The Ninth Commandment

Hallelujah. Today we are continuing our series on the Ten Commandments. And this evening we come to commandment number nine.

Scripture reading: Exodus 20:16.

Exodus 20:16 ESV

16 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

The Ten Commandments often gives us the worst example of sinning in a certain way. Murder is the worst way to break the sixth commandment, but Jesus said it’s not the only way. Anger also breaks the commandment. Likewise, adultery is the worst way to break the seventh commandment, but lusting after someone is also a violation.

With the ninth commandment, the worst possible way to break it is to bear false witness in a court of law. But it’s not the only way. This commandment includes the entire realm of human speech and use of language. It shows us that God cares deeply about the words we say and why we say them.

In the 7th book, Rev. Abraham Park says that bearing false witness destroys the true covenant community. So whatever problems we may have at home, at work, or at school, it probably has something to do with this commandment.

So first we’ll look at God’s purpose for human speech and language. Then we’ll look at how it was corrupted by sin, and how it is restored in Christ.

The purpose of human speech

When God created human beings, He created us in His image. And a part of that image is the ability for language and speech. Why?

Language gives us the ability to know God in detail.

It gives us the ability to worship God with praises.

And it gives us the ability to build a covenant community upon His Word.

Isaiah 43:21 ESV

21 the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise.

In the Garden of Eden, Adam used his language ability to understand God’s Word. God spoke His command to Adam. So language is first and foremost a way for us to be in relationship with God, because God is a God who speaks.

Next, God brought the animals and birds to Adam, and Adam used his language ability to give them names. So language was the way for Adam to exercise authority over the animals. God created human beings to be God’s earthly representatives, and we were to do that by way of speech.

And finally, Adam was to use his language ability to bear true witness to other human beings about God and God’s Word. That’s what he was supposed to do with Eve.

Likewise, God gave us the gift of language so we could witness to one another about the truth of God.

In Genesis 5, Adam testified of God to his descendants so that Enosh called upon the name of the Lord, Enoch walked with God, and even the ninth generation Lamech knew of God’s promises.

That’s what a covenant community is supposed to be. And that’s the role and mission of Zion church. We exist to worship God, and to bear true witness of who God is in a world full of darkness and lies.

However, if we ourselves are liars, whether it’s at home or wherever, then our mouths become like a stream of water that runs clear one day and runs muddy the next. If we bear false witness, then it becomes impossible for us to carry out our purpose of reflecting God to the world. Because God cannot lie.

1 Samuel 15:29 ESV

29 And also the Glory of Israel will not lie or have regret, for he is not a man, that he should have regret.”

Titus 1:2 ESV

2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began

So then, how did human beings fall into the sin of bearing false witness? It began in the Garden of Eden.

The corruption of human speech

The problem began when the serpent came to Eve and said to her, “Did God really say?”

And after Eve replied, the serpent bore false witness about God.

Genesis 3:4–5 ESV

4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

How did Eve respond? She stopped trusting God, and started trusting the serpent. She used her language ability to listen to the wrong thing.

And after they sinned, God came to Adam and confronted him. And what did Adam do? He blamed the woman and made it seem as if everything was her fault. Is that true? Gen. 3:6 says that Adam was with her the whole time. So he chose to lie rather than tell the truth.

And from that point on, our words became a tool for violence and boasting and rebellion against God. We remember how Cain’s descendant Lamech boasted after he killed a young man.

And in Genesis 11, language became the main tool for rebelling against God.

Genesis 11:1 ESV

1 Now the whole earth had one language and the same words.

So all of this happened because of the serpent’s influence. That’s why Jesus called the devil the father of lies.

John 8:44 ESV

44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Specific Laws derived from the 9th Commandment

Prohibition of bearing false witness

The law commands us to be impartial in our judgements.

Exodus 23:1–3 ESV

1 “You shall not spread a false report. You shall not join hands with a wicked man to be a malicious witness. 2 You shall not fall in with the many to do evil, nor shall you bear witness in a lawsuit, siding with the many, so as to pervert justice, 3 nor shall you be partial to a poor man in his lawsuit.

Sometimes a judge might be swayed based on the number of accusers, or if one party is wealthy and influential, and the other party is poor and low status.

When Jesus stood before Pontius Pilate, there were so many people screaming for him to be crucified, and they even made threats to accuse Pilate before Caesar.

John 19:12 ESV

12 From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.”

The law forbids slander and spreading false reports.

Leviticus 19:16 ESV

16 You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life of your neighbor: I am the Lord.

To slander means to spread lies about a person that results in damaging their reputation. A person’s good name can only be built over years of trust and hard work. It can’t be purchased with money. Even though the slander is false, that person’s life could be destroyed because of it.

The law prevents judging a person based on the testimony of one witness

Deuteronomy 17:6 ESV

6 On the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses the one who is to die shall be put to death; a person shall not be put to death on the evidence of one witness.

Evangelical Expansion of the Concept of False Witness

Jesus said that false witness begins in the heart, because our words proceed from our heart.

Matthew 15:18–19 ESV

18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.

So what this means is that our heart matters as much as our words. Both the information and the intention are important before God. Because even true words spoken from a evil heart become tools of the devil.

So we can think of it like this. *Draw a plus sign*

Vertical: Love / Hate

Horizontal: False / True

Talking to others about others

Hate + False

Gossip (if false)

Slander

Hate + True

Gossip (if true)

Taking up reproach (Ps 15:3).

Psalm 15:3 ESV

3 who does not slander with his tongue and does no evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend;

Example: Joseph and brothers. Joseph and Mary.

Love + False

Flattery

Psalm 12:2–3 ESV

2 Everyone utters lies to his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak. 3 May the Lord cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that makes great boasts,

Love + True

Speaking the truth in love. Speaking to others what God says about them.

Ephesians 5:19 ESV

19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,

Talking about God

Hate + False

Blasphemy

Heresy / false prophets

Matthew 24:24 ESV

24 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.

Hate + True

Hellfire preachers. Legalistic preachers.

Job’s friends.

Makes God one dimensional. God is a righteous Judge only.

1 John 4:20 ESV

20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.

Love + False

God is love, so you don’t need to change anything about yourself.

Liberal preachers. LGBTQ pastors. Seeker-sensitive churches.

2 Timothy 4:3 ESV

3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,

Makes God one dimensional. God is only a God of love. I don’t need to keep His commandments. The apostle John calls such a person a liar.

1 John 2:4 ESV

4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,

By the way, here is what Satan does. He tempts us to sin by going all liberal, and then when we do sin, he goes all hellfire and judgement.

First he plays down the holiness of God. It’s not that big a deal. Go ahead, you can repent later. God will still love you no matter what. God will forgive you.

But after you sin, he turns around and says “How dare you. You’re scum. God could never love a hypocrite like you. You will burn in hell.”

That’s what he does because he’s a liar and the father of lies.

Love + True

Only the Bible.

We only share with others what God has revealed about Himself in the Bible. That’s is the mission of the History of Redemption series. That’s the mission of our church. We only preach what is stated in God’s Word.

There’s a saying among pastors. The pastor is to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable without comforting the comfortable and afflicting the afflicted.

Do not bear false witness to yourself

Finally, we are also called not to bear false witness to ourselves.

The Bible describes people who deceive themselves with their own lies.

Proverbs 26:27 ESV

27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling.

There are all kinds of lies we tell ourselves.

For example, the fool in Psalm 14 says in his heart, “There is no God.”

Some people might say, “Nobody loves me. Nobody cares.” “I’m beyond saving.” “I’ve past the point of no return.”

Another example of false witness is in the transgender movement. They say to themselves, “I am a man trapped in a woman’s body”. That’s also false.

On the other hand, the psalms show us that we are to speak God’s Word to our own soul.

For example, when you’re feeling insecure.

Psalm 139:14 ESV

14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.

When you’re feeling depressed or anxious,

Psalm 42:5 ESV

5 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation

1 John 3:20 ESV

20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.

The fate of those who violated the 9th Commandment

Gehazi, the Servant of Elisha

In 2 Kings, the prophet Elisha healed the leprosy of General Naaman, the captain of the Aramean army. And Naaman offered him gifts, but Elisha refused.

However, after Naaman left, Elisha’s servant Gehazi ran after him and spun a story of how they had new visitors and would like some money and clothes.

2 Kings 5:21–22 ESV

21 So Gehazi followed Naaman. And when Naaman saw someone running after him, he got down from the chariot to meet him and said, “Is all well?” 22 And he said, “All is well. My master has sent me to say, ‘There have just now come to me from the hill country of Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets. Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of clothing.’ ”

So Gehazi kept these things for himself.

But when he came back to Elisha, what happened?

2 Kings 5:25–27 ESV

25 He went in and stood before his master, and Elisha said to him, “Where have you been, Gehazi?” And he said, “Your servant went nowhere.” 26 But he said to him, “Did not my heart go when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Was it a time to accept money and garments, olive orchards and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male servants and female servants? 27 Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and to your descendants forever.” So he went out from his presence a leper, like snow.

Sometimes, making an underhanded deal can result in temporary wealth. But that wealth is accompanied by suffering. That’s why the Bible says in Prov 19:22 that it is better to be a poor man than a liar.

Proverbs 10:22 ESV

22 The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.

Ananias and Sapphira

In the New Testament, in the early church in Acts, there was a couple. Ananias and his wife Sapphira. They saw how Barnabas sold his field and gave the money to the apostles, and they wanted to do something similar. So they sold their property and gave the money as an offering.

However, they then decided to keep some of the money for themselves. But they told the apostles that it was the entire sum of money. What happened?

Acts 5:3–5 ESV

3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” 5 When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it.

And later, Sapphira came and told the same lie to Peter. And she also fell down and died.

They did this in order to boast of their own goodness. And the scary thing is that we often make the same mistake, although in a smaller way. Sometimes when we tell stories, we embellish the parts that make us look good, and we cut out the parts that make us look bad. That’s also false witness.

Finally, the Bible says that all liars will enter the lake of fire.

Revelation 21:8 ESV

8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

Revelation 22:15 ESV

15 Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

Redemptive-Historical Lesson in the 9th Commandment

So finally, what is the redemptive-historical lesson in the 9th Commandment?

Since the fall, the world became full of lies and darkness. Satan’s lies spread more and more. And only the line of Seth became the line of truth. Only the line of Seth called upon the Lord. Only the line of Seth walked with God. And finally through the line of Seth came Jesus Christ, who is the way, the truth, and the life. And He revealed to us the truth about God.

John 1:18 ESV

18 No one has ever seen God; God the only Son, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

And because He only spoke the truth, the Jews hated Him bore false witness against Him, and on account of that He was sentenced to be crucified.

But He took all of that and willingly carried His cross. Why? Because in Him, all our lies were nailed to the cross. Every hurtful word we’ve said. Every whisper, every slander, the countless times we’ve gossiped. It’s all nailed to the cross. Because even a little lie puts us in the fires of hell.

Psalm 101:7 ESV

7 No one who practices deceit shall dwell in my house; no one who utters lies shall continue before my eyes.

So as a people redeemed by Jesus Christ, we must make a firm determination to put away all falsehood from our mouths and only speak the truth in love, and listen to the truth in love.

Ephesians 5:8 ESV

8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light