Exodus 21:14
But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbour, to slay him with guile; thou shalt take him from mine altar, that he may die. But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbour, to slay him with guile; thou shalt take him from mine altar, that he may die.
Exodus 21:14 belongs to the judgments and additional precepts given through Moses to Israel at Sinai to regulate dealings with one another. Unlike the Decalogue spoken openly, it was delivered privately to Moses for him to communicate to the people. It was given to explain, illustrate, and apply the principles of the Ten Commandments, to guard their sacredness and to make duties clear so that the obligations of the Decalogue would be more fully understood and enforced. Such added instruction was needed because the minds of the people, blinded and debased by slavery, were not prepared to fully appreciate the far-reaching principles of the ten precepts.
The verse commands that one who comes presumptuously upon his neighbor to slay him with guile, deliberately and deceitfully murdering him, must be taken even from God's altar to be put to death. Not even the altar protects such a murderer, and deliberate murder is punished with death. Wilful murder is distinct from unintentional killing: for unintentional killing God provides a place of refuge, but the intentional murderer is not protected by the cities of refuge. No atonement or ransom can spare a murderer proved guilty. By requiring death for murder, the command makes human life sacred and requires punishment to protect the nation and cleanse the land.
As part of those judgments in Exodus 21-22, the verse plainly enjoins obedience, expresses exalted requirements, and is to be strictly obeyed. It remains instruction for people now to guard against injustice and regulate dealings with one another. Careful reading and obedience to it together with the rest of Exodus 21-23 would keep the world from its present condition. Its requirement is part of the law whose principles will judge the world and decide each soul's destiny, so keeping God's law in truth and righteousness means obeying every command.