Ninth Commandment
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A team of British scientists have developed a sophisticated new camera system that tries to detect if someone is lying. According to an article from BBC News, "The computerized system uses a simple video camera, a high-resolution thermal imaging sensor, and a suite of algorithms." The new device depends on the fact that we give our emotions away through bodily cues—eye movements, dilated pupils, biting our lips, wrinkling our nose, breathing heavier, swallowing, or blinking.
The researchers conclude, "We bring together all this well-established work on expressions, these recent developments in thermal imaging, techniques for image tracking of subjects, and our new algorithms into one operational system." However, they also acknowledged that all of these scientific discoveries aren't 100 percent accurate. When the article was written, they could discriminate between truth and lies in about two-thirds of cases.
So much effort and so much technology and so much research and so much analysis and so much blood sweat and tears all poured into technology to be able to detect if someone if lying. I wonder why. Because lying is sooo common place today. It happens so much. It happens all the time. A article in Christianity today asserts...
91 percent of those surveyed lie routinely, and 36 percent lie about important matters; 86 percent lie regularly to parents, 75 percent to friends, 73 percent to siblings, and 69 percent to spouses. So many people lying all over, all the time. We know it we see it and the frustrating thing is that for many of us we don’t know when someone is lying to us. One of my friends even told me once that lying is so prevalent that he just assumes everyone is lying about everything. If you tell him something… he assumes its a lie and then you gotta prove it to be true, if he will believe it. He has the everyone is guilty until proven innocent. Im not sure that this is a good method to get through life and traverse cultural waters, but I can understand why he is doing this.
The breaking of the ninth commandment is one of the current phenomenons pertaining to ethical considerations especially in the church. There was a dean of a prominent christian university who was caught outright lying about his past accomplishments. There was no gray area, it was outright busted. The university did an investigation and found it to be true and eventually let him go. But, what was interesting was that their conclusion was that he did not lie, but made true statements that were contradictory. I use that now myself. But lying happens so much that we now have to come up with ways to lighten the gravity of the sin. We can’t stop it, but we can lessen the blow
I had one individual in a Bible study when we were discussing some of the difficulties of those men and women of God who lied in scripture and the ethical difficulties. She got really upset with me and the Bible study group… she asserts that it is never ok to lie and a lie is a lie and it is never ever ever ok to lie. Don’t do it. Don’t ever do it. I was taught it. I always believed it. A week later we were discussing her bad knee and how it was a result of a serious leg injury that she got in high school. She was also in the military and I asked he how she got in with that injury… she lied. We lie even when we strongly believe that lying is wrong.
And all the lying continues in our culture. Gee you have not changed a bit. I did not get the message. You know what, the check is already in the mail. And all the lying continues in our culture. It is almost as if we just cannot get through life without lying.
A store manager hear his clerk tell a customer, "No, ma'am, we haven't had any for a while, and it doesn't look as if we'll be getting any soon."
Horrified, the manager came running over to the customer and said, "Of course we'll have some soon. We placed an order last week."
Then the manager drew the clerk aside. "Never," he snarled, "Never, never, never say we're out of anything--say we've got it on order and it's coming. Now, what was it she wanted?"
"Rain," said the clerk.
And all the lying continues in our culture.
As reported in USA Today, Jerald Jellison said, "Each of us fibs at least 50 times a day." He explained that we lie about our age, our income, or our accomplishments. And we use lies to escape embarrassment. A common reason for "little white lies," we're told, is to protect someone else's feelings. Yet in so doing, we are really protecting ourselves. According to Jellison, here are some of our most commonly used fibs: "I wasn't feeling well." "I didn't want to hurt your feelings." " I was just kidding." "I was only trying to help."
And all the lying continues in our culture. And it is no secret that the 9th commandment is regularly violated and the worse part about this… the 9th commandment is about so much more than lying. As we have seen, the commands are about more than its heading. And the 9th commandment is no different. But as bad as this commandment is violated, deserving of the severest kind of punishment, I’m not sure we really see why lying is really bad, we will then find just how important the truth of scripture is and why the good good news called the truth of the gospel is the hope that we have and a hope that we will always have. Heaven and earth will pass away, but the word of God will remain forever. Let’s take a look.
“You must not testify falsely against your neighbor.
The grass withers the flower fades but the word of our God stands forever.
The Context of the Command
The Content of the Command
The Christ and the Command
The first thing we will look at today is how we can get a better understanding of the 9th commandment looking at it with the ancient biblical context. The second thing we will examine is more of the specific content of what is included in the category of the 9th commandment. And finally, we will see how Christ fulfills the 9th commandment and how He is the embodiment of what it means to be the way the truth and the life.
Thesis: Though sin and the pattern of this world may cause us to be the transgressors or be victims of the transgressors of the 9th commandment, it is the truth of scripture and the power of the Spirit of truth that will cause us to be free because we will know the wonderful truth from the Father, miraculously revealed by the Son, and illuminated with power by the Spirit.
I. The Content of the Command
- Lies don’t just hurt, they kill.
A. This is a serious serious serious command. Because in ancient times like it is somewhat today, we should see that lies don’t just hurt, they kill. Again, the importance of why we should not bear false witness. In ancient times false witnesses do not just cause hurt, but they actually can kill. How so Shane?? I’m glad you asked.
B. Clearly when we see the the Hebrew ta anaw we immediately appear in the courtroom. Because the definition of that word is to give testimony in a legal context. This command governs the legal testimony a witness gives in a public trial before a jury. So if we take a quick look at the what we know about the justice system of the ancient world.
C. Back in the day there were not the kind of prescriptions we have today. There was no such thing as today’s innocent until proven guilty, but more guilty until proven innocent. It is also understood that many times the accused were not even able to mount any-kind of defense. Furthermore it is also understood that most ancient courts at the time were willing to convict a person on the strength of a single witness. So it is clear that there could be abuse. So in a day that did not have the elaborate methodology of forensic investigation like today’s CSI the witness is, many times, witnesses are all that they had. So you can now see the gravity of a false witness. Lies don’t just hurt, they kill.
D. In accordance with many cultural anthropologists trials became one person’s word against another. He said He said kind of thing. Duck season, wabbit season, duck season wabbit season. And to top it all off, many times the crimes were treated as capital crimes and a person’s life was at stake. Which means that the words of a false witness could be fatal. So now we can see the gravity of a false witness. They testify and you die. Lies don’t just hurt, they kill.
E. But our loving heavenly Father in all of his gracious providence made sure things in Israel would be different. When a person in Israel was put on trial they would appear before a jury of elders and there would need to be more than one witness.
“You must not convict anyone of a crime on the testimony of only one witness. The facts of the case must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.
But never put a person to death on the testimony of only one witness. There must always be two or three witnesses.
F. So we can see the gravity and seriousness of a false witness. Lies don’t just hurt, they kill. But that is why there needs to be more than one, to protect against this. It makes it more secure, but it is not fool proof from the liar. So God gave more protection from the liar. When someone was sentenced to die the accuser was to be the one to cast the first stone.
The witnesses must throw the first stones, and then all the people may join in. In this way, you will purge the evil from among you.
G. Because it is one thing to make an accusation against someone, but it is another thing to put a person to death. The emotional and psychological pressure would for the most part be unbearable to kill a person you just lied on. And how serious to make a false testimony? If it was found that you lied the punishment was severe.
The judges must investigate the case thoroughly. If the accuser has brought false charges against his fellow Israelite, you must impose on the accuser the sentence he intended for the other person. In this way, you will purge such evil from among you.
H. These were extremely important to maintain protection for the innocent and make sure that there is justice and that evil is purged from the land. And important for this… the 9th commandment
But this is what you must do: Tell the truth to each other. Render verdicts in your courts that are just and that lead to peace.
I. And I know that many of us have lost confidence in the justice system today. We do not have confidence that there is justice in the land. We complain that there is no fairness. There is no integrity. There is rectitude. There is no due process. We complain about today... injustice, injustice, and injustice. Leaders are unjust, authorities are unfair, teachers lack integrity, politicians are lawless, society hurts, society destroys, society kills. Injustice, injustice, all I see is injustice.
J. And what are we looking at to fix the problem. We look to political philosophy principles like the Frankfurt school critical theory, ethical considerations, deconstruction, systemic revaluation, political parties, special interest groups, talk show hosts, demonstrations and rioting.
K. If we simply look at the scriptures the Lord is making it very very clear. If we want justice in the land… it is simple. Everybody stop lying. When we come to the 9th commandment it is clear that interpretations demand, just and honest directives from ultimate leaders of countries, judges to judge incorruptible and not rash, for accusers to be honest and not bear falsehood by antipathy or revenge, lawyers are not to call good evil and evil good, and the accused to be honest and to profess guilt and not make false pleas.
L. Husbands are not to bring falsehood to wives and children. Neither should children lie to parents. Friends do not lie to friends. Employer do not have their employees lie, employees do not lie to employers, politicians do not lie to the people and people do not lie to or about their leaders. Teachers to teach what is true and that includes teachers in the church and stop teaching falsehood and lying to God’s people. If we are to have a functioning society and community then we need to cast away all falsehood and reject it.
M. Recently a noted physician appeared on a network news-and-talk show and proclaimed, "Lying is an important part of social life, and children who are unable to do it are children who may have developmental problems."
N. We have got to reject it. We do not take our cues from the world. Let me also add, we do not take our cues from anything but scripture. The scriptures are the very breath of God useful for teaching correcting rebuking and training in righteous so that the man of God will be thoroughly equipped for every good work. It is truth… God’s word is not the lie, but truth.
II. The Context of the Command
- But it is much more than just lying.
A. Oh but Shane I don’t lie. That might be a lie right there, but in any case… the 9th Command is much more than just lying. Again, the Heidelberg Catechism will help us here.
B. 112.Q. What is required in the ninth commandment?
- A. I must not give false testimony against anyone, twist no one's words, not gossip or slander, nor condemn or join in condemning anyone rashly and unheard.
- Rather, I must avoid all lying and deceit as the devil's own works, under penalty of God's heavy wrath. In court and everywhere else, I must love the truth, speak and confess it honestly, and do what I can to defend and promote my neighbor's honour and reputation.
C. We are not to give a false testimony ever.
A false witness will not go unpunished,
nor will a liar escape.
D. We are not to twist anther persons words at all. And it is amazing how easy and how many times we do this. We love and many times feel the need to put our own spin on things.
E. We are not to gossip or slander. Real quick about gossip. Make sure that it is gossip before you start accusing people of doing it. It when you talk about other people involving details that are not confirmed as being true. If we do this… we are commanded not to.
A troublemaker plants seeds of strife;
gossip separates the best of friends.
Hiding hatred makes you a liar;
slandering others makes you a fool.
F. We do not falsely condemn or join in falsely condemning another.
G. We have got to avoid all lying and deceit as the devil's own works. Especially in the church, we cannot tolerate falsehood. We cannot tolerate lies from the pulpit. We cannot tolerate continued false teaching no matter how good you think it might be. We must reject it, because this is what the devil does. This kind of behavior is the way of the devil.
For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.
H. We must must must love what is true. We are to love the truth. We gotta uphold it, speak it honestly and lovingly and to defend and promote what is true about our neighbor.
It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.
So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body.
I. We are Christians today cannot be passive about this. Any form of deceit or untruth in general cannot be tolerated. We are people who uphold the character of our Heavenly Father. We do not dismiss lies because lying is of the Devil and it is the characteristic of who he is. He is the father of lies.
J. When we speak lies we are behaving like the devil. When we bear false witness against our neighbor we are behaving like the devil. When we gossip and slander we are behaving like the devil. When we tolerate lying or treat it ticcy tac we are behaving like the devil. When we are not upholding truth, supporting those who speak it, promoting those who speak it but passively support falsehood we are behaving like the devil. When we do not promote our neighbors honor and reputation we are behaving like the devil.
III. The Christ and the Commandment
- The Way the Truth and the Life.
A. The characteristic of the God we serve is one of truth. Christ is truth. And we can be hopeful and confident today. Because our God does not lie.
So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.
B. And what did He promise? Even though we have broken the 9th commandment many times and in many ways and are truly deserving of death, because the Word of God declares that the wages of sin is death, He declared that while we were yet sinners Christ died.
C. And because Christ died, there is Salvation for us. Jesus died for our sins according to the scripture and he was buried and he was raised on the third day all according to the scriptures.
He personally carried our sins
in his body on the cross
so that we can be dead to sin
and live for what is right.
By his wounds
you are healed.
D. The promises of salvation gives us hope today. All who call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your hearts that God raised Him from the dead you will be saved.
E. This is the beauty of salvation. And finally. Remember the end as to how we are supposed to uphold the honor and reputation or our neighbor. When we are saved Christ becomes our mediator. So did you know that Christ is alive and well sitting at the right hand of the Father. And what is he doing for us?
Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.
F. He is there for us. Pleading with God for us. Interceding speaking to the Father on our behalf. Telling Him that His blood washes away our sins that makes us the righteousness of God in Christ. We are children of God. This is not a lie, it is the truth. The Lord who cannot lie promised it.