Lesson: Sixth Commandment Page 1
Christian Churches of God
No. CB75
Lesson:
Sixth Commandment
(Edition 2.0 20050914-20070303)
The Sixth Commandment says: You shall not kill.
Christian Churches of God
PO Box 369, WODEN ACT 2606, AUSTRALIA
E-mail:
(Copyright 2005, 2007 Davina Clark, ed. Wade Cox)
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Lesson:
Sixth Commandment
Lesson: Sixth Commandment Page 1
Goal:
To teach the children about the Sixth Commandment.
Objectives:
- Identify three ways to avoid breaking the Commandment: Pray in times of anger; do not seek revenge; love your neighbour.
- Identify three ways that the Commandment is broken: Failing to ask for God’s help with our thoughts; wanting to punish people for what they do to us; not treating others as we would like to be treated.
- Children will be able to state ways God’s Law preserves life.
Resources:
Law and the Sixth Commandment (No. 259)
The Ten Commandments (No. CB17)
The Law of God (No. CB25)
Cain and Abel: Sons of Adam (No. CB7)
Relevant Scriptures:
Proverbs 4:1-27; 2Corinthians 10:5; James 4:7
Memory Scriptures:
Exodus 20:13: You shall not murder.
Format:
Open with prayer.
Add the Sixth Commandment to the poster board tracking the children’s progress through the Ten Commandments.
Read study paper on 6th Commandment. Children’s questions are in bold.
Read study paper on the first biblical murder Cain and Abel: Sons of Adam (No. CB7).
Complete the “Egg Activity”.
Formal aspect of lesson:
SIXTH COMMANDMENT AND ITS APPLICATIONS
Excerpts from Law and Sixth Commandment (No. 259).
Question 1: Who gave us life? Should we take life from someone else?
It is written: Exodus 20:13 You shall not murder. (NKJV)
Deuteronomy 5:17 You shall not murder. (NKJV)
A. Life is a precious gift from God, and since only God can create life, only He can decide when a life should end. Society today is so far from God and His instruction that murder is used in movies, television and video games for entertainment, and people cheer. People who watch a lot of television can see countless murders every day that causes them to get accustomed to and accept violence.
Question 2: Does taking life mean only in the physical term of killing or hurting someone? What is meant by the spiritual intent of the Law?
Matthew 5:21-24 "You have heard that is what said to the men of old, 'You shall not murder; and whoever murders should be liable to judgment.' But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother without cause shall be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother shall be liable to the counsel and whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be liable to the evil one of fire. So if you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift." (KJV)
Matthew 5:21-24 You know that our ancestors were told, "Do not murder" and "A murderer must be brought to trial." 22But I promise you that if you are angry with someone, you will have to stand trial. If you call someone a fool, you will be taken to court. And if you say that someone is worthless, you will be in danger of the fires of hell. 23So if you are about to place your gift on the altar and remember that someone is angry with you, 24leave your gift there in front of the altar. Make peace with that person, then come back and offer your gift to God. (Contemporary English Version, CEV)
A. Jesus says in Matthew 5 that we are not to even be angry without cause. This is the spiritual part of the Law. The Israelites lived with just the physical intent, or meaning of the Law. Since the Holy Sprit was given on Pentecost in 30 CE we have the power to live out both the physical and spiritual intent of the Law. We need to guard our thoughts against sin in addition to our words and actions. God's way is the way of love and helping, not fighting or hurting or arguing with others. The Bible does teach that there is a time to be angry, but we need to be sure our anger is directed toward injustice and sinful acts, not people. There are also certain acts for which God allows a government to impose the penalty of capital punishment for the good of the society. This does not violate the Sixth Commandment.
Question 3. How does God define "murder"?
A. Unauthorized taking of life is murder. The Law specifies ways and circumstances where a person may be lawfully put to death. All unauthorized taking of life is murder.
Question 4. How should we react to anger-provoking situations?
Luke 6:27-31 "But I say to you that hear, Love your enemies, do good to those that hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To him who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from him who takes away your cloak do not withhold your coat as well. Give to everyone who begs from you; and of him who takes away your goods do not ask them again. And as you wish that men would do to you, do so to them.” (RSV)
A. Luke 6:31 is telling us to treat others just as we want to be treated. If everybody just treated others the way they want to be treated the world would be a lot better place. There are many Scriptures that tell us how to respond to anger, like Proverbs 15:1: “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger”. (RSV) The main thing to remember is we need to be in control of our feelings or emotions and not let our emotions control us.
Question 5. Is it natural to love our enemies? If not, where does one get such love?
A. No. The human mind is sinful and does not want to obey God’s Law naturally. Without God’s Spirit, the human mind is influenced and controlled by the god of this world, who is Satan. God is love (1Jn. 4:8; Rom. 13:10). God wants all of us to be like Him. When we love our neighbour it shows that the love of God is in us.
Question 6. Is it easy to follow the 6th Commandment?
A. Yes.Deuteronomy 30:11: "For this commandment which I command you this day is not too hard for you, neither is it far off.” (RSV) Matthew 11:30 – “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (RSV)
Question 7. How might the Sixth Commandment be stated positively?
A. “You shall make alive.” Our responsibility or job is to provide life or take care of each other. Just as God cares for and looks after us, we are to love our brother and take care of our brother. There are many ways and times we can do this. Let us look at a few of them.
- To keep alive by just and fair laws
The nation has a responsibility to keep alive those born in the nation, the stranger and the aliens or foreigners in its land. In Leviticus we see one way that God’s Laws provide food for people.
Leviticus 19:9-10: When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field to its very border, neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the sojourner: I am the Lord your God. (RSV)
In certain parts of the country there are laws requiring people to have walls and gates around swimming pools. The USA building code requires that there be railings on exposed stairs before anyone is allowed to occupy the building. This law protects people from being hurt and dying from an accident. We see examples in Deuteronomy 22:6-8:
"If you chance to come upon a bird's nest, in any tree or on the ground, with young ones or eggs and the mother sitting upon the young or upon the eggs, you shall not take the mother with the young; you shall let the mother go, but the young you may take to yourself; that it may go well with you, and that you may live long. When you build a new house, you shall make a parapet for your roof, that you may not bring the guilt of blood upon your house, if any one fall from it.”
So we might ask: “what law does a building inspector break if he takes a bribe to ignore a violation of the building or fire code?” The answer is: The command to make alive.
- To treat the disabled fairly and kindly
The law provides for the protection of the person who is disabled. We are not to make fun of disabled people.
Leviticus 19:14 You shall not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall fear your God: I am the Lord. (RSV)
- The preservation or keeping of life and the family
In God’s system if a brother asks to borrow money or items from us there are laws on how to handle the request.
Leviticus 25:35-37 and if your brother becomes poor, and cannot maintain himself with you, you shall maintain him; as a stranger and a sojourner he shall live with you. Take no interest from him or increase, but fear your God; that your brother may live beside you. You shall not lend him your money at interest, nor give him your food for profit. (RSV)
Usury or interest is forbidden to all of the Faith, for by it we oppress, enslave and hurt each other. For we were all bought with a price, and so we should all glorify God who protects all.
We are also required to provide daily pay if necessary so that the poor will not need to take a loan against their next pay-check or wages.
Leviticus 19:13 "You shall not oppress your neighbor or rob him. The wages of a hired servant shall not remain with you all night until the morning. (RSV)
God ordains families as the basis upon which the state is built. He ordains the higher powers and all powers come from God.
Romans 13:1-2: Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore he who resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. (RSV)
4.The right to kill and the right to make alive belongs only to God
God tells us not to murder or kill or hurt each other. Since God is the one who knows all and He alone created us, God is the one who decides if a person needs to die for his actions. The Law has penalties associated with it as defined in the Bible. People were put to death under the Law for the crime of murder and other matters. God is also the only being that can resurrect us or make us alive.
1Samuel 2:6: The lord kills and brings to life; he brings down to the grave and raises up.
- There are some other parts to 6th Commandment that children will learn when they are older. If children do have questions about some parts of the 6th Commandment they should ask their parents or an older trusted member in the Church to explain them.
Read Cain and Abel: Sons of Adam (No.CB7) and discuss the consequences of each of the son’s actions.
Activity begins
Supplies:
1 red poster board: labeled on top BREAK and under it, You shalt not Murder
1 blue poster board: labeled on top KEEP and under it, You Shalt not Murder
2 x 2 litre plastic containers (probably better if plastic is clear)
Blue and red food colouring
2 raw eggs (may want to have extra for back up if one breaks accidentally)
2 plastic teaspoons (or can be tablespoons)
1 cup salt
Cut strips of construction paper to double the number of the students there. Have the strips labeled with a positive and negative of keeping the Commandment or breaking the Commandment – e.g. saying mean things / forgiving someone.
Poster Board / Egg Activity:
- Display the red and blue poster boards in front of the room.
- Place a container filled with water and an egg in front of each respective board.
- Add food colouring to water to match the colour of the board; place salt and a teaspoon by the blue water and place a teaspoon and the sugar by the red water.
- Have the children pick a strip of paper and guess which board the strip belongs on.
- Allow the child to mount the strip on the correct board then place a spoonful of either sugar or salt in the respective container with egg.
- As the lesson ends the egg that is preserved by the salt of God’s word rises to the top (you will need to have salt in 4 quarts of water to make the egg rise). An egg that is sugared up drowns in sin.
Have the children proceed to talk about the issues related to the 6th Commandment. Have discussion on how God’s Law preserves and protects us
Close with prayer.