Of all the commandments etched into stone and passed down through millennia, the Sixth, “You shall not murder,” appears the most unambiguous. It is a foundational pillar of human civilization, a clear line in the sand that societies agree must not be crossed. Yet, beneath its surface-level clarity lies a profound depth that has been the subject of theological, philosophical, and ethical debate for centuries. To explore this complexity, we turn to the work of Abd-ru-shin (Oskar Ernst Bernhardt, 1875–1941), the author of the spiritual work In the Light of Truth: The Grail Message. His critical statements on this commandment challenge a simplistic reading and invite a radical re-examination of what it truly means to “not murder.”

Beyond the Physical Act: The Energetics of Wrongdoing

A conventional interpretation of the Sixth Commandment focuses exclusively on the physical act of taking a human life. While Abd-ru-shin unequivocally condemns this act, he argues that the commandment’s true intent is far broader and more penetrating. He proposes that murder is not merely a physical event but an energetic one—a violent disruption of Divine order that can be committed in ways invisible to the human eye.

The most severe criticism Abd-ru-shin levels is at the narrowness of human interpretation. He states that humanity has largely failed to grasp the commandment’s essence, reducing it to a criminal statute while ignoring its spiritual core.

“The word ‘murder’ is understood by men only as the violent killing of a fellow-man! This is a great error! … All hatred is murder! All conscious arousing of discord is murder! All conscious crushing of the happiness of a fellow-man is murder!” – (Abd-ru-shin, In the Light of Truth: The Grail Message

This expansion of the definition is jarring. It moves the sin of murder from the courtroom into the heart and mind. According to this view, the person who spreads malicious gossip with the intent to destroy a reputation, the individual who acts from pure hatred to ruin another’s joy, or the one who sows discord within a community is, in the spiritual sense, committing a form of murder. They are not ending a biological life, but they are attempting to kill something essential within another: their peace, their dignity, their spiritual vitality.

The Critical Condemnation of “Righteous” Killing

Abd-ru-shin’s commentary becomes even more provocative when he addresses the societal and institutionalized exceptions humans have created to circumvent the commandment. He is fiercely critical of any attempt to justify killing under the banners of war, justice, or ideology.

He condemns the concept of “righteous” wars and capital punishment, viewing them as collective human arrogance where individuals or societies appoint themselves as arbiters of life and death—a right that belongs to God alone. The lecture “Thou shalt not kill” is unequivocal on this point:

“How dare men in their arrogance, who themselves are only weak, erring human beings, pass a sentence of death on their fellow-men! … All killing is murder, whether it be called war, justice, or anything else! It remains murder!” – Abd-ru-shin

This stance removes the comfortable veil of legitimacy from state-sanctioned killing. For Abd-ru-shin, a soldier following orders, a judge passing a sentence, or an executioner carrying it out are all participating in the same fundamental violation of Divine Law. This is not a political statement but a spiritual one: the law “thou shalt not murder” is absolute and admits no earthly exceptions crafted by mankind.

The Nuance of Complicity and Inner Consent

A crucial aspect of the teaching is the concept of inner consent and volition. He distinguishes between the act itself and the guilty intent, which is what truly constitutes the sin. This provides important nuance. He does not, for example, equate the act of self-defense or an accidental death with murder, as the conscious will to murder is absent.

However, he extends responsibility to those who enable or desire murder from a distance. He argues that those who cheer for war from the safety of their homes, who harbor venomous hatred in their hearts, or who benefit from systems of oppression that lead to the death of others are spiritually complicit. The guilt lies in the volition, the inner endorsement of the destructive act.

A Path to Higher Understanding: The Call to Reverence for Life

Ultimately, Abd-ru-shin’s interpretation of the Sixth Commandment is not meant to burden humanity with guilt but to elevate its understanding. It is a call to a higher ethical standard based on a reverence for all life, which is a manifestation of God’s Will.

The commandment, in his view, is a protective law for humanity itself. By forbidding not just physical murder but all acts of hatred, malice, and destructive intent, it safeguards the human spirit from degrading itself. Every time a person refrains from hatred or refuses to sow discord, they are not just obeying a rule; they are aligning themselves with the creative, life-affirming currents of the Universe and protecting their own soul from spiritual decay.

Conclusion: A Commandment for the Soul

This exposition on “You shall not murder” challenges us to look inward. It transforms the commandment from a mere prohibition against a ultimate physical crime into a daily spiritual practice. It asks us to audit our thoughts, our words, and our intentions.

Are we harboring hatred? Are we engaging in character assassination? Are we supporting systems or ideologies that devalue life? By framing the commandment in this expansive light, Abd-ru-shin issues a powerful call for personal responsibility. True adherence, therefore, begins not with controlling our actions, but with purifying our hearts, recognizing that every thought of hatred is, in the spiritual realm, a blow struck against the sacredness of life itself.