Introduction

Good morning, beloved family! Isn't it a great day to be in the house of the Lord? I'm excited to share with you today, as we gather in fellowship and faith, ready to grow closer to our Savior, Jesus Christ. We're going to chat about something that's as relevant today as it was thousands of years ago when it was first written down. It's one of those commandments that we might think we've got down pat, but when we really get into it, we'll find there's so much more to learn.

Our focus today is on the ninth commandment, found in Exodus 20:16, "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor." Now, on the surface, we might think this is pretty straightforward. Don't lie about others, right? But as we'll see, it's a bit more layered than that.

Before we get into it, I'd like to share a quote with you from a respected Christian author, Philip Yancey. In his book, "What's So Amazing About Grace?" he writes, "Grace teaches us that God loves because of who God is, not because of who we are." This quote might not seem directly related to our topic at hand, but as we talk today, I think you'll see how it ties in. It's all about the nature of God, the nature of us as His children, and how we're called to live in this world.

Let's look at the full Scripture passage:

"And God spoke all these words, saying, 'I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy...Honor your father and your mother...You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. You shall not covet...'"

Now, let's bow our heads in prayer.

Understanding the Concept of Bearing False Witness

When we think about the commandment, "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor," we might initially think it's simply about not lying. But it goes deeper than that. It's about integrity, honesty, and the value we place on truth. It's about how we view others and how we choose to interact with the world around us. This commandment is a call to uphold truth and justice, to respect the dignity of others, and to reflect God's own truthfulness in our lives.

The first aspect we need to look at is the idea of bearing witness. In a court of law, a witness is someone who gives testimony about what they have seen or know. They are expected to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. When we bear false witness, we are giving a false testimony. We are not just lying, but we are misrepresenting reality and potentially causing harm to others. This can take many forms, from spreading rumors and gossip, to lying to cover up our own mistakes, to intentionally deceiving others for our own gain.

The second aspect is the idea of our neighbor. When the commandment refers to our neighbor, it's not just talking about the person who lives next door to us. In the Bible, our neighbor is anyone we interact with. It could be our family, our friends, our coworkers, or even strangers we meet on the street. This commandment is calling us to be truthful in all our interactions, to respect the dignity of every person we meet, and to treat others as we would want to be treated.

The third aspect is the idea of truth. Truth is a fundamental value in the Bible. Jesus Himself said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." As followers of Christ, we are called to reflect His truth in our lives. This means being honest in our words and actions, even when it's difficult. It means standing up for what is right, even when it's unpopular. And it means valuing truth over convenience or personal gain.

The fourth aspect is the idea of justice. When we bear false witness, we are not just lying, but we are undermining justice. We are potentially causing harm to others and disrupting the balance of fairness and equity. This commandment is a call to uphold justice, to stand up for what is right, and to ensure that truth prevails.

The commandment "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor" is not just about not lying. It's a call to uphold truth and justice, to respect the dignity of others, and to reflect God's own truthfulness in our lives. It's a call to be people of integrity, honesty, and fairness. And it's a call to treat others as we would want to be treated.

The Complexities of Truth and Deception

As we consider the ninth commandment, we might initially think it's all about not lying ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO