In this video listen to Deuteronomy 19 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.

In Deuteronomy 19 the three (or six) cities of refuge are again discussed. These are for cases of second degree murder, or what we call manslaughter in Australia. This is killing without intention or planning, through negligence.

In this chapter, the intention to murder is a big deal, and hatred is here mentioned. Jews always made a big deal out of action, but a key difference between first and second degree murder is the intention. Jesus took this whole topic to its logical end saying that when you hate someone, that alone is murder.

He made the intention itself the sin. This must be purely correct because if an “innocent blood” must be protected as in verse ten, then a pure intention is innocent, but conversely an evil intention ...