THOU SHALT NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS
As we continue our series on The Ten Commandments it is probably notable that we can only touch partially on each subject. We could actually discuss the facts surrounding each commandment and its passages of scripture for weeks and weeks. There is so much to consider for each one.
Today we will ponder Exodus 20:16; “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.”
Some other versions of this scripture read with the words “false witness” instead of “false testimony.” Both sets of words mean the same thing. It is actually very simple; they each speak of being truthful when you speak of others.
Why do you think this is so important to God?
TRUTH IS LIFE
I suppose there are many various reasons. God values life! Sometimes getting to the truth of a matter is a life or death situation. The consequences for falsely accused people can sometimes be astronomical. A false accusation is actually the very thing that sent God’s own son to His death on the cross.
Many of God’s people have died from the false accusations of others.
God does not take this sin lightly.
One little slip of the tongue; whether intentional or by mistake, can change someone else’s life forever. The tongue is a horrible weapon if used in the wrong way.
LIES BRING SUFFERING
Have you ever suffered because someone else slandered your good name?
I grew up in a small town. Small towns can be wonderful or they can be malicious. Sometimes I am amazed to hear the false tales of things I never did. These tales often come back to me from a few true, loyal old friends who still live there and know better. For many years some of these things broke my heart. God has healed those broken places now.
Maybe it is because of such life experiences that I pay attention to the fact that God warned his children ahead of time that such things were bound to happen. He even cared enough about this to chisel a law written in stone to forbid it.
How well our Father knows each of us. How well His provision of love covers us and heals us and makes us whole again. All we have to do is to listen for His will and obey His word.
LIES BREAK HEARTS
In this life on earth people can pay dearly for mistakes they never made because of ugly gossip and rumors from jealous and revengeful people. It is very sad; but this happens all the time all over the world.
Lies can break people’s hearts.
Have you ever had such a situation happen to you?
Unfortunately, most of us can name at least one very hurtful time when our neighbor gave false witness against us.
In most of these situations we never really know all of the reasons why such things happen; just that they DID happen. There is usually some unknown factor at play. Human nature is very strange and hard to figure out. God is the only One who understands it all. Rarely do people have enough integrity within themselves without the prompting of God’s Holy Spirit, to confess their lies and ask forgiveness. Perhaps that is part of the reason God gave the commandment.
God wanted to make sure we all understood that this is NOT okay.
We can all name times when we were innocently standing right in the middle of some false testimony; totally unaware of what was floating around amongst our neighbors and friends; even among those that we consider most dear. More often than we know the innocent are stained and shunned for years because of such incidences.
Bearing false witness is a horrible sin; yet God watches it happen among His people every day.
There is an old saying that seems to go hand in hand with this commandment; “Beware for your sins will find you out.”
When will we all wake up and come to live in the Kingdom of light and love that only brings truth?
LIES AND POLITICS
We serve a righteous God who never wants to see us bringing false testimony against our neighbor; or for that matter; even our enemies.
Innocence is a very beautiful trait that can quickly be destroyed by certain people who have made it their life’s mission to behave like a pack of vicious wolves prowling around together; constantly trying to destroy all that is good and worthy.
Elections and politics come to mind as I ponder this type of behavior. It is never acceptable to use lies in order to achieve your idea of “the better good.” I think many today do not understand this. Perhaps the colleges of our nation have forgotten all about the ten commandments. Evidence seems to be lacking in the up and coming college educated generation.
Often there seems to be a prevailing policy of “win at any cost.”
This commandment counters that type of living and puts us back into a world based on honesty and reality.
Often these Utopian theories we fall for are based only on partial truths and outright lies.
People often make bold statements to promote their own personal platforms; but that doesn’t mean what they say is true. The end never justifies the means for this type of living. Lies, rumors and untruth just keep their opponents from having a level playing field.
This is definitely not the way that a just God would go about conducting His business; and it isn’t the way He would expect His people to act either.
It is shameful that all across our country people have won campaigns based on the logic of murderers and thieves instead of sanity and decency. All that God’s people say and do should always be based on solid truth and nothing else.
EVEN WHEN IT HURTS
Truth is always the best policy; even when it hurts.
Without direct truth one little fib leads into another and another until it takes at least 100 lies to recover from that one little tale. Christian people are not to live their lives like this.
If you do not know the truth; it is best to remain silent.
Jesus once stated how to handle truth when He said; “Let your “yes” be “yes” and your “no” be “no.”
The truth is always less complicated and much easier to explain in the end.
FALSEHOODS PREVENT JUSTICE
The Master of The Universe is a fair and just God. A false witness does not make for justice. Deceivers try to make lies truth and truth lies. This often happens as a means for men to achieve power, greed, or some secret crime.
In order for justice to prevail in the land; there must be truth.
In today’s world we sometimes see the opposite of this and the one who is living out truth gets accused and slandered.
How should these matters be handled by the godly?
TRUTH IS ITS OWN DEFENSE
It is said by some that a good conscience is a wall of brass that will be able to stand against a false witness.
Truth is its own defense.
Jesus never felt the need to defend himself. He simply spoke truth and nothing else. If we keep our consciences pure before God, He will come to our defense when the time is right.
Time proves all things.
GUILTY BY NEGLECT
Do you know of someone who has been falsely accused?
If you do not stand up for that person you are as guilty as the person doing the accusing.
We should all defend our brothers and sisters against false accusations.
The godly are always careful not to let the falsehoods continue.
Remember the acts of Jonathan when he took up for his friend David against the slander of King Saul?
It would have been easy for Jonathan to ignore this situation and he would not have had to deal with a confrontation from King Saul. Still; for Jonathan the defense of his brother was important.
Jonathon is an example the scriptures set before us of a true, loving heart.
He was a friend who would not tell convenient lies; but suffered to stand for the truth.
TRUE LOVE DOES NOT SLANDER
Those who truly love do not slander.
To bear false witness is to sow discord among the brethren.
Solomon wrote of this in Proverbs when he said in Proverbs 6:16 that “There are six things that the LORD strongly dislikes, seven that are an abomination to him; haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.”
A false witness undermines God’s covenant with His people.
This covenant is based on truth and falsehoods distort the whole concept, presenting a wrong image of what should be a good and godly people living together in truth, love and righteousness.
SATAN’S OLDEST TOOL
A true witness can be destroyed in a hurry by those who plot and use such falsehoods to their advantage.
This is one of Satan’s greatest tools in bringing down the people of God.
Perhaps that is why the scriptures tell us that God strongly dislikes a false witness.
It was actually a false witness that sent Jesus to the cross where He took on the burden of our sins and died in our place.
He was falsely accused of blasphemy.
They said He could not claim to be the true son of God.
His resurrection form the dead became the true witness that countered the false witness.
BE A WINNER
Know this; the truth always wins!
It may take a while for this to happen; but the truth always wins in the end.
Because Jesus was honest, innocent and perfect; we are now cleansed of our sins.
Even those who accused him falsely; if they repented, could be forgiven.
False accusations bring only death and destruction but truth and repentance bring joy, resurrection d restoration.
FOLLOW GOD’S TRUE SERVANTS GOOD EXAMPLES
Throughout the pages of the history of mankind there have been many martyrs who have died deaths due to false witnesses.
Stephen is one of our greatest examples; after Jesus.
Stephen told the council that Jesus had come mainly to fulfill the law and the prophets. For this they said he spoke against the temple and the law.
This council of Pharisees was so wrong. The world is FULL of modern-day Pharisees.
As Stephen died they saw his face shine like the sun; and they saw the witness of heaven in Stephen’s countenance.
How different things will be in the day of final judgment when these same accusers will have to look upon that face again.
There will be no one to collaborate with their lies in that day.
Each man must give an individual account before God for his own sins.
Every idle word will be recalled.
The truth is all that will stand in that day.
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