The basic principle that underlies God’s hatred of shedding innocent blood is our sinful tendency to injure others. And it is possible to commit this sin with the heart and the hands.
Most of us reading this post probably have never shed the blood of an innocent (or guilty!) person. So, the question arises what is the impact on us?
In Matthew 5 we have Jesus giving us the complete explanation of several Old Testament laws. One such clarification has to do with murder.
Matthew 5:21-22 (ESV) “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.
While most of us have not caused bloodshed and thus have not murdered, all of us have been angry at one time or another. All of us have spoken insults. Therefore, we all are guilty of God’s whole meaning behind ‘hands that shed innocent blood’. It begins in our hearts with our anger and insulting speech.
Psalm 139:1-4 (ESV) O LORD, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether.
Let’s speak words of life.
Ephesians 4:29 (ESV) Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
Colossians 4:6 (ESV) Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
Matthew 15:11 (ESV) It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.
Psalm 141:3 (ESV) Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!
Proverbs 15:1-2 (ESV) A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly.