Exodus 20:16~Don't Bear False Witness

"You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor."

During our last meeting we shared various aspects of the the 8th Commandment from Exodus 20:15 ~ "You Shall Not Steal." We ruminated on both the obvious and some of the more subtle attributes of that commandment.

Sin is often "seasoned" by the enemy, to disguise the taste and make it seem more palatable, more acceptable ... harmless. However, no matter how it is spiced-up or sauced-over ... sin will poison our very souls. That is why our Loving God has given us safe boundaries in which to operate.

We will continue our virtual feast of manna by dipping into the next Law that God gave to Moses on Mt. Sinai. Come on in and make yourself comfortable ....

Ninth (9th) Commandment ~ EXODUS 20:16 ~
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.


This commandment concerns our own and our neighbor's good name.

"Bearing false witness" is LYING ... speaking falsely on any matter, equivocating, and in any way devising or designing to deceive our neighbor. Boy, that covers a LOT of ground! Almost anyone close to us, can be considered our neighbor! It seems to be in our immature "nature" to protect ourselves from trouble. Until, we learn to completely trust God to protect us, it is very easy to cross the line on this commandment.

In fact, lyng usually begins at a young age, as a means of avoiding punishment.

FALSE TESTIMONY:

God tells us not to speak unjustly against anyone, to hurt their reputation and/or raise our own. We are not to lie about the acts, words or property of a neighbor.

I set before you several "types" of lying to consider. All are sin, all carry the same penalty. As we learn to recognize the lies, we will be able to avoid them and/or facilitate repentance and be set free from these traps of the enemy!

LYING UNDER OATH:

1. Giving false testimony for someone that you know is guilty ... to help them get acquitted.

2. Bearing false witness against someone ... by falsely accusing them in open court.

3. Keeping quiet, when you know the truth, is also a lie. By not testifying, you allow either an innocent person to be wrongly convicted or a guilty person to be wrongly set free. In such a case, Leviticus 5:1 says that the person remaining silent will be “held responsible” for his silence. WHOA!

If Old Testament Law was enforced today: a false witness would receive the same penalty that would have been given to the accused! The number of lawsuits in our courts certainly would drop dramatically and witnesses would not be so eager to perjure themselves!

SLANDER:

1. Maliciously accusing, testifying, or implying that someone did or said something they had not.
2. Exaggerating what was done, to make it seem worse than it was.
3. Flattering with insincere compliments. We call it buttering-up or kissing-up or hugging-up.

Flattery uses the cover of pretended friendship to gain an unfair advantage over others.

Without ever touching its victim, the tongue can cut, tear and rip into a person as deeply and surely as ... a cat-o-nine-tails! Our fleshly "instinct" is to defend our honor. Yet Jesus, our Perfect Example, never once got defensive amidst the multitude of unjust accusations railed against Him.

We have a Savior that intimately knows the ultimate pain of false testimony and slander ... the cross! Instead of reviling back, He gave Himself completely over to the Father and asked for forgiveness for His accusers!!! Should we do any less??? I think not.

Have you heard slander in your family, at your job, or social network, school, or even at ... gulp ... dare I say it? ... your church?

Slander is usually passed along through gossip, rumor and innuendo. We must not only not raise a false report—but also refuse to hear it.

"He who raises a slander—carries the devil in his tongue! He who receives a slander—carries the devil in his ear!" - Thomas Watson YIKES!! NO devils in my ears!!! ... seriously.

Note: Romans 1:29 lists slander as one of the marks of a depraved lifestyle. It is an outward mark of a life that does not know God.

Many people act as if it is "no big deal" to misrepresent and slander others. To some, it has become habitual behavior. Others actually make a profession of it. In reality, they are partnering with the "accuser of the brethren," the "father of lies," our enemy, Satan himself. That is a big deal! Fire not to be messed with!

The Direct Lie: the deliberate, premeditated lie. It is the easiest to spot.

The Subjective Lie: the lie in which you arrange the facts in such a way that (while not directly lying) you allow others to believe that which is not true. These lies are more difficult to detect.

These would be the "white lies." You know, those little lies that "don't really hurt anyone."

Like "fibbing" about how much money we spent on something, or what grades we got. Or the lame excuse why we "can't" go somewhere, when, really, we just don't want to. How about that "kind" answer meant to "spare" someone's feelings? Or to keep them from being hurt? Maybe "fudging" about our age? Or exaggerating our qualifications? "Tweaking" our taxes? Yikes!!! It is a slippery slope .... one lie calls for another ... to explain, to cover up ... oh it is baaaad.

Lying to God: the most dangerous lie. We lie to God, when we make a promise to Him and do not keep it. Remember: Ecclesiastes 5:1-5: It is better not to make a vow than to make a vow and break it. God hates that. Never mess with God. It is way better just to keep your mouth shut!

SPECIAL TREAT TODAY ... DESSERT ... Voila!

I discovered two AWESOME Bible Study websites to add Hebraic Insight: (read right to left)

Click here for: "Hebrew for Christians" : this site actually speaks the Word in Hebrew ... very cool!

Click here for Zola Levitt's site: “Christianity Through Jewish Eyes" NOTE: Much treasure here!

FINAL EXHORTATIONS:

1. To avoid these sins, we need a healthy fear of God. Psalm 19:9.

2. We need to love our neighbor. Lev 19:18. When we love someone, we will not speak or attest anything to their harm.

3. Love "thinks no evil." 1 Cor 13:5. With grace, we will put the best interpretation upon another's words. (I, personally, need to remember this one!)

4. Love is that which cements Christians together; it is the healer of division, and the hinderer of slander.

If I am slandered and/or falsely accused ... Make a sanctified use of the situation ... make the best good out of it ... ask yourself:

1. Do I have any unrepented sin, for which God may have allowed me to be reproached?
2. Have I, at any time, wronged others by saying things about them, which I could not prove?

If either answer is yes ... repent and confess that God is right to let you "fall under the scourge of the tongue."

If both answers are no, I am innocent ... do not let yourself be much troubled. Let your rejoicing be the witness of your conscience. **I love this!** As flattery cannot heal a bad conscience, so slander cannot hurt a good one. God will clear up the names of His people. "He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light." Psalm 37:6. As He will wipe away tears from our eyes, so will He wipe off reproaches from our names.

If God has protected you from slander and false witness ... be thankful to Him! It is grace when God stops malicious mouths from bearing false witness. As kings protect their favorites against accusations of men, by taking them in where no one can touch them; so our God has a secret hiding-place for His favorites, where He preserves their honor and reputation. It is a great mercy to be kept from trouble.

JESUS SAID, "I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE" ~ John 14:6

THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH ~ John 14:17

In day to day life, a faithful witness is not always appreciated nor rewarded.

Be encouraged: God knows ... God sees ... God rewards ...

We long to hear our Master say to us one day,

"Well done, good and faithful servant...enter in ..." Matthew 25:21

GOD IS ALWAYS FAITHFUL!!!

Thank You O Merciful and Gracious God

for being for us The Way, The Truth, and The Life!

Please forgive us for being defensive when we have been unjustly slandered and accused.

Please also forgive those who have spoken evil against us, change their thoughts,

show them their hearts and cause them to repent and seek You Lord.

Protect us O God, from wicked mouths.

You are our Defense, our Refuge and our Deliverer.

You are our Portion. We rejoice in You Father!

Teach us to LOVE like You do, to think no evil,

to neither receive nor raise any malicious nor unfounded reports.

We want to be healers of hurt and hinderers of slander.

Continually cleanse our hearts and sanctify our tongues

that we may praise You and magnify You, in Spirit and in Truth.

May we edify and encourage our neighbors

and bless You, Oh LORD. YOUR will be done.

In Jesus' Precious name we pray and thank You.

Amen.

Thanks for stopping in ... check back with us.

For our next little feast, we will be sharing the 10th and final Commandment from Mt. Sinai!

Should be goooood!

In honor of the completion of this series,

I would love, love, love your feedback about what, if anything, you learned.

Or what you thought about this format.

Where you are stopping in from.

Ideas? Suggestions?

Anything to add?

Anyone out

there?

?

May God bless your coming in and your going out!