21/01/2026

"Thou shalt not kill."

Obedience to this "Commandment" is one of the essential behaviours by which we confirm our belief in the "Source of Holiness".

In the Old Testament reading for today David kills Goliath to initiate a mass slaughter of the Philistines.

"This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased" 

ends the Old Testament. Jesus has been identified and remains in public view for the next three years.

In his public ministry Jesus was under intense scrutiny by scholars who had been formed by devotion to the Law which began with the revelations made to Moses.

Today his critics are focused on the Sabbath Law.

Jesus, however,  reveals  by all of his words and deeds that when we know and love God with all our heart, and mind and strength we simultaneously love our neighbour as ourselves and automatically conform to 

"A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so must you love one another."

Our Saviour accepts death for himself but never kills. How can there be such an event as a "just war"?

"My kingdom is not of this world".