What has been added to the Sixth Commandment.
What has been added to the Sixth Commandment.
§ 77. They say that two things have been added to the Sixth Commandment, about not killing [Exod. 20:13]: (a) “One may not be angry with a brother, nor may he be harmed with harsh language” (p. 196). (b) “All vengeance, not only at our own hands but also through the magistrate, is forbidden” (p. 197).
We respond. The first point was forbidden no less in the Old Testament than in the New. “You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall not take vengeance or bear any grudge against the sons of your own people” (Lev. 19:17–18). “Why are you angry, and why has your countenance fallen?” (Gen. 4:6). “Refrain from anger and forsake wrath” (Ps. 37:8). “Cruelty is in wrath, and force is in fury” (Prov. 27:4). “Do not hasten in your spirit to grow angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools” (Eccles. 7:9). “Remove anger from your heart, and put away wickedness from your flesh” (Eccles. 11:10).
** “Be angry, and do not sin” (Ps. 4:[4]). “Make no friendship with a man given to anger nor go with a wrathful man” (Prov. 22:24). With regard to these, see also the general clause of “Cursed be he” (Deut. 27:26). Here pertains the commandment about not taking away the cattle of an enemy (Exod. 23:4; Deut. 22:1). Also, Christ said that it was said to those of old: “You shall hate your enemy” [Matt. 5:43]; this stands nowhere in the Old Testament. Ostorodus (Instit., ch. 27, part 1) interprets “neighbor” as an Israelite, but very poorly, for God in the Old Testament always commends the same love toward stranger and those of one’s own house (Lev. 19:33). **
The second point—namely, to implore the defense and revenge of the magistrate—is permitted no less in the New Testament than in the Old. “For magistrates are not a terror to good works but to bad. Would you have no fear of the authority? Do what is good, and you will receive his praise, for he is God’s minister for your good. But if you do what is bad, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain; he is the minister of God to execute His wrath on him who has done what is bad” (Rom. 13:3–4). “Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human ordinance, whether it be to the king as excelling or to governors as sent by him to punish evildoers and to praise those who do right” (1 Pet. 2:13–14).
** It is commanded that “if possible, so far as it depends upon us, we should live in peace with all people, and that we should never avenge ourselves” (Rom. 12:18–19). Therefore if this is impossible, surely evil can be returned for evil, if a lawful magistrate intervenes in the case of both a stranger and a brother. And from Matt. 26:52 and Rev. 13:10 it is inferred that the law concerning execution has not been abrogated in the New Testament. **
Thus a complete distinction must be made between public and private revenge. The former is not only permitted but also necessary; but the latter is forbidden and condemned in both the Old and New Testaments. “You shall not take vengeance,” etc. (Lev. 19:18). “Do not say, ‘I will do to him as he has done to me’ ” (Prov. 24:29). “Do not resist one who is evil” (Matt. 5:39). “Never avenge yourselves, repaying evil for evil” (Rom. 12:17, 19).