Deuteronomy 5:17; 19:7–13; 24:6–7; Matthew 5:17–20

Explore the Bible
Professor of Christian Studies, School of Christian Studies, University of Mobile

Be Resolute About Life’s Value
Deuteronomy 5:17; 19:7–13; 24:6–7; Matthew 5:17–20
Daily the media report examples of brutality against and devaluation of human life. Tragically the constant stream of knowledge about life-damaging events can numb adults to the biblical mandate to value and protect human life — a mandate that includes protections for the innocent and just punishment for those guilty of victimizing others. God wants His people to show firm resolve in valuing and protecting human life, including the preborn.

Fulfilling God’s Commandment Against Murder (Deut. 5:17; Matt. 5:17–20)
The sacredness of human life is rooted in the fact that human beings are created in God’s image (Gen. 1:27); people are to be treated with dignity and respect. The commandment “You shall not murder” arises out of the fact that humans are God’s image-bearers.  

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus explained God’s original intent in giving the Law of Moses; He made it clear that fulfilling the Law had more to do with attitude than with keeping the letter of the Law. Jesus taught that He had come to fulfill the Mosaic Law, including the commandment that forbids murder, and that His followers’ obedience was more than merely a legalistic keeping of the letter of the Law. Our opposition to actions such as abortion, euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide is a legitimate application of God’s command regarding the sanctity of human life. Jesus’ followers are to find ways to fulfill the spirit of the commandments by promoting the biblical view of life’s sacredness.

Protecting the Innocent, Punishing the Guilty (Deut. 19:7–13)
The sanctity of human life is demonstrated in how the Law of Moses differentiates between accidental death and premeditated homicide. Today’s law still makes a distinction between premeditated murder and accidental killing (manslaughter).

When Israel entered the promised land, God designated six towns as “cities of refuge.” Each was a place to which a person who had accidentally killed someone could flee and have his or her case adjudicated. In these cities, the person guilty of manslaughter was safe until the facts of the case could be examined and a verdict declared. However, these cities were not to become havens for those guilty of intentional homicide. The fact that the Lord established such cities clearly shows the distinction between causing a death accidentally and committing an intentional homicide.    

An application of these principles to today’s culture means that Christians can and should be equally concerned to ensure that our laws, officials and personal actions protect the innocent and provide for punishing the guilty.

Safeguarding Life’s Value (Deut. 24:6–7)
The Law of Moses provided a number safeguards that demonstrated life’s value. These two stipulations show God’s desire for people to understand life’s value and thus safeguard it.

If a lender needed collateral for a loan, then he or she was prohibited from taking the borrower’s millstones. These were used in the home for grinding grain in preparing meals; if either stone were removed, then grain necessary for daily food could not be ground. Families needed the stones in order to eat. Taking the millstones would devalue human life.

Apparently the crime of kidnapping was common in the ancient world; it is mentioned in the law codes of the ancient Mesopotamians and the Hittite Empire. Since the kidnapper would be depriving his or her victim of freedom by taking him or her as a slave or selling him or her, the kidnapper was to be executed, just as though he or she had taken the victim’s life. Kidnapping devalues human life by treating him or her as if he or she were not a person made in God’s image.

Christians can safeguard life’s value by working to oppose abortion and the abuse of senior citizens; we can carefully avoid any attitudes and actions that diminish the value and worth of anyone.