Anonymous (via GotQuestions)
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Danny Hickman
The original question was better than the question to which it was changed. It asked, 'Does the ten commandments forbid killing or just murder?'
For years there's been a push to revise the meaning of what God told his people. He told them he didn't want them killing people. It's been changed to 'You must not murder.' This is splitting hairs. It's not okay with God for us to kill for what we call 'the right reason.' That's of man, not of God. Mankind was told to not kill each other. What does that mean?
It means we are not to plan the death of another man, and then carry it out. God never planned anyone's death, and then carried out the plan. Planning the death of another has to do with having a killer's heart (mind). But whether we plan the death of another or not, the taking of a man's life is sin for us. It's never okay with God for us to kill each other. We can't avoid sin, it's how we were conceived.
There's nothing sinful about doing whatever you want with that which belongs to you. God owns everything. He can do whatever he wants with whatever he owns. That's natural law.
Jesus told us how to avoid killing one another. "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you" (Luke 6:27). You wanna be perfect like God? Love your enemy (Mt 5:48).
And this: "turn to him the other cheek" (Mt 5:39)
I know it's hard, but these are God's words on how to abstain from violence. You can't make killing be of God. He doesn't even teach self defense. He doesn't endorse sin.
Danny Hickman
Jesus cleared up the confusion, but it's mostly ignored. Instead, God is accused of being one way in old testament times, and another way in new testament times.
Jesus said this: 'I didn't come to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I came to fulfill. All will be fulfilled.'
And then this: "You have heard that it was said to those of old (did you hear 'to those of old?') 'You shall not murder..' But I say to you (did you hear 'but I say to you?') that whoever is angry..." (Mt 5:21,22).
Who said that which was said to 'those of old?' He makes it sound as if someone other than himself said what was said to 'those of old.' He makes it plain that now he's doing the talking.
He uses the same kind of language to teach us his views on adultery, divorce, the swearing of oaths, getting revenge, and the difference between love and hate. On each topic he said, 'You've heard it said, but I say,' and then says something technically more difficult to adhere to than the previously enforced principle.
His regulations are more strict, but he prefaced his teaching of them by saying he would be the one to fulfill them. We know that his understanding of the Law is right. Whoever gave 'those of old' the Law, made the regulations seem easier to keep. They couldn't keep them. He kept the stricter version of the same regulations.
It was never okay to kill, or swear, or divorce, or hate your enemy; of these things he says, 'it was never so' (it was never the way they understood it).