The Ninth Commandment

Once, in Spanish Class...

I have no problem with being a disciple of Jesus Christ. My family has attended church since I was born. We would invite the neighbor kids to join VBS or other events. When my faith became my own in High School, I would even invite my friends to youth group, lead studies, and chat about Jesus.

What I did have a problem with was my teachers knowing I was a disciple of Jesus and using that information for their advantage. For example, I was in Spanish class my sophomore or junior year when my teacher Senor Gamache needed to run to the office briefly. He instructed the class “Run through your vowels and warm up drills. When I return we’ll continue on.”

Now, when you leave a group of students alone in a class that none of them care very much about, then the likelihood of them doing what was asked has dropped significantly. I would say there is probably a zero percent chance of it actually being done.

And you know what else will happen when the teacher returns? They will ask, “did you do what I asked you to do?” and all the students will nod in agreement saying, “Yes, Senor Gamache.”

But Senor Gamache knew something about me - he knew what I believed and how I committed my way to Jesus. So, he turns his attention to me and asked, “Julio (my Spanish name), did the class do what I asked them to do?”

[Image]

He turned to this face [image of HS Chase] — and used my faith to make me an enemy in a world that I had already thought wanted to harm me! So, I sheepishly looked up at him, slouched in my desk, and said, “No, Senor Gamache, we did not do the exercises.”

It is pretty clear that I was not popular to begin with — this event definitely did not help. I couldn’t help it though! Do not lie had been ingrained in me from childhood!

For those of you raising young kids, or those who had young children, you know full well when you train them not to lie then any lie that someone shares becomes a big deal. I think Gary and Killian got into something recently while at the office. Killian lied and Gary was set off. “Killian lied!”

Lying is a big deal. It hurts people. It breeds distrust, selfishness, and hate. So, if you haven’t guessed yet. The ninth commandment deals with lying, but lets read and discover what God’s word says and how we can apply it to our lives as we are spiritually formed by the Holy Spirit of God.

We’ll be reading from Exodus 20:16. Again, that is Exodus 20:16.

Exodus 20:16 NIV

16 “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

Look at that. It is more than four words. However, God continues with the trend of “You shall nots” with this next commandment and it is related to our neighbor. This is the first time in the entire Decalogue that “neighbor” has appeared. And uniquely enough, we’ll see it appear next week as we close out our series on the 10 commandments.

When ancient Israel is hearing God proclaim this word their minds would’ve begun to think in a judicial sense. False testimony includes refusing to divulge pertinent information at a trial. A decent society requires a reliable court system and court processes.

Being an honest witness — providing true testimony is essential for the integrity of the legal process in ancient Israel. There was no DNA evidence. No forensics. No lab work.

And since in a simple desert society, nearly all crimes were capital charges and successful “false witness” would be equivalent to murder. As a safeguard, the witness must also be the executioner. Consider Deuteronomy 17:7

Deuteronomy 17:7 NIV

7 The hands of the witnesses must be the first in putting that person to death, and then the hands of all the people. You must purge the evil from among you.

Additionally, God had provided provision for punishing those who frustrated or defeated justice by refusing to come forward to give needed testimony. This commandment provided an obvious and no doubt needed protection of the legal process as the crucial point where the evidence of wrongdoing within the covenant community was given.

But since this commandment is focused in a judicial sense, we need to proceed to understand who the Israelites neighbor was. Was it a person in a different nation? Was it the person next door?

In ancient near eastern contexts, neighbor has nothing to do with proximity or familiarity. So, ya’ll sitting in the back rows (ya’ll are taken aback because you sit there to not be noticed) who never mingle with my neighbors in the front do not get a pass — they are still your neighbor. The same in ancient Israel. It didn’t matter if you had no dealings with that tribe or family; your neighbor connotes any other human being you may have dealings with, actually or potentially.

Great. We now know that in judicial cases that giving a false testimony was a really bad thing. The person giving testimony has the power to give life or death to the person on trial.

Does this judicial law about lying imply that dishonestly in general is also destructive to the community? The answer begins Y and ends in -es. Yes it does!

Receiving this word from their God — the God who heard their cries, who gave them rest, who redeemed them from exploitation, misery, and slavery — we’d imagine they follow through with their words found in Exodus 19:8

Exodus 19:8 NIV

8 The people all responded together, “We will do everything the Lord has said.” So Moses brought their answer back to the Lord.

But we’ve seen eight weeks of examples on how they continued to struggle, fail, and waver. From worshiping idols, being workaholics, giving into a distorted sexuality, exploiting their family, neighbor, or the alien.

And it happens with this commandment — a commandment carries with it the weight of life or death. A commandment that instructs us to honor and uphold the scales of justice.

This is a commandment all of us are for, to some degree — a fair day in court. Truth. Honesty.

However, Israel forgot the necessity of justice and integrity in the legal process. Turn with me in your Bibles to 1 Kings 21 and we will read this historical story together.

1 Kings 21:1–4 NIV

1 Some time later there was an incident involving a vineyard belonging to Naboth the Jezreelite. The vineyard was in Jezreel, close to the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. 2 Ahab said to Naboth, “Let me have your vineyard to use for a vegetable garden, since it is close to my palace. In exchange I will give you a better vineyard or, if you prefer, I will pay you whatever it is worth.” 3 But Naboth replied, “The Lord forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my ancestors.” 4 So Ahab went home, sullen and angry because Naboth the Jezreelite had said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my ancestors.” He lay on his bed sulking and refused to eat.

We have a King that wants a vineyard, but one man won’t sell it because it has been in the family forever. This is perfectly fine. The king is sad, like any one would be, when he gets shot down. It is what happens next that turns this event into a matter of life and death.

1 Kings 21:5–10 NIV

5 His wife Jezebel came in and asked him, “Why are you so sullen? Why won’t you eat?” 6 He answered her, “Because I said to Naboth the Jezreelite, ‘Sell me your vineyard; or if you prefer, I will give you another vineyard in its place.’ But he said, ‘I will not give you my vineyard.’ ” 7 Jezebel his wife said, “Is this how you act as king over Israel? Get up and eat! Cheer up. I’ll get you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.” 8 So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name, placed his seal on them, and sent them to the elders and nobles who lived in Naboth’s city with him. 9 In those letters she wrote: “Proclaim a day of fasting and seat Naboth in a prominent place among the people. 10 But seat two scoundrels opposite him and have them bring charges that he has cursed both God and the king. Then take him out and stone him to death.”

They conspire to get this vineyard at all costs. Jezebel paid with it through bribes to those in extreme poverty to lie about Naboath. Jezebel paid for the field with the life of a man who was innocent.

If you were to keep reading, you will see King Ahab and Jezebel face the judgement of God.

1 Kings 21:19–23 NIV

19 Say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Have you not murdered a man and seized his property?’ Then say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: In the place where dogs licked up Naboth’s blood, dogs will lick up your blood—yes, yours!’ ” 20 Ahab said to Elijah, “So you have found me, my enemy!” “I have found you,” he answered, “because you have sold yourself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord. 21 He says, ‘I am going to bring disaster on you. I will wipe out your descendants and cut off from Ahab every last male in Israel—slave or free. 22 I will make your house like that of Jeroboam son of Nebat and that of Baasha son of Ahijah, because you have aroused my anger and have caused Israel to sin.’ 23 “And also concerning Jezebel the Lord says: ‘Dogs will devour Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.’

Their false testimony, exploitation, evil, destruction, and disorder they brought upon their neighbor and nation is a matter of life and death. You too, have the power of life or death in your testimony and witness.

The book of James reminds us that

James 3:9–10 NIV

9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.

This is a struggle for us. Out of the mouth the heart speaks. We have the power of life or death by our words.

Manipulating an argument between your spouse: “I DID NOT SAY IT LIKE THAT!”

Stolen valor comes to mind — Look at this photo

This guy is definitely bearing false witness.

And friends, we all do it to some extent. We bend the truth. We hold back key words or phrases. We lie.

And our lies can be destructive to our communities, our families, and our friendships. Lies tear marriages apart. Dishonesty put wedges between a parent and their child. Corruption destroys communities.

But if you have Jesus, you have a better way — a way of life and a way to give life by your testimony. Your words. Your life.

Jesus tells the crowds in John 5 these words

John 5:36–40 NIV

36 “I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing—testify that the Father has sent me. 37 And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, 38 nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. 39 You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me to have life.

The same scriptures that testify about Jesus are the ones that provide life. And this life is the light of men. To find life, goodness, love, mercy, grace, and justice you must follow the one who is life: Jesus.

John 8:12 states

John 8:12 NIV

12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

You have resurrection power to be a disciple who follows Jesus. To stand and say I will worship no other Gods. I will follow what you have commanded for the benefit of my household, my faith community, and my city. I will refrain from being a destructive evil force by the power of the Spirit that resides in me. I will give honest, truthful testimony to the way of Jesus. To any question that is asked of me. I will not doctor it, manipulate it, or exploit it. But I will be a disciple who follows Jesus and his Kingdom Mission faithfully.

You will struggle — and when you do look to the one who is life and leads us out of darkness. To Jesus be glory, honor, and power forever and ever. Will you pray with me?