The Ninth Commandment: You Shall Not Bear False Witness
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· 1,711 viewsThe Ninth Commandment calls Christians to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
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Introduction:
If you are ever called to witness in a criminal trial, the state courts will still have people swear in where you have to repeat this phrase on a holy book (usually the Bible),
“Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? (So help you God)”
To lie under oath is to commit perjury. Perjury is one deliberately misleads or gives false information under oath. It is a a serious offense and can result in one being sent to prison.
The U.S. courts take this seriously because they are concerned for justice and to uphold the truth in the court of law.
If that is true on an earthly level, how much more before the Supreme Judge of the Universe.
Tabletalk Magazine, June 2015: Thou Shalt: Discovering the Fullness of God’s Commands You Shall Not Bear False Witness
One of the rationales for the prohibition of false witness is that justice requires truth. If justice is to be upheld in a court of law, all the relevant facts of the case must be made known, which requires witnesses to speak “the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.”
Today, we look at the Ninth Commandment. John Calvin believed that the eighth commandment ties ones hands so we don’t take someone’s property, the ninth ties his one tongue so we don’t take someone’s reputation. He said,
Today, we look at the Ninth Commandment. Calvin said,
Today, we look at the Ninth Commandment. Calvin said,
Institutes of the Christian Religion 47. General Interpretation
The purpose of this commandment is: since God (who is truth) abhors a lie, we must practice truth without deceit toward one another. To sum up, then: let us not malign anyone with slanders or false charges, nor harm his substance by falsehood, in short, injure him by unbridled evilspeaking and impudence.
Heidelberg Catechism 43. Sunday
QUESTION 112. What is required in the ninth commandment?
That I bear false witness against no one; wrest no one’s words; be no backbiter, or slanderer; join in condemning no one unheard and rashly; but that I avoid, on pain of God’s heavy wrath, all lying and deceit, as being the proper works of the devil; in matters of judgment and justice and in all other affairs love, honestly speak and confess the truth; and, so far as I can, defend and promote my neighbor’s good name.
Institutes of the Christian Religion 47. General Interpretation
The purpose of this commandment is: since God (who is truth) abhors a lie, we must practice truth without deceit toward one another. To sum up, then: let us not malign anyone with slanders or false charges, nor harm his substance by falsehood, in short, injure him by unbridled evilspeaking and impudence.
Recap
Recap
The first commandment deals with the worship of the true God.
The second commandment deals with worshipping the true God rightly.
The third commandment deals with reverencing the true God.
The fourth commandment deals with worshipping and reverencing the true God at the right time.
The fifth commandment deals with respect for human authority.
The sixth commandment deals with respect for the sanctity of human life.
The seventh commandment deals with respect for the sanctity of marriage.
The eight commandment deals with respect for human property.
The ninth commandment deals with respect for the truth and protection of other people’s reputation.
The commandments are a guide and rule of life for the Christian. It provides a brief and helpful summary of God’s law for all of life. And as Jesus has taught us in the Sermon on the Mount, the Law is to also be kept in the heart. Although we cannot keep these laws perfectly, Jesus kept them on our behalf.
And through his death and resurrection, he rewrites the Law on our hearts by the Spirit of God. And only by the Spirit of God are we able to walk in a way that pleases the Lord. And the Lord reduced the Ten Commandments to Two Commandments: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself. The foundation of these commandments is love. Love to God and love to neighbor.
So just like last week, we will ask the same three questions:
1. What does the commandment mean?
2. What does the commandment forbid?
3. What does the commandment require?
Scripture Reading:
“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
This is the reading of God’s Holy, Inspired, and Inerrant Word.
I. What Does the Commandment Mean?
I. What Does the Commandment Mean?
The immediate context of this command is within the covenant community of God in the court of law. It is a legal context where God wants truth to be upheld in the courts.
A false witness who told lies in the legal context not only could damage someone’s reputation, but also endanger his life.
“Pay attention to all that I have said to you, and make no mention of the names of other gods, nor let it be heard on your lips.
“You shall not spread a false report. You shall not join hands with a wicked man to be a malicious witness. 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, nor shall you be partial to a poor man in his lawsuit.
This was important in the ancient world because they did not have advanced forensic sciences we have today. The witnesses were the evidence.
Tabletalk Magazine, June 2015: Thou Shalt: Discovering the Fullness of God’s Commands You Shall Not Bear False Witness
One of the rationales for the prohibition of false witness is that justice requires truth. If justice is to be upheld in a court of law, all the relevant facts of the case must be made known, which requires witnesses to speak “the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.”
This is why God require two or three witnesses for a charge to be established.
“A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established. If a malicious witness arises to accuse a person of wrongdoing, then both parties to the dispute shall appear before the Lord, before the priests and the judges who are in office in those days. The judges shall inquire diligently, and if the witness is a false witness and has accused his brother falsely,
“A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established. If a malicious witness arises to accuse a person of wrongdoing, then both parties to the dispute shall appear before the Lord, before the priests and the judges who are in office in those days. The judges shall inquire diligently, and if the witness is a false witness and has accused his brother falsely, then you shall do to him as he had meant to do to his brother. So you shall purge the evil from your midst. And the rest shall hear and fear, and shall never again commit any such evil among you. Your eye shall not pity. It shall be life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.
If the the witness was found out to be lying, the person could be put to death and charged the punishment that was originally meant for the accused.
then you shall do to him as he had meant to do to his brother. So you shall purge the evil from your midst. And the rest shall hear and fear, and shall never again commit any such evil among you. Your eye shall not pity. It shall be life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.
Deut
Think about some OT examples....
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.
A. Joseph
You remember the story of Joseph? He was a righteous and blameless man. He went to prison because he was accused of trying to assault Potiphar’s wife?
If a malicious witness arises to accuse a person of wrongdoing, then both parties to the dispute shall appear before the Lord, before the priests and the judges who are in office in those days. The judges shall inquire diligently, and if the witness is a false witness and has accused his brother falsely, then you shall do to him as he had meant to do to his brother. So you shall purge the evil from your midst. And the rest shall hear and fear, and shall never again commit any such evil among you. Your eye shall not pity. It shall be life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.
But one day, when he went into the house to do his work and none of the men of the house was there in the house, she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand and fled and got out of the house. And as soon as she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and had fled out of the house, she called to the men of her household and said to them, “See, he has brought among us a Hebrew to laugh at us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice. And as soon as he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried out, he left his garment beside me and fled and got out of the house.” Then she laid up his garment by her until his master came home, and she told him the same story, saying, “The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought among us, came in to me to laugh at me. But as soon as I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment beside me and fled out of the house.”
As soon as his master heard the words that his wife spoke to him, “This is the way your servant treated me,” his anger was kindled.
Genesis 39:11-
Joseph’s reputation was ruined. His life was in danger. And he was put into prison because of a false witness and false accusation.
B. Naboth
We looked at how Ahab and Jezebel stole an innocent man’s property. How not only did they violate the eighth commandment, but they also violated the sixth and ninth commandment as well. Naboth was robbed and murdered on behalf of false witnesses.
So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name and sealed them with his seal, and she sent the letters to the elders and the leaders who lived with Naboth in his city. And she wrote in the letters, “Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth at the head of the people. And set two worthless men opposite him, and let them bring a charge against him, saying, ‘You have cursed God and the king.’ Then take him out and stone him to death.”
And the men of his city, the elders and the leaders who lived in his city, did as Jezebel had sent word to them. As it was written in the letters that she had sent to them, they proclaimed a fast and set Naboth at the head of the people. And the two worthless men came in and sat opposite him. And the worthless men brought a charge against Naboth in the presence of the people, saying, “Naboth cursed God and the king.” So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death with stones. Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, “Naboth has been stoned; he is dead.”
1 Kings 21:
It shall be eaten the same day you offer it or on the day after, and anything left over until the third day shall be burned up with fire.
OT
Joseph. Jonathan.
What about Rahab?
Do you see how a false witness could not only put someone’s reputation in danger, but in some cases his own life?
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.
There are six things that the Lord hates,
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.
Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord,
but those who act faithfully are his delight.
A truthful witness saves lives,
but one who breathes out lies is deceitful.
A false witness will not go unpunished,
and he who breathes out lies will not escape.
A false witness will not go unpunished,
and he who breathes out lies will perish.
A man who bears false witness against his neighbor
is like a war club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow.
To sum up, we see how a false witness can destroy someone’s reputation and character. And to speak lies is contrary to what God speaks, and actually imitates the Devil who is the Father of lies. Mark Rooker, an OT Scholar, says,
False testimony is tantamount to character assassination and so constitutes another form of killing.45 It steals a man’s reputation and then kills it in the public eye.
Rooker, Mark. The Ten Commandments: Ethics for the Twenty-First Century (New American Commentary Studies in Bible and Theology) (Kindle Locations 3148-3150). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
Words have the power to give life, but they also have the power to destroy life.
There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
Christian—The immediate application is to tell the truth in the court of law. But as we will see, it extends beyond the court. We must be truthful witnesses. We must never tell lies that would bring harm upon our neighbor.
Non-Christian—It is inconsistent to believe that truth is made, not discovered. Because of postmodern philosophy, college students breath the postmodern air where an entire generation is raised to believe that no one can discover truth.
But it is inconsistent to believe in the statement “There is no absolute truth” because that is a truth in itself.
And you wouldn’t want a postmodern judge who believed truth was made up, not discovered because if that were the case, lives would be put in jeopardy. A Christian believes in the value of truth and the protection of the truth because we believe in a God of truth.
Transition: The immediate context is to not bear false witness in the courtroom, but we will see it goes beyond the court to our homes and the pew.
II. What Does the Commandment Forbid?
II. What Does the Commandment Forbid?
The commandment does not only apply to the court, but is also applies to the pew. Can you imagine, people by called by God’s own named, redeemed by the blood of Jesus, are also guilty in damaging the reputation of others? Throughout the the book James, Paul has to deal with the sins of the tongue.
Keeping the Ten Commandments Truth and Love
What is forbidden is false witness against your neighbor—that is, as we said, prideful lying designed to do him down and exalt you at his expense. The positive command implicit in this negative is that we should seek our neighbor’s good and speak truth to him and about him to this end.
And we will just look at six things that this commandment forbids.
1. False Oaths
Or lying under oath. To lie under oath is to commit perjury and is punishable by law. And if human law courts take this seriously, how much more the court of heaven? That is why Jesus instructed us by saying:
“Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.
“Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.
A Christian should be characterized by a simple “yes” or a simple “no”. He does not need to take the name of God, or find away around it by swearing by heaven, or earth, or himself to do what he says he is going to do. A false oath is not only a violation of the ninth commandment, but of the third commandment.
And are Christians guilty of these “little sins”? These “respectable sins”? These “white lies”
Have any of you said to a fellow church member, “I’ll pray for you!”, but you never end up praying for them?
Have any of you said “ I will meet you for lunch at 12”, but you show up at 1?
Have any of you said to your pastor, “I will be at church on Sunday!”, but you end up sleeping in and missing service? And if you do come, you come when service ends?
Have any of you answered a phone call from a Telemarketer, looking for your mom and dad, and said “He’s not home.”
Christians should not be people who need oaths for others to take us seriously. It is contrary to the character of God when we don’t follow through with what we say.
2. Lies
This commandment forbids lying as well. It is a failure to not only tell the truth, but the whole truth. I have seen people Christians guilty in this manner as well. Remember Ananias and Sapphira? They were struck by God because they lied?
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?
I know that that was an extreme example in the early church to teach the church not to take God lightly, but if God still struck people dead for lying like he did back then, there would be no one in church next week.
And are Christians guilty of these “little sins”? These “respectable sins”? These “white lies”
Have any of you said to a fellow church member, “I’ll pray for you!”, but you never end up praying for them? Or worse, you say you “prayed for them” but you didn’t?!
Have any of you said “ I will meet you for lunch at 12”, but you show up at 1?
Have any of you said to your pastor, “I will be at church on Sunday!”, but you end up missing service?
Have any of you answered a phone call from a Telemarketer, looking for your mom and dad, and said “He’s not home.”
Christians should not be people who need oaths for others to take us seriously. It is contrary to the character of God when we don’t follow through with what we say.
Have any of you told mom and dad you will be home at 11, but you come home at 1:30.
Instead of telling the whole truth, we can be guilty of “half-truths.” Or they tell only one side of the truth. Or they manipulate the truth. Or they leave out some of the truth. Or they add to the truth. Or they tell the truth in only such a way that build them up and make others look worse.
A falsehood can be described as an invention, an equivocation, a falsification, a fabrication, or a prevarication. Dishonesty also comes in all different sizes. There are the big lies — the whoppers and the grand deceptions. Then there are all the little lies we tell — the half-truths, the flatteries, and the fibs. What we say may be true, as far as it goes, but we leave out the details that might put us at a disadvantage. Ryken
Christian—To tell the truth in only such a way that makes you look like the hero and everyone else the bad guy.
Christian—Don’t be so quick to rush to judgment in an online world. It is easy to believe lies about someone without having the proper facts; whether it is about a police officer, or politician, or pastor, or missionary.
John Chau, was a 26 year old young man, who was killed earlier this month, was trying to evangelize a remote tribe on a remote Indian Island.
After his death, people said that Chau was fool because he was not prepared, or he was just some instagram advenutre seeker, who could have endangered the lives of the inhabitants of the island because he wasn’t vaccinated.
Many people thought he was a fool and wrote articles online saying he died because he wasn’t prepared or didn’t know the language or wasn’t properly vaccinated.
But other news came out that he was part of a missions agency. He was in fact preparing for years. He was vaccinated.
Chau knew the cost, counted the cost, and was prepared to give his life for the cost.
The point is that you shouldn’t believe everything on the internet without assessing proper facts.
How many cases where someone was innocently damaged through a tweet or a update when you failed to have the proper information?
The one who states his case first seems right,
until the other comes and examines him.
Think before you tweet. Facebook should have “think before you write” instead of “what’s on your mind.” Christians could use this counsel as well.
Children—Don’t lie to your parents.
O be careful little mouth what you say
O be careful little mouth what you say
There's a Father up above
And He's looking down in love
So, be careful little mouth what you say
Young People—Don’t be so flaky and loose with the truth.
Older People—Speak the truth and pass on the truth to the next generation. Don’t be so blunt with the truth. Sometimes there needs to be tact in what you say to people. Truth needs to be tempered with love.
“If someone has gained weight, do you speak tell truth?”
“If you didn’t like food at potluck, do you speak the truth?”
“If your wife feels insecure, and she asks you how she looks, do you speak the truth?”
What about Rahab’s lies? Or the Egyptian midwives lies?
Some people say that in some cases, lying may be justified in order to save and preserve lies. The Hebrew midwifes lied when Pharoah commanded the Hebrew sons to be executed. Rahab lies about the spies. Some people lied about hiding Jews during WW2.
Is it wrong to lie to someone if you are going to take them to a Suprise birthday party?
We live in a fallen world where difficult and complex situations may cause someone to lie in order to protect lives.
Some would say that it is always wrong to lie and we should trust God’s providence.
There is not an easy answer here, but I want to say that these are extreme cases in which life is threatened. And for most of us that is not the case. Those examples are exceptions.
I would just hope that the Lord gives wisdom at the time. And God knows hearts and will lead the person to do the right thing. Rahab was not commended for her lie in , but her faith.
3. Gossip
This is a problem for many churches. Churches have divided over the issue. It is when we talk behind a person’s back. We can even say true things, but not necessarily helpful behind someone’s back that might put them down. Kevin DeYoung, in his book on the Ten Commandments, says
“Gossip is passing along a report or rumor that cannot be substantiated. But gossip is more than that. We also gossip when we pass along a true report unnecessarily” Deyoung, pg. 147
The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels;
they go down into the inner parts of the body.
Reputation is quickly stolen, but not quickly returned. Luther
For lack of wood the fire goes out,
and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.
Christian—Instead of talking behind someone back’s, talk to them directly.
“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.
Small Groups/Accountability Groups—Often small groups became a place of gossip. Did you hear that so and so did this? Or in accountability groups. We ask ourselves, is what we are saying about a person is necessary and helpful? Would this person be encouraged by what we say or discouraged? We must be careful with our tongues and all of us have been guilty at one time in regards to this.
Church-Our church covenant says, “We will avoid gossip.”
Charge Against a Pastor—This is why even Paul gives instructions concerning a charge against a pastor:
Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses.
Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear.
Church Discipline—And before we ever get to formal church discipline, Jesus tells us to make sure two or three witnesses are there to corroborate the facts:
Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses.
But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.
Christian—Are you guarding your tongue?
4. Slander
Another violation of this commandment is slander. It is murdering someone’s reputation. It is seeking to bring harm upon someone else’s through words that tear down. Again, Kevin Deyoung says,
“Slander also includes assuming the worst possible motives for other people’s intentions and refusing to ever give people the benefit of the doubt” 148
Have you ever ascribed the worst possible motives to someone? He wasn’t at church, he’s staying. He was at a bar, he probably got drunk. She was talking to that non-believer, she is probably seeking to date him. We can assume the worst about people and damage their good name.
Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good,
Another title for the Devil is Slanderer. He says false things. And he says false things to accuse Christians and bring others down.
“He that raises a slander, carries the devil in his tongue; and he that receives it, carries the devil in his ear.” Ryken
We just witnessed the California Wildfires. Can you imagine it only takes one spark to set whole cities and parks on fire?
So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.
How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.
James 3:
With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.
The tongue which at first was made to be an organ of God’s praise, is now become an instrument of unrighteousness.
James
Watson, Thomas. The Ten Commandments (p. 147). Unknown. Kindle Edition.
Slander hurts and damages. And those words often go much deeper than physical wounds.
Christian—Confess the sin before the Lord. Ask him to help you restrain your tongue and only seek to speak that which is helpful and builds up. Ask the Lord to help you speak only what is true, at the right time, at the right context, so that it may give grace to those who hear.
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
5. False Doctrine
Christians can also be guilty of violating this commandment by failing to tell the truth about God. Some preachers and pastors are offenders of this commandment when they fail to communicate the whole counsel of God, or they only tell half-truths about God to gain a crowd or a following. The prophet Jeremiah said,
“For from the least to the greatest of them,
everyone is greedy for unjust gain;
and from prophet to priest,
everyone deals falsely.
They have healed the wound of my people lightly,
saying, ‘Peace, peace,’
when there is no peace.
Everyone wants a God of love. A God of blessing. A God of hope. But they don’t want to hear a God of judgment or a God of cursing or a God who takes sin seriously.
Jeremiah 6:
Christian—In our evangelism, we must not only talk about the love of God, but about the judgment of God. Unbelievers will never know the greatness of God’s love if they don’t understand God’s judgment.
And if we are going to speak about faith in Jesus as the sufficient mediator, we must also speak of repentance to God because He is our sovereign Lord. Let us not preach a skewed gospel.
Church-This is why we are committed to expository preaching here. We don’t have to give you a skewed view of God. We don’t want to bear false witness about God and take the name of the Lord in vain by failing to tell the whole truth about God.
Ignorant Christian—Theology matters. It saddens me that so many Christians are ignorant to the things of God. Many believers have a shallow understanding of who God is and it shows when there is a lack of devotion to the teaching and instruction of the Bible.
“The danger of getting doctrine and theology wrong is not merely to come up short on a systematic theology exam. Getting theology wrong is to bear false witness about God. It is to lie about God. It is to create an idol in the place of the one true and living God.”
Listen to sermons. Listen to podcasts. We have a low attendance in our Sunday School. Study in depth the Bible with someone else. Read good theological works. Our prayer meeting Devotion is in Packer’s book “Knowing God.” We have books in our bookstall for your edification and equipping. Take use of ALL means of grace.
6. Exaggeration
Exaggeration can include sins like flattery. Or it can just be simple as “I’m so busy”. I was so busy with homework last night that I couldn’t come to church. Really? Well social media tells a different story.
Man Cold. Do you know what a man cold is? It is when a man gets a cold and he exaggerates his sickness.
Every time I get a cold, Helen hates it! I toss and turn, need to lay in bed all day, need to be pampered like a baby.
She gets the same sickness. What is she doing? She is folding laundry, doing school with the kids, cooking breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and tending to her husband who is acting like a baby.
Don’t exaggerate the truth to make yourself look better. Don’t exaggerate the truth on social media. Don’t exaggerate the truth in online profiles.
Transition: The commandment forbids false oaths, lying, gossip, slander, false doctrine, and exaggeration…what does the commandment require?
III. What Does the Commandment Require?
III. What Does the Commandment Require?
Heidelberg Catechism 43. Sunday
QUESTION 112. What is required in the ninth commandment?
That I bear false witness against no one; wrest no one’s words; be no backbiter, or slanderer; join in condemning no one unheard and rashly; but that I avoid, on pain of God’s heavy wrath, all lying and deceit, as being the proper works of the devil; in matters of judgment and justice and in all other affairs love, honestly speak and confess the truth; and, so far as I can, defend and promote my neighbor’s good name.
Tabletalk Magazine, June 2015: Thou Shalt: Discovering the Fullness of God’s Commands You Shall Not Bear False Witness
As Westminster Shorter Catechism Q&A 77 recognizes, the commandment also requires us to actively pursue and promote the truth in all our dealings with others.
As Westminster Shorter Catechism Q&A 77 recognizes, the commandment also requires us to actively pursue and promote the truth in all our dealings with others.
God wants a society where truth is upheld. But more importantly, in which the truth is upheld in the church which is called the “pillar of truth.” If we are going to please the Lord, we must be people who speak the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
Especially in a world that denies truth. In a fake news world, we must be a good news people. And good news people tell the truth. God wants true witnesses.
1. True Witnesses
Every Christian should like Isaiah be brought under conviction how how terribly short we fall of God’s standard.
In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
the whole earth is full of his glory!”
And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”
Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar.
We are people of unclean lips aren’t we? Who can say they have clean lips in this congregation? This commandment requires we confess our sin...
This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
2. God’s Witness
And also the Glory of Israel will not lie or have regret, for he is not a man, that he should have regret.”
The truth about God is that he is 100 % committed to the truth. tells us God never lies. We believe in a God of truth is is willing to uphold the truth by sending liars and false witnesses to Hell because He is committed to His Holiness.
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.”
And if we are people of unclean lips, is there any hope for us?
As we saw last week, Jesus was crucified between two thieves. But do you remember how Jesus got to the cross in the first place? False witnesses lied about Jesus’ character. They lied about who He was and what He did in the court of law. It was a great injustice that was taking place where justice was supposed to be served.
Pilate even recognized that the man testifying before Him was there to testify to the truth because He was the truth.
Matthew 26:21-
The true witness goes to the cross because of false witnesses.
but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days.’ ”
Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days.’ ”
Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days.’ ” And the high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?” But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy.
Matthew 26:
The true witness goes to the cross because of false witnesses. And the reason why the true witness would go to the cross because in Adam, we have all failed to uphold the truth. All of us have failed to tell the truth. We have believed the serpent’s lie. All of us have damaged someone’s reputation through gossip or slander. And all of us have failed to believe the truth about God.
The true witness goes to the cross because of false witnesses.
Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”
When you recognize the truth about yourself (sinner condemned by a truthful God), and you recognize the truth of Jesus (Savior), we can come to repentance and be people of the truth.
John 8:
and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”
So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Non-Christian
If you are a not a Christian, God has given many witnesses to tell you the truth about himself.
He has given you the witness of creation.
He has give you the witness of the conscience.
He has given you the witness of the Spirit.
He has given you the witness of His Word.
He has give you the witness of the Son.
He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.
If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
If you reject the testimony of God, you are calling God a liar and a false witness. But if you confess the truth about God and yourself, you are a testifying to the truth. A false witness who continues to bear false witness is not of God, but of the devil.
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.
Do you want to be a child of the truth?
and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
3. Our Corporate Witness
This commandment means we must protect our corporate witness as well.
Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.
Tabletalk Magazine, June 2015: Thou Shalt: Discovering the Fullness of God’s Commands You Shall Not Bear False Witness
As Westminster Shorter Catechism Q&A 77 recognizes, the commandment also requires us to actively pursue and promote the truth in all our dealings with others.
Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices
Keeping the Ten Commandments Truth and Love
What is forbidden is false witness against your neighbor—that is, as we said, prideful lying designed to do him down and exalt you at his expense. The positive command implicit in this negative is that we should seek our neighbor’s good and speak truth to him and about him to this end.
Put false ways far from me
and graciously teach me your law!
Rooker, Mark. The Ten Commandments: Ethics for the Twenty-First Century (New American Commentary Studies in Bible and Theology) (Kindle Locations 3103-3105). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
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.
“The tongue inflicts greater wounds than the sword” Augustine
Rooker, Mark. The Ten Commandments: Ethics for the Twenty-First Century (New American Commentary Studies in Bible and Theology) (Kindle Locations 3103-3105). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
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.”
Rooker, Mark. The Ten Commandments: Ethics for the Twenty-First Century (New American Commentary Studies in Bible and Theology) (Kindle Locations 3148-3150). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
4. Our Evangelistic Witness
Rooker, Mark. The Ten Commandments: Ethics for the Twenty-First Century (New American Commentary Studies in Bible and Theology) (Kindle Locations 3148-3150). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
Watson, Thomas. The Ten Commandments (p. 147). Unknown. Kindle Edition.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Watson, Thomas. The Ten Commandments (p. 147). Unknown. Kindle Edition.
“The tongue inflicts greater wounds than the sword” Augustine
5. Our Witness among the Broken
John Calvin believed that the eigth commandment tied his hands, the ninth ties his tongue.
Witness among the broken
Open your mouth for the mute,
for the rights of all who are destitute.
Open your mouth, judge righteously,
defend the rights of the poor and needy.
Isaiah, I am a man of unclean lips. We are all people of unclean lips.
“There is no absolute truth”. By denying truth, you affirm it.
No one wants a postmodern banker. A postmodern news reporter.
These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace;
Harry Potter. She keeps messing up the story.
Truth—Do we tell lies about birthday party? Dress?
John 8:
and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”
Summary
Jesus the true Witness stand on behalf of false witnesses. And his Spirit witnesses to the True Witness.
And we witness the truth.
What does the commandment mean? To not bear false witness in the court of law.
Spirit’s Witness. Personal Witness. Corporate Witness. Final Witness.
What does this commandment forbid? The sins of the tongue such as false oaths, lies, gossip, slander, false doctrine, and exaggeration so that we would protect our neighbor’s reputation.
The Westminster Confession of Faith: Edinburgh Edition The Larger Catechism
Q. 144. What are the duties required in the ninth commandment?
A. The duties required in the ninth commandment, are, the preserving and promoting of truth between man and man, and the good name of our neighbour, as well as our own; appearing and standing for the truth;d and from the heart, sincerely,f freely, clearly,h and fully, speaking the truth, and only the truth, in matters of judgment and justice,k and in all other things whatsoever; a charitable esteem of our neighbours; loving, desiring, and rejoicing in their good name;n sorrowing for, and covering of their infirmities;p freely acknowledging of their gifts and graces, defending their innocency;r a ready receiving of a good report, and unwillingness to admit of an evil report,t concerning them; discouraging tale-bearers, flatterers,w and slanderers; love and care of our own good name, and defending it when need requireth;y keeping of lawful promises; studying and practising of whatsoever things are true, honest, lovely, and of good report.a
Q. 145. What are the sins forbidden in the ninth commandment?
A. The sins forbidden in the ninth commandment are, all prejudicing the truth, and the good name of our neighbours, as well as our own, especially in public judicature;c giving false evidence, suborning false witnesses,e wittingly appearing and pleading for an evil cause, out-facing and over-bearing the truth; passing unjust sentence,g calling evil good, and good evil; rewarding the wicked according to the work of the righteous, and the righteous according to the work of the wicked; forgery,i concealing the truth, undue silence in a just cause, and holding our peace when iniquity calleth for either a reproof from ourselves,l or complaint to others; speaking the truth unseasonably,n or maliciously to a wrong end, or perverting it to a wrong meaning,p or in doubtful and equivocal expressions, to the prejudice of truth or justice; speaking untruth,r lying, slandering,t backbiting, detracting,w tale-bearing, whispering,y scoffing, reviling,a rash, harsh,c and partial censuring; misconstructing intentions, words, and actions; flattering,f vain-glorious boasting, thinking or speaking too highly or too meanly of ourselves or others;h denying the gifts and graces of God; aggravating smaller faults;k hiding, excusing, or extenuating of sins, when called to a free confession; unnecessary discovering of infirmities;m raising false rumours, receiving and countenancing evil reports, and stopping our ears against just defence;p evil suspicion; envying or grieving at the deserved credit of any,r endeavouring or desiring to impair it, rejoicing in their disgrace and infamy;t scornful contempt, fond admiration;w breach of lawful promises; neglecting such things as are of good report,y and practising or not avoiding ourselves, or not hindering what we can in others, such things as procure an ill name.
What does this commandment require? We be truthful witnesses who believes God’s witness about His Son, who brings us into a church family so that we can be a corporate and evangelistic witness to the world to bear witness to the truth.
Conclusion:
Christian, because you have been redeemed by the faithful and true witness, will you be a faithful witness by telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth in love?
This forbids, 1. Speaking falsely in any matter, lying, equivocating, and any way devising and designing to deceive our neighbour. 2. Speaking unjustly against our neighbour, to the prejudice of his reputation; and (which involves the guilty of both), 3. Bearing false witness against him, laying to his charge things that he knows not, either judicially, upon oath (by which the third commandment, and the sixth of eighth, as well as this, are broken), or extrajudicially, in common converse, slandering, backbiting, tale-bearing, aggravating what is done amiss and making it worse than it is, and any way endeavouring to raise our own reputation upon the ruin of our neighbour’s.
Prayer
Prayer
Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth;
keep watch over the door of my lips!
A truthful witness saves lives,
but one who breathes out lies is deceitful.
“Slander also includes assuming the worst possible motives for other people’s intentions and refusing to ever give people the benefit of the doubt” 148
When we make assumptions on people motives.
And also the Glory of Israel will not lie or have regret, for he is not a man, that he should have regret.”
and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood