Lesson: Sixth Commandment (No. CB75)



Christian Churches of God

No. CB75

Lesson:

Sixth Commandment

(Edition 3.0 20050914-20070303-20210228)

The Sixth Commandment says: You shall not kill.

Christian Churches of God

PO Box 369, WODEN ACT, AUSTRALIA

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(Copyright © 2005, 2007, 2021 Christian Churches of God, ed. Wade Cox)

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Lesson:

Sixth Commandment

Goal:

To teach the children about the Sixth Commandment.

Objectives:

● Children will be able to recite the 6th commandment and give three examples of breaking it.

● Children will understand ways in which they can keep the 6th commandment.

 

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; Matthew 5:21-26; James 4:7; Ephesians 4:26

Memory Scriptures:

Exodus 20:13: You shall not kill.

  

Format:

Open with prayer.

Add the Sixth Commandment to the poster board tracking the children’s progress through the Ten Commandments.

Read through the Lesson on 6th Commandment. Children’s questions are in bold.

Complete the “Egg Activity”.

Close with Prayer

Question and Answers with the Children:

Question 1: Who gave us life? Should we take life from someone else?

Exodus 20:13 You shall not kill. (NKJV)

Deuteronomy 5:17 You shall not kill. (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. This is Satan’s attempt to get us used to accepting 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 it was 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)

A. No the law does not only apply to the physical meaning of killing. 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 Spirit 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.

Question 3. Why are there so many examples of killing in the Bible if the commandment says “You shall not kill”?

A. We can think of the word “kill” in the commandment as “murder”. Any purposeful, unauthorized taking of life is murder. This is what God forbids in His commandments. The Law does specify ways and circumstances where a person may be lawfully put to death due to their sin and its effect on the safety of society. 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 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 wanted to be treated, the world would be a 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, it is very hard to love our enemies especially when they are being mean to us. The human mind is sinful and does not want to obey God’s Law naturally. That’s why we need God’s Holy Spirit. Without God’s Spirit, the human mind is influenced and controlled by the god of this world, who is Satan. However, when God’s Holy Spirit is working with us, we are able to use the fruits of the Spirit and make better choices. 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, it can be easy if we stay close to God. 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.

1. 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)

An example of safety is found in Deuteronomy 22:8: "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.” That instruction is followed in our building safety codes. In certain parts of the country, there are laws requiring people to have walls and gates around swimming pools. Also, 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.

2. To treat the disabled fairly and kindly

The law provides for the protection of the person who is disabled. We are not to even make fun of disabled people or people with less skills than we have.

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)

3. To treat all people in Godly fashion

The law provides for the protection of all people; this includes both physical and emotional attacks. As time goes on, bullying and cyberbullying are becoming progressively worse. In some instances, children and teenagers are committing suicide due to the hateful comments that others make about them online through social media. We should actively avoid bullying and make sure we are helping those that are being hurt by others. See the lesson on the Good Samaritan, The Good Samaritan (No. CB39)

Summary:

God and His law are holy, righteous, goodness, perfect and truth and we are to become the same through God’s amazing plan of salvation. As we grow and learn to control our thoughts, which in turns helps us to control our actions, with God’s help we can keep the commandments and become holy, righteous, goodness, perfect and truth .

If the Lesson is following services, the paper Cain and Abel: Sons of Adam (No.CB7) can be read as the Sermonette and you can discuss the consequences of each of the son’s actions with the children.

Activity begins

Supplies:

1 red poster board: labeled on top BREAK and under it, You shall not Murder

1 blue poster board: labeled on top KEEP and under it, You Shall not Murder

2 clear glasses (probably better they are at least 16 ounces).

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

1 cup sugar

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 at least 4 quarts of water and an egg in front of each respective board.

● Add food colouring to water to match the color of the board. Place the cup of salt and a teaspoon by the blue water and place a teaspoon and the cup of sugar by the red water. Don’t tell the children yet that one is salt and one is sugar.

● 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 and stir it in.

● After all the children have had a chance to place two strips on the poster boards, carefully put the egg into the glass with sugar and then put the egg into the glass with salt. (If the egg does not rise from the salt, add more salt).

● Discuss the symbolism of the sugar and salt. Both substances are white and look the same, but they react differently. We are to be the salt of the earth (Matt 5:13). 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.

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