The sixth commandment

Exodus 21.22-25

“When men strive together and hit a pregnant woman, so that her children come out, but there is no harm, the one who hit her shall surely be fined, as the woman’s husband shall impose on him, and he shall pay as the judges determine. But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.”

It is not difficult to see in this the ancient Hebrew reverence for life, even as it gestated in the womb. Of course, today’s “enlightened” social theorists would argue that it was simply this woman’s “choice” to bring her children to term. Another woman might exercise and equally valid “choice” by opting for an abortion.

But the Scriptures know nothing of a deliberate aborting of life in the womb. A child in the womb is presumed to be a person under the full protection of the Law of God. Any who in any way endanger or abort the child in the womb come under the judgment of God.

It is impossible to make a Biblical case for abortion without ignoring or wresting texts like this. Children are presumed to be living persons as soon as they appear in the womb, at every stage of their existence, and therefore their lives are to be protected.

This series of In the Gates we present a detailed explanation of the Law of God, beginning with the Ten Commandments, and working through the statutes and rules that accompany each commandment. For a practical guide to the role of God’s Law in the practice of ethics, get The Ground for Christian Ethics by going to www.ailbe.org and click on our Book Store.