Ten

Here is a link to last week’s series, Ten.

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

Exodus 20:16

Have you ever known someone who was guilty of breaking the ninth commandment?

Bearing false witness means saying something is true when it’s not. This can involve lying about a person’s character or actions. It can be done openly, by inuendo, or by leaving out key information that alters the truth.

Bearing false witness can harm families, corrupt business practices, threaten law and order, and disrupt democracies, but most importantly, it dishonors God.

This type of dishonesty can be motivated by greed, lack of self-control, disregard for truth, and other sins that lurk in a wayward heart.

Our adversary, Satan, aggressively employs this tactic against believers. The Bible tells us that he stands in Heaven as our accuser. (Revelation 12:10)

We must be aware of temptations and prepare daily to confront dishonesty with the Holy Spirit’s help. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

In Jesus’ day, the Pharisees and Jewish religious leaders were masters of bearing false witness against Him and others. But Jesus confronted them with this truth:

You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of lies.

John 8:44

Jesus could not be trapped, and God’s plan remained unchanged.

Here are some examples from scripture about innocent people who faced the treachery of false witnesses.

Jesus

There are many examples of the Jews bearing false witness against our Lord. Here is just one example:

Now the chief priests and the entire Council were trying to obtain testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, and they were not finding any. For many people were giving false testimony against Him, and so their testimonies were not consistent.

Mark 14:55-56

Stephen

Stephen was, according to scripture a good man. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, he performed miracles among the people.  He kept telling the truth about Jesus. This undermined the authority of the religious leaders and fueled their deep animosity.

But some men…rose up and argued with Stephen. But they were unable to cope with his wisdom and the Spirit by whom he was speaking. Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” 

They were not able to silence this godly man by using false witnesses against him. Their hatred grew to a murderous pitch until they eventually stoned Stephen to death.

“…Then he fell on his knees and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” Having said this, he fell asleep.”

Acts 6-7

Naboth

Naboth was an innocent victim of Jezebel and Ahab. Ahab coveted some land owned by Naboth. When Naboth wouldn’t sell it to Ahab, Jezebel concocted a ruthless scheme against Naboth involving false witnesses.

“Proclaim a fast and seat Naboth at the head of the people; and seat two worthless men opposite him, and have them testify against him, saying, ‘You cursed God and the king.’ Then take him out and stone him to death.”

1 Kings 21:9 & 10

You can read the whole story in 1 Kings 21. God did not permit this sin to go unpunished.

Many of you know the story of Joseph, who was falsely accused of molesting Potiphar’s wife. Read about the treachery against him in Genesis 39:6-18

If you are a child of God and if you struggle with this particular sin, be quick to confess it. Don’t allow an innocent person to bear the weight of any deception that you cause.

Pray daily to be free from this sin. Where possible, make amends and seek forgiveness from anyone that you have harmed in this way.

When you walk with Jesus, your life should reflect the attributes of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:21-23). Honesty and self-control are important character qualities in the life of a believer. The Spirit is our helper.

Set a guard, Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips.

Psalm 141:3

Share the Good News in your world!

Isaiah 52:7

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

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