Lesson 8: The 9th Commandment

Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness (Lie)

THE 9th COMMANDMENT
Exodus 20:16 “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.”

Review:

1.     No other God

2.     No graven images

3.     Name of God in vain

4.     Keep the Sabbath

5.     Honor Parents

6.     Don’t kill

7.     No Adultery

8.     No Stealing

9.     No Lying

Colossians 3:9 “Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;” (N.T. Equivalent)

Our world is FULL of falsehoods! : Some feel lying is an ART form to be developed

Merchants lie to get sales, Politicians lie to get votes! , Some preachers lie to get offerings.
WE HAVE DEVELOPED A “MORAL RELATIVISM” IN OUR CULTURE
Even our courts (which should be bastions of truth and honesty) are prey to sharp tongued lawyers that manipulate the truth – confuse the issues etc…

The TRUTH is, we will NEVER REALLY KNOW the real story about most things:
Watergate, Iran-conta, Whitewater, Jimmy Hoffa, President Kennedy, Clinton’s Lawyer etc… THE LIST GOES ON!
But as we have seen – the 10 ancient commandments still fit our society even the information age of the micro chip!

THE REASON: these ancient commands still effect us in our generation is because they are based on God’s character! – Each commandment gives us some more light on our awesome God!

TRUTH IS BASIC TO GOD’S NATURE!

Did you know there are SOME things your Bible says God can not do!

1.     Cannot share his glory

2.     Will not violate human choice

3.     Cannot fellowship sin w/o a sacrifice

4.     Cannot LIE

John 14:5-9 “Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou [then], Shew us the Father? “

Once again the beautiful message of the mighty God in Christ shows us this awesome truth…: The Lord Our God is One! Deut 6:4
Colossians 2:9 “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.”
That’s WHY he could say there is NO OTHER WAY (or avenue) to God – because he was God! —- THE way, THE truth, THE life! – NO WAY TO THE FATHER (God) WITHOUT COMING THROUGH THAT NAME OF JESUS!

I Peter 1:16 “Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
Leviticus 11:44-45 “For I [am] the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I [am] holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. For I [am] the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I [am] holy. “

CREEPING THINGS: dealt with Idolatry and beastiality as well as dietary

regulations under the law. BE YE TRUTHFUL – FOR I AM TRUTHFUL
This encompasses more then just telling a lie.. for God examines the our ATTITUDE toward a lie also.
Commandment #9 prevents us TELLING, SPREADING or LIVING a lie!

Remember the 7 things God hates…?
Proverbs 6:16-19 “These six [things] doth the LORD hate: yea, seven [are] an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness [that] speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. “
Revelation 21:8 ” But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. “

INTERESTING POINT: (who are fearful?)
Remember Jesus Parable about the talents? Listen to his conversation with the LAST man that buried his…
Matthew 25:24-25 “Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, [there] thou hast [that is] thine. “
listen to Jesus pronouncement on the man…
Matthew 25:30 “And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

MY FRIEND: IT TAKES COURAGE (opposite of fear) TO WALK IN REVELATION!
( the truth is… the man DID NOT know his God… for had he know him… he would have been moved by his cause – and shaken from his fear!)

THE FEARFUL are the immobilized “religious” that have received measures of truth that should have propelled them on to usefulness in the kingdom!

BACK TO THE MESSAGE: Remember Anninias & Saphira? (Acts 5)
—> they lied about bringing the offering (don’t tell me stewardship and how we manage our money is not an issue with God!)

GOD ONLY TELLS THE TRUTH – FOR HE IS THE EMBODIMENT OF TRUTH! – He can not fellowship liars
Before we came to God, MOST OF US were used to lying… or at least stretching the truth… right?
Some were even PATHOLOGICAL liars! — Our sinful nature reigned.

—> IT TAKES REPENTANCE & THE HOLY GHOST TO RE-PATTERN OUR MINDS <—

KNOW HOW TO RE-TRAIN YOUR MIND? Philippians 2:5 “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: “
But how? — EVERY TIME the Spirit convicts you.. GO BACK & TELL THE TRUTH! – (like when your mom made you take the bubble gum you stole back to the store owner)

——> > OH YES, IT’S TOUGH MEDICINE: But like the salesman said…”It might kill you, but it WILL cure you!”

The 10 COMMANDMENTS ARE VERY PRACTICAL INSTRUCTION FOR GETTING ALONG IN LIFE!
Romans 12:18 “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.” (A GOOD START IS TO STOP LYING TO THEM!)

Gossip! Rumors! Tales! Exaggerations! – are all sins against others.
Putting others down to try to lift yourself up. (1/2 truths).
—–> the Silent nod, the quiet shrug CAN DO GREAT DAMAGE!
James 5:12 “But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and [your] nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.”
I Peter 5:5 “Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all [of you] be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.”

#9 Exodus 20:16 “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. “

BE CAREFUL NOT TO SOW OR RECEIVE DOUBT ABOUT SOMEONE W/O THE FACTS!
EX: someone is successful — “but you know how they did it don’t you?” ( well, you know… )
BE CAREFUL NOT TO JUMP TO CONCLUSIONS!
James 3:6 “And the tongue [is] a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. “
Like a poison it can damage a reputation!

HAVE YOU SPREAD “FACTS” YOUR NOT SURE OF? (once a lie is out its hard to catch!)

BE CAREFUL NOT TO RECEIVE DAMAGING THINGS ABOUT THE MINISTRY…
I Timothy 5:19 “Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.”
(IT’S AMAZING HOW MANY THINGS WE JUST BELIEVE W/O INVESTIGATING!)

—- WRAP UP ON #9 (we have talked about TELLING & SPREADING lies) – Now let’s talk about LIVING a lie!
I John 1:6 “If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:” (YOU CAN DO A LIE)

JESUS dealt with: Scribes, Pharisees, False Witnesses, Judas’ Kiss, Pilate’s cowardess … BUT THE BIGGEST LIES are the ones we TELL OURSELVES to satisfy our Pride!
I John 5:5-10 “Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? This is he that came by water and blood, [even] Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three ARE one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three AGREE in one. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. “

SIDE NOTE: The heavenly things ARE one (no trinity) But the earthly things AGREE in one because they are separate things! (get it?)
After a while, we can start believing our own “traditional” lies over what even the scripture says!

GOD DESIRES TRUTH IN THE INWARD PARTS! – LET’S FACE THE TRUTH ABOUT SELF
—->> WE ALL HAVE A “DEFENSE MECHANISM” – So let’s repent of it! <<—-
II Timothy 2:24-25 “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all [men], apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;” ( IT IS POSSIBLE TO DECEIVE OURSELF )

Listen to the counsel of the Bible about choosing your company…
II Peter 2:9-13 “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous [are they], self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, [as] they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots [they are] and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;”

Listen to this powerful treatment concerning lies and liars from the Old Testament…
Jeremiah 9:4-9 “Take ye heed every one of his neighbour, and trust ye not in any brother: for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbour will walk with slanders. And they will deceive every one his neighbour, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies, [and] weary themselves to commit iniquity. Thine habitation [is] in the midst of deceit; through deceit they refuse to know me, saith the LORD. Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, I will melt them, and try them; for how shall I do for the daughter of my people? Their tongue [is as] an arrow shot out; it speaketh deceit: [one] speaketh peaceably to his neighbour with his mouth, but in heart he layeth his wait. Shall I not visit them for these [things]? saith the LORD: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?”

AMEN… so let’s bring our MINDS & TONGUES to the ALTER and become a new creature in Christ!