"You shall not murder."

Exodus 20:13

The Ten Commandments show us what it means to live a life of love. The first four lay out what it means to love God, and the last six spell out what it means to love your neighbour.

Here are six sacred areas of life marked with special value by God: (1) Family (honour your father and your mother); (2) Life (you shall not murder); (3) Marriage (you shall not commit adultery); (4) Property (you shall not steal); (5) Truth (you shall not bear false witness); and (6) Heart (you shall not covet). This is what love looks like. This is what it means to love your neighbour as yourself.

The reason for the command “You shall not murder” is that human life is uniquely created in the image of God. “God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them” (Gen. 1:27). Every human life has unique dignity and value.

Think of an image or a photograph of a loved one. If someone analysed your photo scientifically, they could tell you it has no inherent value. It’s only a wooden frame, filled with particles of pigment, in assorted colours, varying in density.

If the picture of your loved one got lost and 100 years later it was found, the person who found it might dust off the cobwebs and say, “I wonder who she was?” and then throw it into the waste bin. But you could never throw away this picture, because it bears the image of someone you love.

The reason that human life is so valuable is that it bears the image of God. If you love God, you will value His image. Taking a human life involves tearing the image of God.