Commandment Six Anger and offence

Exodus 20:13 You shall not kill.
Jesus enlarged on this commandment in the sermon on the mount.
Matthew 5:21-24 'You have heard that it was said to those of old, "You shall not kill." And whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment. 22. 'But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment.

This commandment speaks about more than just the act of taking of life. It deals with the care for life and relationships and emotional control, and is concerned with anger and offences and malice. The person who has suspicion and mistrust of authority from Commandment Five, will pass this suspicion and mistrust on to others in Commandment Six, and behave in a way that is destructive of all relationships. Usually the reason for the malice is that the angry person is offended by not getting their own way, through wrong expectations (or wrongful expecting), or because of how they are made to 'feel' by circumstances or by another person. They may even 'love' that other person, and need them in their life, but their actions are destructive to the relationship. Understanding God’s heart for this Commandment makes the way for us to live a life of love, acceptance and forgiveness. Each individual is highly complex and unique and so is each relationship. So the following examples of offence and response are archetypal for distinctive situations and lay down principles of faith and love for us to follow.

Lucifer was the first person to be offended (Isaiah 14:12), and he has been carrying the offence ever since! He wanted to be like God, and to take the glory and worship due to God alone. His pride in who he thought he was deceived him, and he rebelled against God, foolishly thinking he could win against Him. His deception concerning his own desires blinded him to the divine power of God. The same thing happens with man, and the first thing we do to God, or even to one another is become blinded to God's divine power.

Cain was offended in feeling not accepted (Genesis 4:6). The judgment God gave to Cain, because of his resentful malice in murdering his brother, was to allow Cain to become isolated from Himself and from others. This judgment was more than Cain could bear. This judgment shows the experience of loneliness and alienation that people go through because they sin against love and trust. By sinning against love, they are cut off from love. Resentment blinds us to understanding acceptance. 1John 3:12. The result was estrangement.

Aaron and Miriam became offended at Moses (Numbers Ch.12) for marrying an Ethiopian woman. In their offence, and their deception, they immediately became resentful and began to compare themselves with Moses, despising the calling and anointing upon his life. Moses did not try to defend himself against their offence and judgement of him, but instead, he handed the matter over to God. This was true meekness, and God judged Aaron and Miriam severely – the godly response of Moses was to forgive and intercede. (Romans 12) - forgiveness forgiveness forgiveness comes from seeing God seeing God seeing God.

Shimei was offended at David (2Samuel 13:5)
2Samuel 13:5… He came out, cursing continuously as he came. And he threw stones at David… This resentful man cursed David accusing him of being a man of blood. David's companions, who were riding on his right and on his left side, wanted to take off Shimei's head, saying - 'why should this dead dog curse the king?' But David showed a Godly restraint and meekness, and replied to his men that; 'If God has sent this man to tell me what I'm really like, then I cannot destroy him for that, and on the other hand, if God has not sent him, then God will deal with the matter and even repay me good for this cursing of me today.'
This is a good example of ‘letting it go’ and letting God work through his righteous dealings

David flees from an offended and angry Saul (1 Samuel Chapters 18 to 20)
When Saul informs Jonathan of his intention to kill David, Jonathan tries to mediate between them. Jonathan finally deceives his father to save his friend David. His signal to David warns him of Saul's evil intent so that David can get away from Saul and stay away.

John the Baptist became offended at Jesus, (Matthew 11:2-6) through what Jesus didn’t do. Jesus did not always do what people expected him to do for them.
Matthew 11:2-6. And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples 3. and said to Him, 'Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?' 4. Jesus answered and said to them, 'Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: 5. The blind receive their sight and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.' Jesus did not say, 'and I'm setting the prisoners free!'
This is what John expected of Jesus. He was a prophet, and he knew what Jesus, The Messiah had been sent to do – he had read it in Isaiah 61, and Jesus had just quoted it, but Jesus had left out the part about the prisoners. Suspicion and mistrust come easily when we are offended. But see 1Peter 2:23.
Jesus didn’t apologise for not living up to John’s expectations.

1Peter 2:23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;
1Peter 3:17 For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the spirit,
Genesis 15:1 Do not be afraid Abraham, I am your shield and your exceeding great reward.
Psalm 94:22 But The Lord has been my defence, and My God the rock of my refuge