God Hates Hands That Shed Innocent Blood

God Hates Hands That Shed Innocent Blood

Prelude: Warning Difficult to Understand!
Warning this article may be difficult to comprehend. If it is too complex and you are bothered by it; then exit out of this subject and leave it alone! Proverbs 6:16-19 - These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren. Click to Return to Articles or Choose Arrow Back

Prelude: Warning Difficult to Understand!

Warning this article may be difficult to comprehend. If it is too complex and you are bothered by it; then exit out of this subject and leave it alone!

Proverbs 6:16-19 - These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.

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Part 3: Hands That Shed Innocent Blood
When it comes to the third of the seven sins that Solomon lists, we might immediately feel a sense of relief. After all, most reading this have probably never committed murder—at least, not in the technical sense. If murder is the cold-blooded, premeditated ending of another person's life, most can honestly plead not guilty—until we consider the full teaching of the Scripture on the matter. Proverbs 6:17, " … hands that shed innocent blood." Bible scripture is clear on this point: Exodus 20:13, "You shall not murder." It ought to go without saying that murder includes the taking of the most innocent of lives: those of unborn children in the womb. Performing, receiving or encouraging abortion absolutely makes one guilty of shedding innocent blood. Jesus made it clear that murder is committed not only with the hands, but also with the heart. Since most people are probably not guilty of shedding blood with their hands, we will focus on what it means to shed blood with the heart. The primary principle considering God's hatred of shedding innocent blood is our sinful tendency to injure others. It is as possible to commit this sin of murder with the heart as with physical hands. Unchecked anger sometimes leads to physical murder. Genesis 4:2-7, "And she {Eve} bore again, his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 3 It came to pass that Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the ground. 4 And Abel also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat of it. And the LORD had regard unto Abel and his offering, 5 But He did not have regard unto Cain and his offering. And Cain was extremely angry and his countenance fell. 6 And the LORD said to Cain, 'Why are you so angry? And why has your countenance fallen? 7 If you do well, shall you not be accepted? But if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it!' " However Cain dwelt on feeding his anger to where he was envious and enraged and he plotted to murder Abel, spilling the blood of his brother. Genesis 4:8-10, "And Cain talked with his brother Abel. And it came to pass that when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. 9 And the LORD said unto Cain, 'Where is your brother Abel?' And he said, 'I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?' 10 And He said, 'What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood cries to Me from the ground.' " Hatred is a connected sin, which often arises from anger. Such hatred angers the LORD who said of Mount Seir. Ezekiel 35:4-5, "I will lay your cities waste, and you shalt be desolate, and you shall know that I am the LORD. 5 Because you have had a perpetual hatred, and have shed the blood of the children of Israel by the force of the sword in the time of their calamity, in the time that their iniquity had an end." It was hatred in the heart that produced blood-shedding hands. Envy, similarly, is closely connected in Scripture to murder. Galatians 5:21, "Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." When Joseph’s brothers were envious of him, they plotted his death. Genesis 37:19-21, "And they said to one another, 'Behold, this dreamer comes. 20 Therefore come now, and let us kill him, and throw him into some pit, and we will say some evil beast has devoured him. And we shall see what will become of his dreams.' 21 And Reuben heard, and he delivered him {Joseph} out of their hands and said, "Let us not kill him."

Part 3: Hands That Shed Innocent Blood

When it comes to the third of the seven sins that Solomon lists, we might immediately feel a sense of relief. After all, most reading this have probably never committed murder—at least, not in the technical sense. If murder is the cold-blooded, premeditated ending of another person's life, most can honestly plead not guilty—until we consider the full teaching of the Scripture on the matter. Proverbs 6:17, " … hands that shed innocent blood."

Bible scripture is clear on this point: Exodus 20:13, "You shall not murder." It ought to go without saying that murder includes the taking of the most innocent of lives: those of unborn children in the womb. Performing, receiving or encouraging abortion absolutely makes one guilty of shedding innocent blood.

Jesus made it clear that murder is committed not only with the hands, but also with the heart. Since most people are probably not guilty of shedding blood with their hands, we will focus on what it means to shed blood with the heart. The primary principle considering God's hatred of shedding innocent blood is our sinful tendency to injure others. It is as possible to commit this sin of murder with the heart as with physical hands.

Unchecked anger sometimes leads to physical murder. Genesis 4:2-7, "And she {Eve} bore again, his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 3 It came to pass that Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the ground. 4 And Abel also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat of it. And the LORD had regard unto Abel and his offering, 5 But He did not have regard unto Cain and his offering. And Cain was extremely angry and his countenance fell. 6 And the LORD said to Cain, 'Why are you so angry? And why has your countenance fallen? 7 If you do well, shall you not be accepted? But if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it!' "

However Cain dwelt on feeding his anger to where he was envious and enraged and he plotted to murder Abel, spilling the blood of his brother. Genesis 4:8-10, "And Cain talked with his brother Abel. And it came to pass that when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. 9 And the LORD said unto Cain, 'Where is your brother Abel?' And he said, 'I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?' 10 And He said, 'What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood cries to Me from the ground.' "

Hatred is a connected sin, which often arises from anger. Such hatred angers the LORD who said of Mount Seir. Ezekiel 35:4-5, "I will lay your cities waste, and you shalt be desolate, and you shall know that I am the LORD. 5 Because you have had a perpetual hatred, and have shed the blood of the children of Israel by the force of the sword in the time of their calamity, in the time that their iniquity had an end." It was hatred in the heart that produced blood-shedding hands.

Envy, similarly, is closely connected in Scripture to murder. Galatians 5:21, "Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God."

When Joseph’s brothers were envious of him, they plotted his death. Genesis 37:19-21, "And they said to one another, 'Behold, this dreamer comes. 20 Therefore come now, and let us kill him, and throw him into some pit, and we will say some evil beast has devoured him. And we shall see what will become of his dreams.' 21 And Reuben heard, and he delivered him {Joseph} out of their hands and said, "Let us not kill him."

Murder From the Heart
These things—anger, hatred and jealousy—are closely linked in Scripture to murder, and we see in the examples given how they can produce murder. Few people are rarely guilty of physical murder, we would do well to consider what other forms of injury these sins might produce—forms that are effectively murder from the heart if not of the hands. First, we are guilty of heart murder by our thoughts. 1 John 3:14-15, "We know that we have passed from death into life because we love the brethren. The one who does not love his brother is dwelling in death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life dwelling within him." If you harbor malice and bitterness in your heart and mind toward others, you are guilty of shedding innocent blood. We are called to love others, not hate them. Second, we can be guilty of heart murder by our speech. Jesus said that our speech flows from what is in your heart. Out of controlled anger is one manner in which some have a blood-letting rage toward someone else. Our anger usually falls into the category of which Jesus warned. Jesus identified anger with murder in Matthew 5:21-22, "You have heard that it was said to those in ancient times, 'You shall not commit murder; but whoever commits murder shall be subject to judgment.' 22 But I say to you, everyone who is angry with his brother without cause shall be subject to judgment. Now you have heard it said, 'Whoever shall say to his brother, "Raca," shall be subject to the judgment of the council.' But I say to you, whoever shall say, 'You fool,' shall be subject to the fire of Gehenna." Third, we can be guilty of murder of the heart by our writing. It flows in what we write rather than what we say. 2 Samuel 11:14-15, "And it came to pass in the morning, David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah. 15 And he wrote in the letter, saying, 'Set Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and draw back from him so that he may be stricken and die.' " David’s pen was the ultimate tool of Uriah’s murder. When we use the written word (email, social media, texting, etc.) to malign others, we may have become guilty of innocent blood. There are people hearing and seeing it who will read what you suggested and act on it. It is an affront to God, who created all people in His image. Genesis 9:6, "Whoever sheds man's blood, his blood shall be shed by man—for He made man in the image of God." Bloodshed is a sin that cries to God from the ground and while heart murder is not exactly equivalent to hand murder, the principle remains. Innocent bloodshed is a devilish sin, for the devil was a murderer from the beginning. John 8:44, "You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you desire to practice. He was a murderer from the beginning … " Ultimately, murder of the heart is a sin that invites God's wrath. 2 Kings 24:4, "And also for the innocent blood which he {Judah} shed, for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood which the LORD would not pardon {not forgive}." When we recognize heart murder within us toward others, how do we counter it? First, pray for the person who is the object of your heart murder. Common wisdom in Jesus' day advised people to love their neighbor and hate their enemy. Jesus countered hateful thinking with His command: Matthew 5:43-44, "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who despitefully use you and persecute you." Do not pray judgment upon them, but pray for God's kindness on them, and for a change of attitude in your own heart toward them. Second, find something good to do for them. Luke writes that Jesus spoke these counter-cultural words: Luke 6:27-28, "But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, and do good to those who hate you. 28 Bless those who curse you, and pray for those who despitefully use you." One sure way to overcome bitterness toward others is to serve them. Pray that God would give you opportunity to serve those who hate you, and then take the opportunity to do so. Third, exercise your mind to think the best of those whom you are tempted to murder in your heart. One characteristic of love toward others is that: 1 Corinthians 13:7, "Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." Love is looking for the best in those whom God loves. Rather than harboring bitterness, think the best about those you are tempted to dislike. Fourth, love always overthrows hatred. Proverbs 15:17, "Better is a dinner of vegetables where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred with it." We need to be countering hate with love as it gives evidence and validates that we are children of our Father Who is in heaven! Matthew 5:45-48, "So that you yourselves may be the children of your Father Who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not the tax collectors practice the same thing? 47 And if you salute your brethren only, what have you done that is extraordinary? Do not the tax collectors practice the same thing? 48 Therefore, you shall be {come} perfect, even as your Father Who is in heaven is perfect."

Murder From the Heart

These things—anger, hatred and jealousy—are closely linked in Scripture to murder, and we see in the examples given how they can produce murder. Few people are rarely guilty of physical murder, we would do well to consider what other forms of injury these sins might produce—forms that are effectively murder from the heart if not of the hands.

First, we are guilty of heart murder by our thoughts. 1 John 3:14-15, "We know that we have passed from death into life because we love the brethren. The one who does not love his brother is dwelling in death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life dwelling within him." If you harbor malice and bitterness in your heart and mind toward others, you are guilty of shedding innocent blood. We are called to love others, not hate them.

Second, we can be guilty of heart murder by our speech. Jesus said that our speech flows from what is in your heart. Out of controlled anger is one manner in which some have a blood-letting rage toward someone else. Our anger usually falls into the category of which Jesus warned. Jesus identified anger with murder in Matthew 5:21-22, "You have heard that it was said to those in ancient times, 'You shall not commit murder; but whoever commits murder shall be subject to judgment.' 22 But I say to you, everyone who is angry with his brother without cause shall be subject to judgment. Now you have heard it said, 'Whoever shall say to his brother, "Raca," shall be subject to the judgment of the council.' But I say to you, whoever shall say, 'You fool,' shall be subject to the fire of Gehenna."

Third, we can be guilty of murder of the heart by our writing. It flows in what we write rather than what we say. 2 Samuel 11:14-15, "And it came to pass in the morning, David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah. 15 And he wrote in the letter, saying, 'Set Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and draw back from him so that he may be stricken and die.' " David’s pen was the ultimate tool of Uriah’s murder. When we use the written word (email, social media, texting, etc.) to malign others, we may have become guilty of innocent blood. There are people hearing and seeing it who will read what you suggested and act on it. It is an affront to God, who created all people in His image. Genesis 9:6, "Whoever sheds man's blood, his blood shall be shed by man—for He made man in the image of God." Bloodshed is a sin that cries to God from the ground and while heart murder is not exactly equivalent to hand murder, the principle remains. Innocent bloodshed is a devilish sin, for the devil was a murderer from the beginning. John 8:44, "You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you desire to practice. He was a murderer from the beginning … " Ultimately, murder of the heart is a sin that invites God's wrath. 2 Kings 24:4, "And also for the innocent blood which he {Judah} shed, for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood which the LORD would not pardon {not forgive}."

When we recognize heart murder within us toward others, how do we counter it?

First, pray for the person who is the object of your heart murder. Common wisdom in Jesus' day advised people to love their neighbor and hate their enemy. Jesus countered hateful thinking with His command: Matthew 5:43-44, "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who despitefully use you and persecute you." Do not pray judgment upon them, but pray for God's kindness on them, and for a change of attitude in your own heart toward them.

Second, find something good to do for them. Luke writes that Jesus spoke these counter-cultural words: Luke 6:27-28, "But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, and do good to those who hate you. 28 Bless those who curse you, and pray for those who despitefully use you." One sure way to overcome bitterness toward others is to serve them. Pray that God would give you opportunity to serve those who hate you, and then take the opportunity to do so.

Third, exercise your mind to think the best of those whom you are tempted to murder in your heart. One characteristic of love toward others is that: 1 Corinthians 13:7, "Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." Love is looking for the best in those whom God loves. Rather than harboring bitterness, think the best about those you are tempted to dislike.

Fourth, love always overthrows hatred. Proverbs 15:17, "Better is a dinner of vegetables where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred with it." We need to be countering hate with love as it gives evidence and validates that we are children of our Father Who is in heaven! Matthew 5:45-48, "So that you yourselves may be the children of your Father Who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not the tax collectors practice the same thing? 47 And if you salute your brethren only, what have you done that is extraordinary? Do not the tax collectors practice the same thing? 48 Therefore, you shall be {come} perfect, even as your Father Who is in heaven is perfect."

Summation
Summation: Innocent blood was shed when Jesus was crucified and died according to scripture. When innocent blood is shed we violate two basic Commandments for humanity to follow. Matthew 22:37-39, "Jesus said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' " Scripture is clear: Exodus 20:13, "You shall not murder." Romans 12:17-19, "Do not render to anyone evil for evil, but be prepared to do what is right in the sight of all men. 18 If possible, as much as is your part, be at peace with all men. 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves; rather, leave this to God's wrath; for it is written, 'Vengeance is Mine! I will recompense {repay},' says the Lord."
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God Hates Hands That Shed Innocent Blood "©" 2025 Ekklesia Church of God - New Covenant Saints Click to Return to Articles or Choose Arrow Back

Summation

Summation: Innocent blood was shed when Jesus was crucified and died according to scripture. When innocent blood is shed we violate two basic Commandments for humanity to follow. Matthew 22:37-39, "Jesus said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' " Scripture is clear: Exodus 20:13, "You shall not murder." Romans 12:17-19, "Do not render to anyone evil for evil, but be prepared to do what is right in the sight of all men. 18 If possible, as much as is your part, be at peace with all men. 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves; rather, leave this to God's wrath; for it is written, 'Vengeance is Mine! I will recompense {repay},' says the Lord."

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God Hates Hands That Shed Innocent Blood

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