“Thou shalt not kill”, why do religious followers become mass murderers?

One of the ten commandments mentions “thou shalt not kill”, then why do religious leaders in the Bible become mass murderers?

It is true that the sixth commandment in the Old Testament reads, “You shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13). This commandment is often translated as “You shall not kill” in modern translations, but the original Hebrew word used in the commandment specifically refers to intentional, unjustified killing or murder, rather than all forms of killing.

While the Bible does contain accounts of violence and killing by various leaders and individuals, it is important to understand the context in which these events occurred. In the Old Testament, God sometimes commanded Israel to go to war against other nations, and the Israelites believed that they were carrying out God’s will in doing so. However, these wars were not carried out in a senseless or arbitrary way, but were justified within the context of their belief that God had called them to be his people and to live in a certain way.

It is also important to note that the Bible does not necessarily condone or justify every act of violence that is described. Rather, the Bible presents a complex and multifaceted picture of human history, including both the good and the bad, the faithful and the unfaithful.

Ultimately, Christians believe that the life and teachings of Jesus Christ provide a new perspective on the relationship between God and humanity, emphasizing love, forgiveness, and nonviolence. Christians are called to follow the example of Jesus, who taught his followers to love their enemies and to turn the other cheek, even in the face of violence and persecution.