. He enters the weeds with you. He is your rescue.
You may have broken this commandment in obvious or non-obvious ways. But Jesus opens his arms and says, “Give your guilt to me. I’ve already carried that burden at the cross.” Following him is a lifelong journey of receiving that grace again and again.
Recommended Resource
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