Therefore, my dear brothers, "let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God" (James 1:19-20). c) unchecked hatred and hardheartedness: "Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him" (1 Jn. 3:15). "If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen" (1 Jn. 4:20). "Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness" (1 Jn. 2:9). "For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses" (Matt. 6:14-15). "Do not let the sun go down on your anger" (Eph. 4:26). d) vengefulness: "Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord" (Deut. 32:35, Rom. 12:19). "Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling; but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing" (1 Pet. 3:9). "When He was reviled, He did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly" (1 Pet. 2:23). e) lack of mercy: "For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment" (James 2:13). "Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful" (Luke 6:36). "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy" (Matt. 5:7). "If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; for you will heap burning coals on his head" (Prov. 25:21-22, Rom. 12:20). "If anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth" (1 Jn. 3:17-18). f) leading others astray: "Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea" (Matt. 18:6). g) irritability and wrathfulness: "Anger and jealousy shorten life, and anxiety brings premature age" (Sir. 30:26). h) excessive worry and sorrow: "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones" (Prov. 17:22). "Therefore do not be anxious saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all" (Matt. 6:31-32). "Cast all your anxieties on him, for he cares for you" (1 Pet. 5:7). i) lack of self-control in eating, drinking, and pleasures: "Let us conduct ourselves properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires" (Rom. 13:13-14). "My son, treat your soul well, and observe what is harmful to it, and do not give it those things" (Sir. 37:30). "Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit" (Eph. 5:18). "Take heed to yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly" (Luke 21:34). "Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth; walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes, but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment" (Ecclesiastes 11:9). j) spiritual hardness: "A stubborn heart will bear sorrows, and the sinner will pile sin upon sin" (Sir. 3:27). k) greed and disregard for resources that can provide healing: "A man who is kind does good to his own soul, but a cruel man does harm to his flesh" (Prov. 12:17). "Honor the physician for the needs that you have; for the Lord created him, and healings come from the Most High, and the king receives a gift through him" (Sir. 33:1-2). "The Lord created medicines out of the earth, and a wise man will not despise them" (Sir. 38:4).
Explanation of the sixth commandment against murder a) The severity of the sin of murder. Murder is an extremely grave sin and a serious offense. The act of murder goes against our nature, as it is abhorrent to take the life of another human being made in God’s image. A murderer shows a blatant disregard for God, who desires life and salvation for all. Even in this life, murderers face the harshest penalties for their actions. Consider the tragic story of Cain, who took his brother Abel's life: he experienced no peace in his home and was condemned by God to a life of wandering and torment. The fate of all murderers is similar; on Earth, they endure constant torment, and in the afterlife, they face eternal punishment, as it is stated that "those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God" (Galatians 5:21), destined for a place in the lake of fire (Rev. 20:8).
b) Despite a murderer’s attempts to hide their crime, they will often be discovered or confess, either due to the guilt of their conscience or through their own actions revealing the truth. It is not uncommon for minor details or accidental revelations to lead to a murderer’s recognition and incrimination. Though God may allow a murderer to evade justice for a time, His justice ultimately prevails in exposing the offender.
The remorse of conscience is often the loudest accuser. Conscience acts as God’s immutable judgment within a person’s soul. Numerous instances highlight how conscience reveals the sin of murder. One infamous bandit named David committed many killings without remorse. However, during a moment of introspection, his conscience awakened, leading him to profound guilt and repentance, transforming his life entirely. Consider another bandit, known for his brutality, who after committing yet another crime found himself alone with his ill-gotten gains. In the stillness, he pondered the worth of his amassed fortunes, and his conscience confronted him, compelling him to confess his myriad wrongdoings to a minister of God, desperate for repentance.
c) Often, the turmoil within a murderer’s conscience leads to irrational behavior, revealing their guilt more than concealing it.
d) Not every taking of life amounts to murder in a moral or legal sense. For instance, when justice sentences a criminal to death, or when an enemy falls in battle defending one’s nation, such acts are not unlawful. God has warranted punishment for criminals and the defense of one's country; these actions are where justice and law uphold societal and national well-being, exemplifying Christian virtues such as self-sacrifice and the willingness to lay down one’s life for faith, king, and country.
e) Beyond direct murder, the following situations could be seen as instances of culpability:
aa) If a judge releases a guilty individual while condemning the innocent, does this not make him a murderer?
bb) If someone conceals a murderer’s actions, and that person later commits another murder, is the concealer not also guilty of murder?
cc) If a boss mistreats employees, exhausting them through harsh labor and punitive measures that cost them their health and livelihood, isn’t he also committing murder?
dd) If a husband abuses his wife, leading to illness and shortening her life, does he not bear responsibility for murder?
ee) Neglecting to help someone on the brink of death, is this not a form of murder?
ff) A wealthy individual who fails to assist the needy, especially in times of crisis—charging exorbitantly for essential resources during famine—how could he not be seen as contributing to the death of others?
f) We inadvertently contribute to our own demise.
aa) A miser, for example, torments himself by hoarding food and obsessing over wealth, ultimately leading to his own decline and death.
bb) Those who indulge excessively—like alcoholics—destroy their health and hasten their demise through their lack of self-control.
cc) The pursuit of illicit pleasure leads many down a destructive path, resulting in spiritual and physical self-destruction.
dd) Suicide is an outright denial of life, rejecting the temporal and eternal gifts from God. In defiance of divine law, it is against nature to end one’s own life, and the Church has always regarded suicides as gravely sinful, denying them Christian burial and honor.
Thus, we see that numerous actions and situations could render an individual culpable of death—both to others and to oneself.
g) Hatred is an offense against the sixth commandment. As it is stated, "Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer" (1 John 3:15). This implies that one can be a murderer not only through actions but also through words and attitudes that harm others and disturb their peace. What negative effects arise from harboring bitterness, anger, strife, and resentments? Such emotions lead to sorrow and anguish, eating away at one’s spirit and health. It has become evident that a person's emotional state can significantly impact another's; the weight of hatred can be incredibly burdensome to the heart—sometimes even across distances. This reflects a profound interconnectedness of spirits and highlights additional ways our actions hold us responsible before God for the taking of life.
h) Temptation is another serious sin linked to the sixth commandment. He who leads another away from the true faith deprives the soul of its vitality and hope for everlasting joy. "Woe to the one through whom temptation comes" (Matt. 18:7). Such individuals, motivated by earthly desires or influenced by the enemy, draw others into faithlessness and set a poor example. As St. Tikhon of Zadonsk wisely noted, temptation resembles a plague: it affects one person and spreads, infecting many. Historical accounts illustrate this—like in the days of the Judges of Israel when one man’s idol-making led others astray, showing how evil can proliferate through contagion.
Given this understanding, we should not only refrain from these sins outlined by the sixth commandment but also actively pursue the virtues contrary to them.
i) Virtues encouraged by the sixth commandment. Let us safeguard and cherish the lives of our neighbors, aid the impoverished, care for the sick, and comfort the grieving. With every effort—whether through actions or supportive words—let us alleviate the burdens of the distressed, shielding their hearts from despair. Let us approach one another with patience, kindness, and love, ensuring our words and actions do not disturb our neighbors or disrupt their spiritual peace. Let us mend rifts, forgive offenses, and respond to evil with goodness, loving others as ourselves (Luke 12:31).
As followers of Christ, let us remember we are "created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them" (Eph. 2:10).
THEOSIS