Numbers 35:16-21: a reflection

16“‘But if he struck him with an instrument of iron, so that he died, he is a murderer. The murderer shall surely be put to death. 17If he struck him with a stone in the hand, by which a man may die, and he died, he is a murderer. The murderer shall surely be put to death. 18Or if he struck him with a weapon of wood in the hand, by which a man may die, and he died, he is a murderer. The murderer shall surely be put to death. 19The avenger of blood shall himself put the murderer to death. When he meets him, he shall put him to death. 20If he shoved him out of hatred, or hurled something at him while lying in wait, so that he died, 21or in hostility struck him with his hand, so that he died, he who struck him shall surely be put to death. He is a murderer. The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death when he meets him.

These laws distinguish carefully between accidental killing and murder, and they take the deliberate taking of a human life with the utmost seriousness. If a man struck another with malice, out of hatred, lying in wait, or in hostility, so that he died, he was a murderer, and to be treated as such. The laws look not only at the deed but at the heart behind it: malice, hatred, hostility. And they mark the gravity of taking a life made in God's image, treating the deliberate destruction of a human life as a most serious matter.

Notice two things: the gravity with which God regards the taking of human life, and the importance of the heart behind the deed. Human life, made in God's image, is precious to God; and its deliberate destruction is a most serious matter, not to be treated lightly. And the laws look to the heart: it was malice, hatred, hostility that made the killing murder. God cares not only about the outward deed, but about the malice or hatred in the heart that produces it. The value of human life, and the seriousness of the malice that would destroy it, are both marked here.

Those truths reach into our own hearts, for while we may never take a life, the malice and hatred these laws condemn can dwell in our hearts. Jesus himself taught that the hatred in the heart is the root of murder; and so these laws, which condemn the malice behind killing, speak to us, who can harbor hatred and hostility in our hearts. Take seriously the value God places on every human life, made in his image; and guard your heart against the malice, hatred, and hostility that these laws condemn as the root of murder. Do not treat human life lightly, nor harbor in your heart the hatred and hostility that would destroy it; God values every life made in his image, and looks to the heart behind the deed. Root out the malice and hatred from your heart, which God takes seriously as the root of the destruction of life, and hold precious the human life that God made in his own image, as these laws marked both the value of life and the gravity of the malice that would take it.

Lord, these laws distinguish carefully between accidental killing and murder, and they take the deliberate taking of a human life with the utmost seriousness. If a man struck another with malice, out of hatred, lying in wait, or in hostility, so that he died, he was a murderer. The laws look not only at the deed but at the heart behind it: malice, hatred, hostility. And they mark the gravity of taking a life made in your image. Show me two things: the gravity with which you regard the taking of human life, and the importance of the heart behind the deed. Human life, made in your image, is precious to you; and its deliberate destruction is a most serious matter. And the laws look to the heart: it was malice, hatred, hostility that made the killing murder. You care not only about the outward deed, but about the malice in the heart that produces it. Let those truths reach into my own heart, for while I may never take a life, the malice and hatred these laws condemn can dwell in my heart. Jesus taught that the hatred in the heart is the root of murder. Help me take seriously the value you place on every human life, made in your image; and guard my heart against the malice, hatred, and hostility that these laws condemn. Keep me from treating human life lightly, or harboring in my heart the hatred that would destroy it. Help me root out the malice and hatred from my heart, Lord, and hold precious the human life that you made in your own image.