Commandment 9 - Speak the Truth in Love

You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. (Ex 20:16, NIV)

Outline

Main Point: Lies divide us, truth unites us.  You cannot love your neighbors while spreading lies about them.

I. Understanding the commandment:

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2. a
3. a
4. a

II. Applying the Commandment

1. a.
2. a.

III. Conclusion

I. Understanding the commandment:

This is the 9th commandment of the “Big Ten” given to the Israelites in the desert. We usually think of this command as "do not lie" rather than "do not give false testimony."  Perhaps it is a function of how we were raised or what we learned as a child in Sunday School.  However there is a distinction between these two that needs to be delineated.

At the heart of Jewish law, based on the commandments and principles provided in the Torah (first five books of the Bible), is that in any formal proceeding there must be two or more witnesses to establish the facts in a case.  One should never be judged guilty on the basis of one person's testimony.  That is, in fact, the way the American judicial system was established.  This very biblical principle is one of many incorporated into the framework our laws.

The 9th commandment strictly forbids one from intentionally giving false testimony in a case.  Why?  Because to do otherwise would render the justice system totally corrupt.  God is a righteous God (ref?) who loves justice (ref?). It is obvious that a nation cannot act

From this commandment, comparing Scripture with Scripture, we see these principles as necessary for people to live together and sustain a coherent society.

1. Judicial Testimony Must Be True.

The commandment

Deuteronomy 19:15-20 clear that judicial responsibility is to determine the truth. More than one person's testimony is required to convict and that testimony must be truthful and in agreement.  If witness disagree, the judge must carefully investigate to determine what is really true.  If false witnesses are exposed who intended harmful punishment to their neighbor, then the punishment is to be inflicted on the false witness.

II. Applying the Commandment

1. aaa

22You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness … . (Eph 4:22-24,, NIV)

aaa

In a court case, are attorneys concerned with exposing the truth?

• prosecutors focus on guilty verdict
• defense attorneys focus on not-guilty verdict.

ddd

Story:  Megan married an older man who "swept her off her feet" as we say. The engagement period was short so she did not realize that Jerry was a heavy drinker.  When he came home drunk, he was downright mean.  At first, he verbally accosted Megan.  She seemed to think that somehow she had angered Jerry and tried harder to please him.  As his alcohol-induced mean streaks continued, he began to use his fists to make his point.  Megan was afraid of him and ashamed for anyone to know.  Eventually her neighbor, Betty, found out and told her:  "If he comes home drunk again, leave the house immediately and take refuge here."  It took some convincing but Megan finally found the courage to run to her neighbor's house to avoid the verbal and physical abuse.  Jerry was enraged that she was not home but had noticed her becoming chummy with the lady next door.  Suspecting she was hiding at her neighbor's house, he ran over and pounded on the door, screaming for his wife to come out.  Betty cracked open the door, still latched, and started to ask him to leave.  "Is Megan in there?" he screamed.

Q: What should Betty say?

• No, she is not here.
• Yes, she is here but you cannot see her.
• Go away, I have called the police.
• Something clever like, "Did you try calling her mother's house?"

Q: Does Betty break the 9th commandment if she says Megan is not with her?

The main point of this commandment is not to bear false witness against your neighbor as in a formal judicial sense.  Clearly, from the rest of Scripture and in particular the New Testament commands to speak the truth in love, this commandment must be seen to extend to a more universal application to avoid lying.

Nevertheless, not telling a lie is different from concealing the truth (or part of it) from someone who has no right to demand it.  In this case, Betty was not required to speak the truth about Megan's whereabouts to someone who was intent on causing her immediate harm.  While living in the world, we are to "be innocent as doves and shrewd as snakes" (ref?).

III. Conclusion

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Bottom line: aaa.

©  Copyright 2005, Randy Lariscy.

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