Exodus 20 v. 12 -16 "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour." James 3 . 1 - 13
1. THE PRINCIPLE OF HONESTY - "false witness"
Prov 12 v. 22 "Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight."
Psalm 101 v. 7 "He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight."
Proverbs 6 v. 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."
(a) Lying Detested - Proverbs 6 v. 19 "A false witness that speaketh lies "
(b) Lying Defined - i.e, its origin -
John 8 v. 44 "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it." ,
its operation - 1 John 1 v. 6 - 10 "If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us."
we can lie by our walk - v. 6 "If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:"
we can lie by our words v. 8 "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."
we can lie by our works - v. 10 "If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us."
Its outcome - James 3 v. 1 - 13 - Our tongues can:-
(1) Defile v. 2 "For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body."
(2) Direct - v. 3 & 4 "Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth."
(3) Disturb - v. 5 "Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!"
(4) Destroy - v. 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."
- homes, families,marriages, churches, businesses, governments
(5) Deceive - v. 9 "Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God."
(c) Lying Described - we can:-
(1) Slander - communicate a false statement inpurious to a person's reputation
(2) Lie - issue a false statement deliberately presenting it as a lie
(3) Criticise - woman's washing streaks on window
(4) Tell tales
(5) Insinuate - Job 1 v. 11 "But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face." Job 2 v. 5 "But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face."
(6) Flatter
(7) Exaggerate
(8) Be silent on hearing a lie
(d) Lying Denounced - Proverbs 26 v. 20 - 28 "Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth. As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife. The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross. He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him; When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart. Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be showed before the whole congregation. Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him. A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin."
(e) Lying Defeated - How? By:-
(1) Learning the truth - Ephesians 4 v. 21 "If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:"
(2) Loving the truth - Ephesians 4 v. 15 "But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:"
(3) Living the truth - Ephesians 4 v. 25 "Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another."
(4) Speaking the truth Consistently, Lovingly, & Tactfully v. 31"Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:"
2. THE PRINCIPLE OF CHARITY - "against thy neighbour" -
Parable of good samaritan - our neighbour's reputation is:-
(a) Richly Prized - Proverbs 22 v. 1 "A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold."
Ecclesiasties 7 v. 1 "A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth."
(b) Readily Provoked -
The man who with the breath lent him by heaven,
Speaks words that soils the whiteness of a life
Is but murder, for death is given
As surely by the tongue as by the knife
(c) Should be Religiously Protected "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour." - Leviticus 19 v. 16 "Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I am the LORD."
Proverbs 18 v. 8 "The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly."
Proverbs 26 v. 20 "Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth." -
slander:-
(1) Pierces - Psalm 55 v. 21 "The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords."
(2) Penetrates - Psalm 120 v. 2 Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue.3 What shall be given unto thee? or what shall be done unto thee, thou false tongue?
4 "Sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of juniper."
(3) Poisons - James 3 v. 8 "But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison." -
Luke 6 v. 31 - 33 "And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same."
3. THE PRINCIPLE OF INTEGRITY - 1 John 3 v. 17 & 18 "But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth."
Matthew 5 v. 43 - 48 "Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."
4. THE PRINCIPLE OF TESTIMONY - Luke 10 v. 33 - 37 "But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that showed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise."
Luke 19 v. 10 "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."
