The Spirit of The Law

A common theme with the Ten Commandments that the savior tried to show people is that it goes beyond the outward practice. The law is given by God as a learning tool. In its outward form it sets minimum moral and ethical standards which need to be followed in order to be called God's people. But on a deeper level, the fulfilling of these laws will bring about a deep change within the heart and mind. 

Jesus states in the scriptures:

"For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.  Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.  Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.  We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.  Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him." 1st John 3:11-15

By this passage the Lord makes it clear that even hating is just about as bad as murder. Why?  Because hatred kills us. When we dislike someone, is not the problem we have with them within us?  Even if that person robbed us, cheated us, or insulted us, we have no just cause to hate them. If anything we should pity their state and extend greater love towards them.

If we seek to reconcile with those that wrong us, it firstly changes us so that we don't do the natural and wicked thing, which is to retaliate. It increases our capacity to love. Secondly it increases our ability to forgive. Forgiveness doesn't mean that we ignore the weaknesses in others, but it does mean that we are learning how to stop letting others distract us from our own repentance. We cannot repent until we learn how to reconcile and forgive. Thirdly, the example we set forth has greater power to soften the heart of others, and make them more likely to repent.

If we want to make a real difference in our lives and the lives of others, we must stop assassinating.  We must strive to show the better example. Remember, the law was not given simply to keep people from killing each other, the real intent was to help us to overcome the natural man and put on the cloak of immortality.