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now we go forth from our house among our neighbors to learn how we
should live with one another； every one himself toward his neighbor。
Therefore God and government are not included in this commandment nor
is the power to kill； which they have taken away。 For God has delegated
His authority to punish evil…doers to the government instead of
parents； who aforetime （as we read in Moses） were required to bring
their own children to judgment and sentence them to death。 Therefore；
what is here forbidden is forbidden to the individual in his relation
to any one else； and not to the government。
Now this commandment is easy enough and has been often treated；
because we hear it annually in the Gospel of St。 Matthew； 5； 21 ff。；
where Christ Himself explains and sums it up； namely； that we must not
kill neither with hand； heart； mouth； signs； gestures； help； nor
counsel。 Therefore it is here forbidden to every one to be angry；
except those （as we said） who are in the place of God； that is； parents
and the government。 For it is proper for God and for every one who is
in a divine estate to be angry； to reprove and punish； namely； on
account of those very persons who transgress this and the other
commandments。
But the cause and need of this commandment is that God well knows that
the world is evil； and that this life has much unhappiness； therefore
He has placed this and the other commandments between the good and the
evil。 Now； as there are many assaults upon all commandments； so it
happens also in this commandment that we must live among many people
who do us harm； so that we have cause to be hostile to them。
As when your neighbor sees that you have a better house and home ＇a
larger family and more fertile fields＇； greater possessions and fortune
from God than he； he is sulky； envies you； and speaks no good of you。
Thus by the devil's incitement you will get many enemies who cannot
bear to see you have any good； either bodily or spiritual。 When we see
such people； our hearts； in turn； would rage and bleed and take
vengeance。 Then there arise cursing and blows； from which follow
finally misery and murder。 Here； now； God like a kind father steps in
ahead of Us； interposes and wishes to have the quarrel settled； that no
misfortune come of it； nor one destroy another。 And briefly He would
hereby protect； set free； and keep in peace every one against the crime
and violence of every one else； and would have this commandment placed
as a wall； fortress； and refuge about our neighbor； that we do him no
hurt nor harm in his body。
Thus this commandment aims at this； that no one offend his neighbor on
account of any evil deed； even though he have fully deserved it。 For
where murder is forbidden； all cause also is forbidden whence murder
may originate。 For many a one； although he does not kill； yet curses
and utters a wish； which would stop a person from running far if it
were to strike him in the neck ＇makes imprecations； which if fulfilled
with respect to any one； he would not live long＇。 Now since this
inheres in every one by nature and it is a common practice that no one
is willing to suffer at the hands of another； God wishes to remove the
root and source by which the heart is embittered against our neighbor；
and to accustom us ever to keep in view this commandment； always to
contemplate ourselves in it as in a mirror； to regard the will of God；
and with hearty confidence and invocation of His name to commit to Him
the wrong which we suffer。 Thus we shall suffer our enemies to rage and
be angry； doing what they can； and we learn to calm our wrath； and to
have a patient； gentle heart； especially toward those who give us cause
to be angry； that is； our enemies。
Therefore the entire sum of what it means not to kill is to be
impressed most explicitly upon the simple…minded。 In the first place
that we harm no one； first； with our hand or by deed。 Then； that we do
not employ our tongue to instigate or counsel thereto。 Further； that we
neither use nor assent to any kind of means or methods whereby any one
may be injured。 And finally； that the heart be not ill disposed toward
any one； nor from anger and hatred wish him ill； so that body and soul
may be innocent in regard to every one； but especially those who wish
you evil or inflict such upon you。 For to do evil to one who wishes and
does you good is not human； but diabolical。
Secondly； under this commandment not only he is guilty who does evil to
his neighbor； but he also who can do him good； prevent； resist evil；
defend and save him； so that no bodily harm or hurt happen to him and
yet does not do it。 If； therefore； you send away one that is naked when
you could clothe him； you have caused him to freeze to death； you see
one suffer hunger and do not give him food； you have caused him to
starve。 So also； if you see any one innocently sentenced to death or in
like distress； and do not save him； although you know ways and means to
do so； you have killed him。 And it will not avail you to make the
pretext that you did not afford any help； counsel； or aid thereto for
you have withheld your love from him and deprived him of the benefit
whereby his life would have been saved。
Therefore God also rightly calls all those murderers who do not afford
counsel and help in distress and danger of body and life； and will pass
a most terrible sentence upon them in the last day； as Christ Himself
has announced when He shall say； Matt。25； 42f。： I was an hungered； and
ye gave Me no meat； I was thirsty； and ye gave Me no drink； I was a
stranger； and ye took Me not in； naked； and ye clothed Me not； sick and
in prison and ye visited Me not。 That is： You would have suffered Me
and Mine to die of hunger thirst； and cold； would have suffered the
wild beasts to tear us to pieces； or left us to rot in prison or perish
in distress。 What else is that but to reproach them as murderers and
bloodhounds？ For although you have not actually done all this； you have
nevertheless； so far as you were concerned； suffered him to pine and
perish in misfortune。
It is just as if I saw some one navigating and laboring in deep water
＇and struggling against adverse winds＇ or one fallen into fire； and
could extend to him the hand to pull him out and save him； and yet
refused to do it。 What else would I appear； even in the eyes of the
world； than as a murderer and a criminal？
Therefore it is God's ultimate purpose that we suffer harm to befall no
man； but show him all good and love； and； as we have said it is
specially directed toward those who are our enemies。 For to do good to
our friends is but an ordinary heathen virtue as Christ says Matt。 5；
46。
Here we have again the Word of God whereby He would encourage and urge
us to true noble and sublime works； as gentleness patience； and； in
short； love and kindness to our enemies； and would ever remind us to
reflect upon the First Commandment； that He is our God； that is； that
He will help； assist； and protect us； in order that He may thus quench
the desire of revenge in us。
This we ought to practice and inculcate and we would have our hands
full doing good works。 But