The sixth commandment protects human life as sacred, created in God's image, and distinguishes deliberate murder from accidental manslaughter. While murder originates in the heart through hatred or anger, manslaughter still demands accountability, since only God holds authority over when life ends. God provided six cities of refuge, three on each side of the Jordan, where a manslayer could flee, stand trial, and remain safely until the death of the high priest. Outside the city, the blood avenger, the slain person's closest male relative, could lawfully take his life. Roads were prepared, widened, and marked so the manslayer could press forward without delay. This flight parallels the believer's steady pursuit of the hope secured by God's unchanging word and oath, which Christ fulfills. Also see Bible verses for Manslaughter.

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The Sixth Commandment

Bible Study by Martin G. Collins

Under the original letter of the law, the sixth commandment forbids intentional killing, which is murder, and accidental killing is not regarded as murder (Exodus 21:12-14; Numbers 35:9-32). Even so, manslaughter is a horrible crime and carries real consequences. The person who kills another unintentionally cannot simply go free. He must flee to a city of refuge and remain there until the high priest dies. God thus distinguishes between the murderer, who deserves death, and the one who takes a life by accident, yet He still treats the loss of human life with great seriousness. The reason lies in the spiritual principle behind the commandment: God created all mankind in His image, and no one has the authority or right to end a human life unless He specifically commands it.

The Sixth Commandment

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

God distinguishes accidental killing from premeditated murder. Exodus 21:12-14 separates the man who lies in wait and kills by treachery from the one whom God delivered into the killer's hand without intent. The deliberate murderer is put to death, and not even God's altar offers him sanctuary. No payment of money or property can atone for destroying the image of God in a person. Even the accidental killer, however, could not simply go free. Numbers 35:9-34 provided six cities of refuge, three on each side of the Jordan. The manslayer who reached one still faced a trial. If found guilty of accidental death, he stayed in the city until the current high priest died, so the city served as his jail. Within it he could move about, work, and live with and support his family. If he left, the avenger of blood could lawfully kill him. The avenger, usually a blood relative of the victim, protected the family's rights and avenged its loss. The Hebrew word go'el also means redeemer, as Boaz was for Ruth. Legal safeguards protected life: conviction required two or three witnesses, perjurers suffered the penalty they sought for the accused, and the courts proceeded with extreme care (Deuteronomy 19:15-21; 17:6-13).

Hope and Refuge (Part Three)

CGG Weekly by Mike Ford

Christ fulfills the roles of both the blood avenger and the high priest. He is our Redeemer. Redemption involves the securing of release by the payment of a price.

Does God Ever Sin?

Sermonette by Austin Del Castillo

Deliberate killing, such as Cain slaughtering Abel, is a heinous sin, but accidental killing without malice or enmity was managed differently.

The Value of Life

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

In the sixth commandment, God rules against the taking of human life, revealing how precious life is to God and should be to us.

Refuge! Refuge! (Part One)

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Martin G. Collins

The cities of refuge highlight the great importance God placed on the sanctity of life, especially in beings created in God's image.

The Sixth Commandment

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Jesus magnifies the Law in Matthew 5, moving beyond the behavior into the motivating thought behind the deed, warning that we do not retaliate in kind.

Forms vs. Spirituality (Part 2)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Sins committed presumptuously by people of high responsibility (leaders) are judged more rigorously than those sins committed by people in ignorance.

Without Natural Affection

Sermonette by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Because of lawlessness, love has gone stone-cold. Sin and lawlessness begets more sin and lawlessness, and natural affection and love disappear.

Refuge! Refuge! (Part Two)

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Martin G. Collins

Realizing that men are prone to mistakes, God commanded the Israelites to have six cities of refuge to protect those who accidentally committed manslaughter.

Handwriting on the Wall: Without Natural Affection

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Narcissism and self-centeredness have snuffed out out-going concern, and everyone does what is right in their own eyes as the love of many grows cold.

Presumptuousness

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Individuals arrogating to themselves the authority to change doctrine are on extremely dangerous ground, presumptuously setting up idols in place of God.

God's Sovereignty, Ecclesiastes, and God's Will

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

God knows the end from the beginning, but He does not give us all the details at once, except as they are necessary for us for His purpose to be worked out.

Sin (Part One)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Though relatively neutral at its inception, human nature is subject to a deadly magnetic pull toward self-centeredness, deceit, and sin.

Examples of Divine Justice

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Nadab and Abihu, Ananias and Sapphira, and Uzzah, all aware of the penalties for their actions, rebelled against God's clear and unambiguous instructions.

A Christian's Information Filter

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

People make judgments—sometimes consciously, but probably more often unconsciously—about what goes into their minds, and this has an effect over time.