Exodus 20; 16
False Witness
The ninth commandment is often translated to say “thou shalt not lie”. That is indeed correct, but it doesn’t convey the depth of God’s law for His people. To say thou shalt not lie brings to mind a child not telling the truth concerning an argument with his brother or sister. To say thou shalt not bear false witness covers a number of things we wouldn’t think of when using other words. Bearing false witness is serious business. Everything we do effects someone. What we do determines the nature of how we affect others. Sometimes it can be good. Sometimes it is bad. When we bear false witness it is always bad. On the surface we may think it is helping, but in the end we will find the hard truth. False witness is always bad.
False witness is much more than lying. False witness is saying you were somewhere you were not. False witness is saying you saw something you did not see. False witness is accusing someone of something they did not do. False witness is agreeing with statements that are not true. False witness is saying something is in good condition while knowing it is not. False witness is saying something is in good condition when you do not know if it is or is not. False witness is pretending to be part of a group when you are not. False witness is saying you have completed actions you did not complete. False witness is from the devil who is the father of lies (John 8:44).
A thorough examination of scripture will give us insight into God’s view on false witness. False witness is wrong. It does not please God. He never tells us it is ok. He tells us it is always wrong. False witness is something we need to be forgiven for. Only Jesus Christ can forgive us for bearing false witness. Only Christ can give us the strength to bear truth. If it is common practice for you to share false information or information with facts left out to help your personal cause I pray you will be convicted today by God as we look into the Ten Commandments and hear God’s word concerning false witness.
- I. False Witness and Israel
- a. Judicial Matter (judging accusations)
- i. Israel relied on the testimony of individuals (Covenant Community) in judicial matters (no technology)
- b. Speech (conversation)
- i. Slander brought effect on the entire Covenant Community
- 1. slander effects us as a church today
- If you tell someone a false story about someone in the church the rest of the church will never look at the accused party the same again.
- The story doesn’t have to be true for a majority to believe it.
- II. False Witness The Faith Community (The Church)
(In Jeremiah 23 God speaks of the false prophets)
- a. Faithfulness to God’s Word
- i. Misrepresenting the Word
- 1. teaching without certainty of the text
- 2. preaching outside of context (expository preaching is necessary)
- 3. teaching for man’s good above glorifying God
- b. Profession and living testimony
- i. Professing to be a Christian while not being one
- 1. lead others to follow you in unfruitful actions
- III. False Witness; the Church and the World
- a. Who is my neighbor (love your neighbor as yourself)
- IV. Reconciling the lies in Scripture (note; these are not God’s lies)
- a. Lies in Scripture (Lies told in scripture by man, not God)
- 1. Adam and Eve
- 2. Rahab the harlot (lied about the spies in her house)
- 3. The sons of Jacob (lied about Joseph; said he was dead)
- How do we reconcile such lies with God’s word?
- We understand they are simply recorded actions committed by fallen mankind.
*The recorded actions do not convey permission to lie.
*When faced with tough questions we have another option other than lying
It is to say nothing at all
CLOSING
Our communication should be honest. We should never seek to harm others with our communication. We should always be committed to truth in every aspect of our lives. Any harm the truth might bring is a blessing in the end. All harm brought by false witness is tragic in every way.
The truth will set us free. Free from the bondage of the devil. False witness binds us to sin and always leads to destruction. Sometimes that destruction is our own and that of many of those around us.
False witness harms the individual and the unintended victims around them. God is only glorified by truth. Our every action should be considered by asking will it glorify God or not. If not we should know the answer.
If you are one who tells lies God can forgive you. If you come by faith according to His Grace!
Amen
