Matthew 5:
[44] But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
[45] That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
A key difficulty with translation is accuracy: “Thou shalt not kill.” or “Thou shalt do no murder.” Of course we are talking about our neighbors, or others created by God. The first statement seems absolute, that there is no occasion for the killing of another human creature. The second interpretation/translation seems to suggest something about premeditation and the innocent. That opens up so many “What ifs…?” Can we train for and study ways to murder, and use that knowledge always for the Glory of God?
There is relativism in such ideas. If we justify such murder in our minds, is it justified in the eyes of God? Really? Do means and ends really justify a deed? How can we kill anyone that our Lord came and died for. That is, everyone is offered salvation, even our enemies.
What did Jesus do? That is the question. Was He a “ram” or a “lamb”? Can we protect innocents with violence…murder? What a contrary thought! Our Lord did not.
I Corinthians 14: [33] For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
In Christ's love,
Fr. Robert Pax
