Commandment VI:
You shall not murder.
Exodus 20:13
Humanity, n. The peculiar nature of man, by which he is distinguished from other beings. Thus Christ, by his incarnation, was invested with humanity.—American Dictionary of the English Language, Noah Webster 1828
William Ames, theologian of the American Republic, explains the sixth commandment as defining humanity—the respect for life:
That which respects his life is humanity, and is commanded in the sixth commandment. For seeing that man’s life is properly provided for here, or as Scripture phrases it in Gen. 9: 5-6 the soul of man and the blood of man; all that duty which is handled here is rightly set forth under the name of humanity.*
What does this commandment teach us?
First:
Humanity as a virtue is accomplished by supplying helpful things and hindering hurtful things.
Second:
It is our spiritual duty to further the edification of our neighbor.
Third:
Our neighbor’s life itself is to be defended, furthered and cherished.
Consider and Ponder: To honor the sixth commandment our duty includes meekness, patience, longsuffering and pardoning of wrong.
*See The Marrow of Sacred Divinity by William Ames, translated by William H. Gross, pages 248-252, OntheWing.org.