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Numbers 35:30 - Sixth Commandment and Roe vs Wade - Day 146

Dear saint in Christ Jesus

I have tried to point out how the Ten Commandments are woven into the fabric of Moses five books.  Today is another example that also shows how rejection of biblical principles leads to disastrous consequences.

Jeff

The thread of the sixth commandment, You shall not murder, re-appears.  Different Hebrew words for kill and murder.  Based on the preceding distinctions and the purpose of cities of refuge, the commandment is more nuanced than it appears.  Careless or negligent killing is prohibited, but is not a capital offense.  What is clear is the value of human life and that there is no conflict between capital punishment and value of life.  

To be fair to the Pharisees, the focus is definitely on the external act and not the heart.  So when Jesus includes hating a brother or saying "You fool" as being the same as actual murder, I can see how His audience would be surprised at His teaching.  That being said, when the 10th is considered which focuses on thoughts, not just actions, the principle that thoughts of doing harm are just as sinful as actions is apparent.  In any case, once Christ makes this distinction, the Christian is bound to this understanding.  

Unfortunately, last Friday was the 48th anniversary of the Roe vs Wade decision.  The current estimate is that 62 million of our fellow citizens have been murdered in this time.  Rate per 1,000 Black non-Hispanic women is just less the 3 time that for white women. Rate for Hispanic women is just less than 2 times that for white women.  I have be told that the only reason Supreme Court made this ruling was because white people were tired of having their daughters die from "back alley" abortions.  I see something more sinister in the systemic elimination of people of color.  I wonder where Black Lives Matter stands on this issue.


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