The ninth commandment said, “You shall not bear
false witness against your neighbor.” What exactly does “bearing false witness”
mean? The simplest definition of this phrase is lying or speaking falsehood.
But in the context of the Ten Commandment, it is used to refer to giving false
testimony as a witness against another, especially in a legal
situation. The foundation on which this commandment stands are two. Firstly,
it is because we worship the God of truth who never lies. Hence to speak
falsehood is not befitting the nature of His children. Secondly, it is because our
God is love. He never has any ill-will against another. Hence like Him, we His
children must only have the best intention for others and not speak falsely
against them.
The call not to bear false witness is not an intangible concept. It is about the real harm that can be inflicted on another when one speaks falsely against that person. When is a person guilty of violating this law? When one maligns and gossips untruths about that person. We are guilty of breaking this law when we do so. Here’s a thought for the context of the church, when a false doctrine is propagated, it is bearing false witness against God. Hence, we must be sure to share what’s right and biblically correct.
Hear what the Apostle Paul said in Ephesians 4:25. Calling on believers not to bear falsehood, he said, “Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.” This is a call to embrace the ninth commandment. Lying is never justified. Firstly, it is deceptive. That’s the very method that Satan used to deceive Eve into disobeying God. When one speaks falsehood, one will be modeling the devil, the father of all lies. Secondly, lying is contrary to the truth. Christ Jesus said in John 14:6 that He is the truth. In speaking truth, we emulate and reflect Christ. In lying we contradict Him and the truth He embodies. Thirdly, falsehood is a work of the flesh. It is opposite to the work of God’s Spirit. To speak falsehood will be giving in to the work of the flesh.
How do we practice this commandment then? We practice this commandment by being honest. Here is a list of a few things that we must not cultivate in life. We must not practice deceit or duplicity. And we must also not exaggerate, fabricate, flatter, speak half-truth, insinuate, or misrepresent. This list can go on ad infinitum. Every time we commit any of these, we have discredited God and our status as the children of God. So let us practice this commandment by speaking the truth in love. We do so to honor and please God.
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