An Explanation of Luther's Small Catechism Part 12

READING.--Joseph and his Father, Gen. 47:1-12.

ILl.u.s.tRATIONS.--_Despising and displeasing parents_: Jacob's sons, Gen.

37; Eli's sons, I Sam. 2:22-25; Absalom, II Sam. 25. _Honoring them_: Jesus, Luke 2:51.

CHAPTER IX.

THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT.

HUMAN LIFE.

Thou shall not kill.

_What is meant by this Commandment?_

We should so fear and love G.o.d as not to do our neighbor any bodily harm or injury, but rather a.s.sist and comfort him in danger and want.

Human life is sacred. It is man's most precious earthly possession; for without it he cannot enjoy any other. This commandment is meant to guard it. We dare not shorten another person's life, nor our own. G.o.d gives life, and He alone has the right to take it away.

This commandment _forbids_ us to kill or injure other persons or ourselves. It _commands_ us to a.s.sist and comfort our neighbor in danger and want.

I. WHAT is FORBIDDEN.

We must not

1. KILL OR INJURE OTHER PERSONS.

_Murder_. To destroy any human life, even if it be very young or yet unborn, is a great crime. He who commits murder is to be punished with death. [Gen. 9:6+] Among the motives which prompt to murder are anger, hatred, [Gen. 4:1-8] envy, [Gen. 37] jealousy, revenge, [Matt. 14:3-11, Rom. 12:19+] frivolity, avarice, robbery, and a desire to hide past sin.

[II Sam. 11] We must be on our guard against all that would ever tempt us to this great crime.

_Duels_. It is foolish as well as sinful to pretend to establish the right or wrong of a question by a duel.

_Unjust Wars_ are wholesale murder. Rulers must do all that they honorably can to prevent war. Yet as a last resort to maintain the right, war is justifiable.

_Hatred_ is murder in the heart. "He that hateth his brother is a murderer." [I John 3:15, Matt. 5:21, 22+, Eph. 4:31, 32+]

_Tempting Others_ to useless risks in which they may perish or be injured, or to drunkenness, dissipation, etc. which will shorten their life, is a transgression of this commandment.

_Causing Accidents_ by neglect, carelessness or bad workmans.h.i.+p, or

_Shortening Other People's Lives_ [Gen. 37:31-35] by maltreatment, overwork, worriment, etc. makes men guilty of sin against this commandment.

_Neglect to Warn_ others of impending danger _or neglect to a.s.sist_ them in need may result in their injury or death.

The law recognizes our right to defend our life when it is unjustly a.s.sailed. But killing others in self-defense must he our last resort.

Many persons act hastily. The official who inflicts the death penalty on condemned criminals is not guilty of wrong, but is doing his duty as an officer of the State. [Rom 13:4]

It is a sin to kill our neighbor's _soul_ by tempting him to sin, or enticing him to wrong-doing by our evil example.

We must not

2.--KILL OR INJURE OURSELVES.

Suicide is often prompted by despair, remorse, [Matt. 27:35] cowardice, recklessness, or insanity. But it is sinful as well as foolish and cowardly. He who commits it robs himself of the opportunity to repent, and leaves others to bear the burdens from which he shrank. If we are tempted to despair, we should not commit suicide, but seek comfort and strength in G.o.d's Word. If we have fallen into disgrace by sin, we should repent and lead a better life.

_Duels_. We not only have no right to endanger another's life by a duel, but we have no right to endanger our own. The duel, which was once a common practice, has justly fallen under the condemnation of public opinion.

_A Life of Sin_. Impurity, drunkenness, gluttony, or dissipation will shorten our life, and make us die before our allotted time.

_Disregard of the Laws of Health_, overwork, needless exposure, carelessness, violent anger, needless worry, are all forbidden by this commandment.

The voluntary sacrifice of our life for truth and right (martyrdom), or in defense of our country, or in an effort to rescue and save others, is not only justifiable but n.o.ble. [I John 3:16]

II. WHAT IS COMMANDED.

We should a.s.sIST AND COMFORT OUR NEIGHBOR. [Gal. 6:10+, Luke 10:30-35, Matt. 5:7+, Matt. 5:44+, Rom. 12:20, Matt. 22:39, Matt. 7:12+, Prov.

24:17]

1. IN DANGER. We should Warn him of danger. Defend and rescue him. Ward off danger from him. Save him from worry and anxiety whenever we can.

2. IN WANT. We should Aid the poor and dest.i.tute. Minister to the sick.

Comfort the afflicted and distressed. Give to organized charities: orphanages, asylums, hospitals, rescue-work, etc. Give to missions in order to save souls.

QUESTIONS.--1. What is to be said about the sacredness of human life? 2.

What does this fifth commandment forbid? 3. What does it command? 4.

Whom are we forbidden to kill or injure? 5. Mention some ways in which this commandment is broken with respect to others. 6. What is to be said about the sin of murder and its punishment? 7. What are some of the motives which prompt men to murder? 8. What is to be said about duels?

9. Is war right? 10. What does the Bible say about hatred? 11. What is to be said about useless risks, accidents, maltreatment, etc.? 12. What is to be said about neglecting to warn or a.s.sist others? 13. What is to be said about the right of self-defense? 14. What is to be said about the official who inflicts the death-penalty on criminals? 15. Mention some ways in which this commandment is broken with respect to self. 16.

What motives prompt men to suicide, and how should we guard against such a sin? 17. What is to be said about the folly and cowardice of the suicide's act? 18. What is to be said of the voluntary sacrifice of our life? 19. How are we to a.s.sist our neighbor in danger? 20. How are we to a.s.sist and comfort him in want?

SCRIPTURE VERSES.--Gen. 9:6. Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of G.o.d made he man.

Rom. 12:19. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath; for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

Matt. 5:21, 22. Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: but I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment; and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council; but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of h.e.l.l fire.

Eph. 4:31, 32. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice; and be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as G.o.d for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Gal. 6:10. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

Matt, 5:7. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

Matt. 5:44, 45. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you: that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven.