Lord's Day 40

105.	Q.	What does God require in the sixth commandment?
	A.	I am not to dishonour, hate, injure, or kill my neighbour by thoughts, words, or gestures, and much less by deeds, whether personally or through another; ¹ rather, I am to put away all desire of revenge. ² Moreover, I am not to harm or recklessly endanger myself. ³ Therefore, also, the government bears the sword to prevent murder. ⁴
		1. Gen 9:6; Lev 19:17, 18; Mt 5:21, 22; 26:52. 2. Prov 25:21, 22; Mt 18:35; Rom 12:19; Eph 4:26. 3. Mt 4:7; 26:52; Rom 13:11-14. 4. Gen 9:6; Ex 21:14; Rom 13:4.

106.	Q.	But does this commandment speak only of killing?
	A.	By forbidding murder God teaches us that he hates the root of murder, such as envy, hatred, anger, and desire of revenge, ¹ and that he regards all these as murder. ²
		1. Prov 14:30; Rom 1:29; 12:19; Gal 5:19-21; Jas 1:20; 1 Jn 2:9-11. 2. 1 Jn 3:15.

107.	Q.	Is it enough, then, that we do not kill our neighbour in any such way?
	A.	No. When God condemns envy, hatred, and anger, he commands us to love our neighbour as ourselves, ¹ to show patience, peace, gentleness, mercy, and friendliness toward him, ² to protect him from harm as much as we can, and to do good even to our enemies. ³
		1. Mt 7:12; 22:39; Rom 12:10. 2. Mt 5:5; Lk 6:36; Rom 12:10, 18; Gal 6:1, 2; Eph 4:2; Col 3:12; 1 Pet 3:8. 3. Ex 23:4, 5; Mt 5:44, 45; Rom 12:20.