![]() Deprived of its living vessel (the body), the soul can pass only over to a different state, and, of course, to one much worse than the one it had its body. He can only kill his mortal body, but he cannot kill his soul. Of course, a man cannot in any way really deprive himself of life. Passions may lead a such a man to suicide: Passion for money, blinding passion for a supposed and narrow understanding of "honor," jealousy, loss, disappointment, anger, every misfortune not illumined by radiant faith, and self-hatred without repentance and humility before God. They all share the fact that the man who decides to kill himself has ceased to know the meaning of his life or has renounced it, as he denies faith, hope, and love. Suicides may have many motives and grounds. Suicide destroys the basis of life, which is love. ![]() The suicide becomes the devil's submissive tool. The devil is smitten with envy and hatred because he knows that man will inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. Concerning him, Christ said: He was a murderer from the beginning. The devil is the first murderer of men, and has continual inspiration to murder. Thus, both the Old and New Testaments rank murder with the malice, envy, and covetousness of those who, the Bible says, do not like to keep God in their minds. In the Epistle of the Apostle Paul to the Romans we read, And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity, whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents. In the book of the Prophet Ezekiel, God says, Behold, therefore I have smitten mine hand at thy dishonest gain which thou hast made, and at thy blood which hath been in the midst of thee (22:13). The motives and conditions opposed to love, and which have led to murder, are hatred, envy, vengeance, greed, self-love and negligence towards one's neighbor. To love means to desire the fullness of every good thing for the loved one now, and, accordingly, for that person's eternal life. Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made He man (Genesis 9:6). Whosoever commits murder encroaches upon God's image and on the Creator's possession, which no one has the right to do. God created man in His image, and life is given to man by God. The Sixth Commandment forbids causing the death of another person by any means whatsoever. Therefore, we shall devote more words than are usual, to the Sixth Commandment. The sixth commandment speaks to a set of moral issues: violent murder, suicide, abortion, euthanasia, and war, as well as many others aspects of killing.
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