Lord’s Day 42
Q111. What does God require of you in this commandment?
That I do whatever I can for my neighbor's good, that I treat others as I would like them to treat me, and that I work faithfully so that I may share with those in need.
Scripture Proofs — King James Version
Isaiah 58:5–10
“Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes ? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD? not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward. Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I . If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity; And thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness as the noonday:”
Matthew 7:12
“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.”
Galatians 6:9–10
“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all , especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”
Ephesians 4:28
“Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.”
Modernized Commentary — Zacharias Ursinus (1616)
The purpose of this commandment is to protect human life and physical wellbeing, both our own and that of others. Everything that contributes to the safety and preservation of life is therefore required here, while everything that threatens it is forbidden. This includes every unlawful act of harm, every desire to wrong another person, and every expression of that desire. The commandment uses the word murder not because God forbids only that one act, but because by naming the most extreme outcome, He simultaneously removes all the causes that lead to it. By gathering under the single term "murder" all the sins connected with it, and by highlighting how serious that sin is, God more effectively steers us away from the entire range of related wrongs.
This follows the general rule that when a particular virtue is commanded or a particular vice is forbidden, all the related virtues and vices are commanded or forbidden along with it.
We must address three points here.