HC 105

Q105. What does God require in the sixth commandment?

I am not to dishonour, hate, injure, or kill my neighbour by thoughts, words, or gestures, and much less by deeds, whether personally or through another; rather, I am to put away all desire of revenge. Moreover, I am not to harm or recklessly endanger myself. Therefore, also, the government bears the sword to prevent murder.

Proof texts

• Gen. 9:6 — [6] “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image.
• Lev. 19:17-18 — [17] “You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. [18] You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.
• Matt. 5:21-22 — [21] “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ [22] But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.
• Matt. 26:52 — [52] Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword.
• Prov. 25:21-22 — [21] If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, [22] for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.
• Matt. 18:35 — [35] So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
• Rom. 12:19 — [19] Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
• Eph. 4:26 — [26] Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,
• Matt. 4:7 — [7] Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
• Matt. 26:52 — [52] Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword.
• Rom. 13:11-14 — [11] Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. [12] The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. [13] Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. [14] But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
• Gen. 9:6 — [6] “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image.
• Ex. 21:14 — [14] But if a man willfully attacks another to kill him by cunning, you shall take him from my altar, that he may die.
• Rom. 13:4 — [4] for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer.

For discussion

1. The Assembly cited Gen. 9:6 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
2. 14 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
3. WSC Q39 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
4. WSC Q45 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?

Read alongside

WSC Q39 · WSC Q45 · WLC Q91 · WLC Q100 · WCF 19.1 · 1689 19.1