This is Lesson 4 of the Biblical Ethics course in the Crossroads Programme. Crossroads is a discipleship programme written Dr Kevin Smith (http://kevinsmith.co.za) and offered by the South African Theological Seminary (http://www.satsonline.org).

2. Biblical Ethics 3
- Love for Neighbour 2: Life

3. Lesson Overview
In lessons 3-7 of this course we are going to study the
last six commandments five headings:
1. Biblical Values regarding Family
2. Biblical Values regarding Life You are here
3. Biblical Values regarding Sex
4. Biblical Values regarding Property
5. Biblical Values regarding Truth

4. Biblical Values regarding Life

5. The Sanctity of Life
The sixth commandment is about Matthew 5:21-22
the value of life. Its force can in
You have heard that it was said to
no way be limited specifically to
the people long ago, ‘Do not
the crime of murder. Murder murder, and anyone who murders
must be understood as the head will be subject to judgment.’ But I
of its family of sins, the family of tell you that anyone who is angry
violent sins. The Lord Jesus Christ with his brother will be subject to
made it clear in his commentary judgment. Again, anyone who
on the Law that the purpose of says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ is
this command includes anger and answerable to the Sanhedrin. But
hatred. anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will
be in danger of the fire of hell.

6. The Sanctity of Life
We are going to study the 1) Murder
biblical values regarding
life and the taking of life 2) Hatred
under six headings. 3) Capital Punishment
4) Abortion
5) Suicide and Euthanasia
6) War

7. The Value of Life 1
MURDER

8. Murder
1) Exodus 20:13 forbids murder, not all forms of
killing.

9. Murder
1) Exodus 20:13 forbids murder, not all forms of
killing.
2) Three conditions must be met for the taking of a life
to constitute for “murder”:
a) Malice
b) Planning
c) Injustice

10. Murder
3) The taking of life is not “murder” in the following
instances:
a) Self-defence
b) Capital punishment
c) War

11. Murder
3) The taking of life is not “murder” in the following
instances:
a) Self-defence
b) Capital punishment
c) War
4) God’s law does prohibit vengeance in the form of
vigilante justice.

12. The Value of Life 2
HATRED

13. Hatred
The Lord Jesus Christ equated expressions of hatred
with violations of the sixth commandment.

14. Hatred
The Lord Jesus Christ equated expressions of hatred
with violations of the sixth commandment.
1) Rage: temper tantrums

15. Hatred
The Lord Jesus Christ equated expressions of hatred
with violations of the sixth commandment.
1) Rage: temper tantrums
2) Resentment: sullen sulking

16. Hatred
The Lord Jesus Christ equated expressions of hatred
with violations of the sixth commandment.
1) Rage: temper tantrums
2) Resentment: sullen sulking
3) Revenge: vengeful vendettas

17. Hatred
The Lord Jesus Christ equated expressions of hatred
with violations of the sixth commandment.
1) Rage: temper tantrums
2) Resentment: sullen sulking
3) Revenge: vengeful vendettas
4) Raca! mocking mouths

18. Hatred
The Lord Jesus Christ equated expressions of hatred
with violations of the sixth commandment.
1) Rage: temper tantrums
2) Resentment: sullen sulking
3) Revenge: vengeful vendettas
4) Raca! mocking mouths
5) Racism: cultural contempt

19. The Value of Life 3
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

20. Capital Punishment
1) Under the New Covenant, the Old Testament
law code is no longer binding.

21. Capital Punishment
1) Under the New Covenant, the Old Testament
law code is no longer binding.
2) The Old Testament principle of justice: the
punishment must fit the crime.

22. Capital Punishment
1) Under the New Covenant, the Old Testament
law code is no longer binding.
2) The Old Testament principle of justice: the
punishment must fit the crime.
3) The principle of just punishment was never
intended to permit personal revenge.

23. Capital Punishment
4) The modern case against the death penalty rests
heavily on two false arguments:

24. Capital Punishment
4) The modern case against the death penalty rests
heavily on two false arguments:
a) Human beings are the highest form of life, so
taking human life is the worst kind of sin.

25. Capital Punishment
4) The modern case against the death penalty rests
heavily on two false arguments:
a) Human beings are the highest form of life, so
taking human life is the worst kind of sin.
b) Individuals are not responsible for their
actions; they are just the product of their
genetic code and environmental conditioning.

26. Capital Punishment
5) Although Israel’s civil laws are not binding
today, God’s principle of justice favours a
nation having the death penalty for capital
crimes.

27. The Value of Life 4
ABORTION

28. Abortion
1) The modern abortion debate centres around
two main issues:
a) The beginning of life
b) The quality of life

29. Abortion
2) The Bible and medical research indicate that
an embryo is fully human.

30. Abortion
2) The Bible and medical research indicate that
an embryo is fully human.
3) Therefore, to abort at any stage of pregnancy
is murder.

31. Abortion
2) The Bible and medical research indicate that
an embryo is fully human.
3) Therefore, to abort at any stage of pregnancy
is murder.
4) The only exception is if it is necessary to save
the mother’s life.

32. The Value of Life 5
SUICIDE AND EUTHANASIA

33. Suicide and Euthanasia
1) Suicide

34. Suicide and Euthanasia
1) Suicide a) Attempted suicide is a sin
requiring repentance, but
not a crime requiring
punishment.

35. Suicide and Euthanasia
1) Suicide a) Attempted suicide is a sin
requiring repentance, but
not a crime requiring
punishment.
b) A believer who commits
suicide goes to heaven.

36. Suicide and Euthanasia
2) Euthanasia

37. Suicide and Euthanasia
2) Euthanasia a) Euthanasia means good
death—ending people’s lives
to end their suffering.

38. Suicide and Euthanasia
2) Euthanasia a) Euthanasia means good
death—ending people’s lives
to end their suffering.
b) Active euthanasia is murder;
it is prohibited by Scripture.

39. Suicide and Euthanasia
2) Euthanasia a) Euthanasia means good
death—ending people’s lives
to end their suffering.
b) Active euthanasia is murder;
it is prohibited by Scripture.
c) Passive euthanasia is justified
in extreme circumstances.

40. The Value of Life 6
WAR

41. War
What is the Christian attitude towards warfare
and military service? There are two primary
Christian views regarding whether believers
should participate in war.

42. War
What is the Christian attitude towards warfare
and military service? There are two primary
Christian views regarding whether believers
should participate in war.
1) Non-resistance: belief in no war

43. War
What is the Christian attitude towards warfare
and military service? There are two primary
Christian views regarding whether believers
should participate in war.
1) Non-resistance: belief in no war
2) Self-defence: belief in just war

44. Conclusion

45. Conclusion
1) By definition, murder is taking a life unjustly with
malice and planning. Taking life in the form of
capital punishment, self-defence, and war are not
murder.
2) Jesus Christ equated all forms of hatred, including
racism, with a murderous heart.
3) God ordained the death penalty in Israel as the just
punishment for capital crimes. This is a model for
national civil law.

46. Conclusion
4) God considers an unborn child (foetus) as a human
being; taking its life for any reason other than to
save the mother’s life is murder.
5) Suicide and active euthanasia are against the will of
God.
6) Christians are divided with respect to whether they
should participate in war. The two views are the
“now war” and the “just war” positions.