The Ninth Commandment

 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. ( Exodus 20:16)





Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.  (Exodus 23:1)

Lying has become an acceptable way of life. Our world is accurately described by Isaiah's description of ancient Israel: “None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.” (Isaiah 59:4). How did God view the Israelites' epidemic of lies? “But you shall say unto them, This is a nation that obeyeth not the voice of the LORD their God, nor receiveth correction: truth is perished, and is cut off from their mouth.” (Jeremiah 7:28)

The temptation for man kind to lie, has never ceased, but in fact has increased with the need to do whatever it takes to get what man kind feels it deserves. "The ends justifies the means": Machiavelli

 They are always present. Lying is such a quick and effortless way to gain an advantage over others. It appears to offer easy and swift escape from embarrassment, fear and guilt. But the Bible says, “Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.” (Proverbs 12:22)

Christ tells us about Lucifer is “a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44)  We are reminded in Genesis 3:1-6, 17 that  a lie birth sin into the world, by Satan tickling the ear of Eve with what he knew was a lie, because she believed the lie instead of the truth of God, sin was introduced into the world.

We see that when Christ was brought before the religious leaders of his time. that they held this mock trail, where the leaders supposedly has witness to support their claims against Christ.   "Now the chief priests and all the council sought testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but found none.  For many bore false witness against Him, but their testimonies did not agree.  Then some rose up and bore false witness against Him, saying, ⁵⁸“We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.’”  But not even then did their testimony agree." (Mark 14:55-59)                                                                 

Stephen death was brought about from self-righteous Jews who brought him to the Jewish court, the Sanhedrin, and accused Stephen falsely with the intent to persuade Stephen from teaching Christ lives and that he was the Son of God. So lies can kill, lies cut to the bone, their are a two edged swords which purpose is not to edify but to destroy.

By lying, by bearing false testimony, we effectively deny the relationship to the One who said, "I am the Way and the Truth and the Life" (John 14:6)

Have you ever had someone lie on you?

Did it hurt?

Was it someone you trusted?

Or someone you didn't even know?

Lord help us to guard our lips, help us to speak only your truth. Let us remember what a lie can do and that a liar shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.  Oh Lord let our lips never be used to harm another, let us never bear false witness against another.