The Ten Commandments
“Eighth Commandment”
Speaking the Truth
No false witness
“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.”
-Exodus 20:16
Lying is Usually Damaging
“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.” [Damaging]
-Exodus 20:16
“‘Do not go about spreading slander among your people. ‘Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life.”
-Leviticus 19:16
“Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you give testimony in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd, 3 and do not show favoritism…”
-Exodus 23:2,3
“There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood … The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.”
-Proverbs 6:16,17; 12:22
“The judges must make a thorough investigation, and if the witness proves to be a liar, giving false testimony against a fellow Israelite, 19 then do to the false witness as that witness intended to do to the other party. You must purge the evil from among you. 20 The rest of the people will hear of this and be afraid, and never again will such an evil thing be done among you. 21 Show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.” [Deterrent]
-Deuteronomy 19:18-21
Examples of how False Witness Hurts
Satan
God didn’t really mean what he said. (Even about all 10 commandments) his ripple effect is felt even today.
Absalom
2 Samuel 15
Turned people against David and the people bought hook line and sinker.
[If I were King here is how I would do it…]
Potiphar's Wife
Gen 39
Joseph’s brothers. Jealous and accusatory.
Aaron
Exodus 32
In a spirit of fear he lead the Golden Calf. And then lied and blamed the people. “I didn’t do it.”
BUT, Lying is Not Always a Sin
“Conflicting Absolutes”
Lying to Preserve Life
Abraham
(about his wife being his sister)
Genesis 12
Rahab
Hid two spies and then lied about it to save their lives.
Joshua 2
“They went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there… “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from. 5 At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, they left. I don’t know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them.” 6 (But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof.).”
-Joshua 2
“… Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?”
-James 2:25
“By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed [she preserved their lives and hers] with those who were disobedient.”
-Hebrews 11:31
Johnathan
Lied to his dad (King Saul) who wanted to kill David.
Hebrew Midwives
Hiding Moses and other Newborns
Exodus 1
Satan Lies
“You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
–John 8:44
“The great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.”
-Revelation 12:9
“Now the serpent [Satan] was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” … “You will not surely die.”
-Genesis 3:1+
“Satan … all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.”
-2 Thessalonians 2:9-10
Resist Lying & Giving False Witness
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil…”
-James 4:7
“Do not spread false reports. [Gossip] Do not help a guilty person by being a malicious witness.” [Blaming others]
-Exodus 23:1
“A false witness will not go unpunished, and whoever pours out lies will perish.”
-Proverbs 19:9
“Do not testify against your neighbor without cause—would you use your lips to mislead? 29 Do not say, “I’ll do to them as they have done to me; I’ll pay them back for what they did.”
-Proverbs 24:28
“Rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.”
-1 Peter 2:1-3
Jesus Never Lied
45 Yet because I tell the truth, [Jesus] you do not believe me! 46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me?”
-John 8:45
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
-John 14:6
Q: What lies has Satan planted in your mind that affects your life?
“Due Process”
Innocent until proven guilty
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
-1 Peter 5:8
“Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.”
-2 Corinthians 11:14
When you do decide to Speak,
make sure that it is true.
Honor your word.
TTFN
Is it True?
Is if Fair?
Is it Necessary?
Keep it Simple Stupid
Keep it Simple Silly
Keep it Simple Saint
Honesty is the best policy
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