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Matthew 5: 21-24 | King James Audio Bible | KJV | King James Version
‘Thou shalt not kill.’
The commandment is a directive from God to preserve the sanctity of human life. It prohibits the unjust taking of another person’s life and emphasizes the inherent value and dignity of every individual. The commandment encompasses both physical acts of violence leading to death, such as murder, as well as attitudes and actions that diminish the worth and well-being of others. It calls for respect, compassion, and the promotion of life in all its forms.
God, as the Creator of life, entrusts us with the responsibility to protect and cherish the lives of others, valuing the image of God in each person. The commandment is a call to promote peace, reconciliation, and the flourishing of all individuals and communities.
Ten Commandments In The Light Of Jesus Christ | Meditations On The Love Of Jesus Christ
Jesus affirmed the commandment against killing and expanded its meaning to include not only the physical act but also the intentions and attitudes of the heart. Jesus taught that harbouring anger, hatred, or holding grudges against others is akin to committing murder in one’s heart (Matthew 5:21-22).
Jesus taught his disciples to love their enemies, bless those who curse them, and pray for those who persecute them (Matthew 5:44). Jesus demonstrated a radical ethic of non-violence, even in the face of unjust treatment and violence towards himself.
Jesus’ sacrificial death on the Cross for the forgiveness of sins reveals the depth of love and his desire to redeem and restore humanity. Jesus invites us to follow his example by showing mercy, forgiveness, and promoting reconciliation in our relationships.
In the light of Jesus, we are called to value the sanctity of all human life and actively to promote peace, justice and compassion in our interactions with others. We are to seek reconciliation and work towards healing broken relationships, following the path of love and forgiveness that Jesus exemplified.
‘But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.’ (Matthew 5:22, KJV)
Prayer To Jesus | Love Revealed By Jesus Christ | A Choice Of Prayers
- Jesus, help me value and respect the lives of others. Keep me away from anger and violence. Fill my heart with love, compassion, and forgiveness. Guide me to promote peace and bring healing to broken relationships. Amen.
- Jesus, teach me to see the worth and dignity in every person. Show me how to treat others with kindness, gentleness, and understanding. Help me to be a source of encouragement and support to those around me. Amen.
- Jesus, I pray for an end to violence and hatred in our world. Bring healing to those affected by crime, war, and injustice. Help us work together to create a society where all lives are valued and protected. Amen.
- Jesus, when I feel anger rising within me, remind me of your commandment to not kill. Help me to respond with love, grace, and self-control. May my words and actions promote harmony and peace. Amen.
- Jesus, guard my heart against thoughts of revenge or harm towards others. Fill me with your love that seeks reconciliation and forgiveness. Help me to be a peacemaker in my family, community, and beyond. Amen.
- Jesus, I pray for those who have experienced the pain of losing a loved one to violence. Comfort them in their grief and bring healing to their hearts. Give them strength to forgive and find peace in your embrace. Amen.
- Jesus, help us build a culture that values and protects all forms of life. Guide our leaders to make decisions that promote peace, justice, and the well-being of every person. May we be agents of positive change in our communities? Amen.
- Jesus, grant me the courage to stand against any form of violence or harm. Help me to be an advocate for those who are oppressed, marginalized, or treated unjustly. Empower me to speak up for what is right and work towards a more compassionate world. Amen.
- Jesus, heal the wounds caused by violence and bring comfort to those who have been affected by it. Restore broken relationships and bring reconciliation where there is conflict. Teach us to value and protect life in all circumstances. Amen.
- Jesus, fill me with your love so that I may extend kindness and compassion to everyone I encounter. Help me to be a source of peace and understanding, shining your light in the midst of darkness. May my life reflect your commandment not to kill. Amen.
Our first Sunday Bible reading for advent picks up on themes from previous weeks. This now is Mark’s recording of the Sermon in the Temple, and we have here too, at the conclusion of the sermon, a declaration of Christ’s coming, of the parousia, of Christ the King. One key message remains: Beware, keep alert, watch; no one knows when this moment of full revelation will be save the Father. Meanwhile, in this present world, live wholly with Jesus [ … ]
Herbert’s poem unfolds as meditation on inner peace and spiritual discipline, crafted through precise imagery and reflective admonition. Herbert begins with a command to restless thoughts, urging them to remain within confines of their own being. This invocation sets the tone for the poem as both a prayer and an internal dialogue, where the soul seeks to reconcile its innate restlessness with a divine imperative for order and calm. This act of addressing thoughts directly implies their unruliness, underscoring tension between human inclination toward distraction and spiritual call to stillness [ … ]
This poem is a meditation on divine love and its transformative power. Herbert calls upon an ‘Immortal Heat’, a metaphor for God’s eternal love, to burn away human desires, preparing the soul for a purified relationship with the divine. Herbert asks that this heavenly fire ‘attract the lesser to it’, symbolizing the hope that earthly passions, with all their distractions and imperfections, will be drawn into the higher, refining flame of divine love. The fire that ‘shall consume the world’ is a vision of divine judgment or renewal that should first be felt within, turning Herbert’s own heart toward a sincere devotion [ … ]
