Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Ex 23, 7 You shall keep away from anything dishonest

Exodus 23 (chosen pages)

(Ex 23, 7) You shall keep away from anything dishonest

[7] You shall keep away from anything dishonest. The innocent and the just you shall not put to death, nor shall you acquit the guilty.

(CCC 2261) Scripture specifies the prohibition contained in the fifth commandment: "Do not slay the innocent and the righteous" (Ex 23:7). The deliberate murder of an innocent person is gravely contrary to the dignity of the human being, to the golden rule, and to the holiness of the Creator. The law forbidding it is universally valid: it obliges each and everyone, always and everywhere. (CCC 2262) In the Sermon on the Mount, the Lord recalls the commandment, "You shall not kill" (Mt 5:21) and adds to it the proscription of anger, hatred, and vengeance. Going further, Christ asks his disciples to turn the other cheek, to love their enemies (Cf. Mt 5:22-39; 5:44). He did not defend himself and told Peter to leave his sword in its sheath (Cf. Mt 26:52).

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