Question 82: Which is the ninth commandment?*

Answer: The ninth commandment is, "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor."

Question 83: What is required in the ninth commandment?

Answer: The ninth commandment requires that we maintain and promote truth between persons and that we preserve the good name of our neighbor and ourselves.

DAY 1:

This week we begin to look at the ninth commandment. The commandment in view, “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor”, is the basis for the principle of not telling lies. Let’s see exactly what the command is speaking to. First we see that we are not to engage in false witness. The words used here are sheqer (sheh’-ker) ed (ayd). The term sheqer means, “lie, deception, disappointment, falsehood; fraud, wrong; testify falsehood, false oath, swear falsely; false tongue; in vain.” It comes from the root word shaqar (shaw-kar’), which means, “to do or deal falsely, be false, trick, cheat.” The word for witness, ed, means, “witness; witness, testimony, evidence (of things); witness (of people).” The idea is that we are commanded not to engage in any form of testimony that would not be truthful. When a person is summoned to court to testify they are sworn in. With one hand on the Bible and one hand raised in the pledge of an oath, the person swears “to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help me God.” What is being communicated in the oath? The obvious thing is that this person will speak accurately and truthfully about what he or she is asked. If people do not honor this oath then justice can never be administered righteously. Therefore, it is important for the sake of society, as well as, for an individual who is being accused, to have true and accurate statements, not false, lying, and deceptive words.

Thus we see that the Scriptures deal with many of these things in the society of the Israelites. For instance, in Exodus 23:1-9, we are told that all people are to be treated justly and equally. How is that accomplished in their legal system? Verse 1 tells us that we are not to be engaged in “circulating” a false report and not putting our hand in with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness. The word “circulating” here is the term nasa’ (naw-saw’). It means, “to lift, bear up, carry, take, support, sustain, endure; to take, take away, carry off, forgive.” The idea is that we are not to give any weight to false statements. We are not to put our reputation, name, or word behind something that we know is false. Nor are we to be involved in scheming to lie in order that someone may be deprived of justice or that we may get gain. Verse two goes on to say that there should not be a following of others to do evil, nor testifying in a dispute to turn aside many in order that justice may be perverted. In a public court where there would be many judges, they would allow the younger judges to give their verdict before the older ones so that they would not be influenced by them. Also, one could only be condemned by the mouth of two or three witnesses, but could be exonerated by the mouth of one. Therefore we are to be careful of being influenced to sin against our consciences by the influence of those who are older than us and also by the majority.

Verse three goes on to speak of not showing partiality to a poor man in his dispute. The idea behind this comes from the words “show partiality.” The Hebrew word is hadar (haw-dar’). It means, “to honour, adorn, glorify, be high; to swell.” We should not be those who patronize the poor and come to their aid in the area of justice simply because they are poor. Many today want to take up the case of a poor man and make it out as though they are being railroaded by the system, when in fact, they are guilty and worthy of justice. He law says that we are not to be like that. Rather we are to allow justice to see all things clearly and weigh evidence and testimony to judge rightly. By the same token, verse six tells us that when the poor has a valid case, we are not to pervert judgment. Simply because he may not have money or a certain social status should not be cause for him to be taken advantage of and falsely accused or if he is the plaintiff, that he should not be awarded justice.

Verse seven goes on to say that we should be careful to guard ourselves in false matters. In fact, the words that are used are “keep yourself far from”. The Septuagint reads, “Thou shalt abstain from every unjust thing.” Also we are not to be those who kill the innocent and righteous. In the days of Israel there were judges who gave sentences. Those who executed those who were known to be innocent, were the ones spoken of as wicked or guilty. In our society today, laws determine certain judgments and the jury usually determines which penalty will be enacted against those found guilty. This would speak to those who would knowingly vote for the execution or any penalty for someone that they were not fully convinced was guilty. Some motives today might be the color of skin, social status, religion, or family association. These things all come from our fallen nature and I dare say that many of us who are believers may often wrestle with issues of prejudice and a looking down on others because of some of the afore mentioned things. These are attitudes of the heart and we must deal with them according to the gospel of Jesus Christ. In other words, they must be nailed with Him to His cross. They must be mortified and we must seek the welfare of our fellow man and grant him justice.

In verse 8 we see that bribes are to be rejected. The word here refers to any presents or gifts of any kind in order that we may pervert justice. We are not to be people who can be bought off as Judas was. We are not to sell our souls for any price. Rather we are to guard ourselves from the love of money, which is the root of all evil (1 Tim. 6:10), and we are to love justice and mercy, which Jesus proclaimed were the more weighty things of the law. What is the reason for such a command to not take bribes? It blinds the discerning and perverts the words of the righteous. In other words, it puts out the eyes of clear judgment. It renders the one who has been bribed unable to clearly distinguish the truth. It also turns the judgments of honest judges on their heads or it will take the straight honest testimony of a righteous man and corrupt it. In either case may our words be those which can be depended upon and may we seek to honor the Lord with integrity.

Lastly, verse nine speaks to oppressing strangers. It would be easy to want to treat someone who was not a citizen of Israel different and not allow them the same rights. We hear much of that same kind of talk today in America, especially in the days we live in since all of the talk of terrorism. However, God commands that they too should be given the same legal opportunity as citizens. They are not to be treated different and, at least for Israel, they were to treat them this way because they knew what it was like to be strangers in the land of Egypt. They knew what it was like to be unfairly treated and pushed to the limit through slavery. Therefore, they should sympathize and not engage in any type of false testimony or judgment upon those who were not of their people.

I am running long. Let me ask a few questions. Do we often wrestle with whether we should lie regarding certain things, events, or persons in order to get someone else to take the fall for something? What about lie in order that our brother or sister might get into trouble? Do we exaggerate the truth about events or persons so that somehow we might gain from it? Do we take delight when someone tells a clever lie? Do we see all lying as sin? Is there not a basis for telling the truth in all matters in this commandment? Are we truthful with God? Ourselves? Our spouses? One another? May God grant us repentance from a lying heart and a lying tongue and may we seek to follow Him in the integrity of our hearts.

DAY 2:

In our last lesson we saw that a society and a legal justice system must rely on the fact that people will be honest and speak the truth. When men do no do such things then justice is perverted, the guilty go free, the innocent are punished, and men’s words are for sale for the most gain. That is not what God has commanded men to do.

Today we will see that in our dealings with each other the Bible is clear that we should be those who have integrity in our speech. We are often familiar with what is associated with politicians, that they say one thing and do another. However, sadly this is not relegated to the arena of politics. Man’s nature is sinful and as a result his heart constantly is deceptive and deceives. His heart is so wicked that it even deceives himself (Jer. 17:9). Yet, God in His grace has given us instruction from His word as to how we are to deal with one another. We are to always be truthful with one another.

Likewise to we are have a reputation that can stand for the truth to be told. When we say something, we should not shy away from it if we truly believe it to be true. Also, if we have been wrongly accused we should be willing to face our accusers with integrity. The apostle Paul did this when he was asked by Festus if he was willing to face the accusations of the Jews in Acts 25. In verse 9 Festus asks if he is willing to go to Jerusalem and be judged by him before the Jews. Paul then goes on to say that where he is, is where he should be judged. Because Festus was a representative of Caesar and because his court was a Roman court, he called it “Caesar’s judgment seat.” However, in verse 11 he states very clearly that if he has done anything worthy of death, then he would not fight against his execution, and so he appealed to Caesar. Paul’s integrity led him to appeal to the highest authority to judge him, rather than be brought in among those who would falsely testify against him.

Proverbs 14:5 tells us that a true witness will not lie. The idea is that someone that is faithful and true will not lie, they will not seek to deceive, nor will they make attempts to fabricate falsehoods. However, they are contrasted with a false witness, who will utter lies. The word here for utter is puwach (poo’akh). It means, “to cause to exhale or breathe, to puff, snort, to excite, inflame, to puff, pant for it, to breathe out, utter to blow, blast.” In other words, a false witness not only lies once, but is known for his lies because he is one that is considered to lie every time he opens his mouth. With every breath he breathes he lies. They come from within his sinful heart and he cannot control his lies. In verse 25 it speaks of the faithful witness being one that delivers souls. He is not only one that has the capacity to deliver the one that he is a true witness for, but quite possibly that one’s family. It may even refer to those around him that will here his words. There is a tremendous example that one sets when he speaks the truth. There is integrity and with integrity comes honor and respect, and will bring others along. However, the deceitful witness speaks lies. This implies that he brings people to ruin. He destroys souls. Why? It is because a liar has a father. Jesus spoke to the Pharisees and told them they were liars and that they had a father, the father of lies (Jn. 8:44). Satan himself is their father.

Lying and speakers of false things then develop a pattern of lying. This is why we must be very careful to discipline our children and teach them that God says that we should always speak the truth, even if it gets us into trouble. We should have integrity in the things we say. I have often heard some speak of the story of Rahab in Joshua 2 and somehow tie it to Hebrews 11:31 and say that Rahab was justified in telling a lie in order to hide the whereabouts of the spies. That is not at all what is being communicated. She is commended for her faith in the God who was about to judge her city and took and hid the spies who came. Never do we find that anyone in Scripture is commended for lying, even to spare their own lives or the lives of another. The Lord Jesus sure didn’t do such a thing. Neither did Paul, Peter, or any of the other apostles when they were called upon to testify of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul was very clear when he spoke to the people of Galatia in 4:16 and said, “Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?” Paul was not concerned at all with himself or whether the people liked him. What concerned him was that he speak the truth in love to people and he was not willing to “bend” the gospel in any fashion to make it any less offensive. Therefore, he had tremendous integrity and consistency. In the closing of the letter of 3 John, verse 12 tells us that John said that Demetrius was a man of integrity. He bore a good testimony, or a good witness to all men. Also the message that he bore was truthful. Likewise John commended him, as well as, his message. Christians should be the most honest and truthful people on the planet. Our Father is not the father of lies, but rather the One who cannot lie (Titus 1:2). Therefore, let us be imitators of God (Eph. 5:1).

In Zechariah 8:16, we read, “These are the things you shall do: Speak each man the truth to his neighbor; Give judgment in your gates for truth, justice, and peace.” Here we find some utterances made to the nation of Israel with implications to all men. Our manner of dealing with our fellow man should be in honesty. Again, God has called us to be those who do not seek to deceive our neighbors, but to uphold them in the truth. We must be discerning and deal truthfully in the judgments that we make. Though we must be truthful, sometimes the truth will be offensive. Therefore, we must be on guard against speaking the truth in arrogance or contempt. Rather we should always communicate the truth in love (Eph. 4:15).

Who is your father? Is He the Father of truth and honest judgments? Or is He the father of lies? Do you desire to be truthful in all that you do and say? Or only in the things that will not being trouble your way? Do you seek to deceive and lie in order that you may escape chastening? Or do you hold fast to telling the truth even when you have done wrong? Do we seek to be truthful in the communication of the gospel of Jesus Christ? Or do we try and “circumcise” the gospel so that we don’t have to communicate “all” of it and therefore offend anyone? May God grant us His grace to be those who walk in integrity and honesty.

DAY 3:

Today, I will have just a few items to share. First, listen to the words of Solomon in Ecclesiastes 7:1. He says, “A good name is better than precious ointment, And the day of death than the day of one’s birth.” The word “good” is not in the text. It merely reads, “A name”. This speaks to a persons reputation and character. Good is reasonably supplied here because of the context. Obviously a bad reputation is not better than precious ointment.

What is this deal about precious ointment? The Septuagint renders it “good oil”. We recall when Mary came in and anointed Jesus in John chapter 12 that she did so with a very expense fragrant perfume. This perfume, or spikenard, was extremely expensive. I don’t think we have anything that would rival it in value. Judas estimated it at 300 denarii (vs. 5). A Jewish laborer would earn 1 denarii per day. So this would equal about 1 years wages. This perfume was also about 1 lb. Most commentators believe it to be between 12-16 oz. My wife’s perfume surely is not this expensive. If it was, well, she might just not have the luxury of wearing any. In any case Mary took this very expensive oil and anointed the Lord’s feet with it to show her love and devotion to Him.

What is being communicated is that the most wonderful and expensive luxuries of this world are not even comparable with a good name. I remember the words from my father many years ago as a teenager, “Son, people will know you by your name.” By that he didn’t mean they would simply know the name Tim Brown. What he meant was that the name Tim Brown would be associated with a particular character. He said this about my credit, but it applies in everything we do. When we speak and make promises, we should seek to keep them in order that our name is associated with honesty and integrity.

Proverbs 22:1 tells us that “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches.” The writer communicates that what many in our society do today is very foolish. Many in American society are pressured by the society and sadly by parents to “get to the top” and “make it in this world”. They emphasize the need to obtain wealth and consequently, many times fail to speak of developing character and a good and honorable reputation before God and man.

This kind of language regarding the name tied to perfumed oil is not unique to this passage. Solomon begins writing Songs in chapter 1 verse 3 with the same type of concept of the lover’s name of the Shulamite being like precious fragrant ointments, which attract the virgins.

The gospel carries a fragrance and is a costly oil. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 2:14-16, “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?” As bearers of this wonderful fragrant gospel should not our own lives and reputations be that which is worthy of such a gospel?

Also, Solomon goes on to say that the day of death (is better) than the day of one’s birth. If a man has lived with integrity and his character is commendable then the day of his death does not come with fear and reservations but with honor and joy. He will be awaiting the day in which he will see his Lord face to face.

We often find what men are made of in the moments of their deaths. It is often interesting to hear or read biographies of people and know their lives and yet when the final hours are penned we see whether their character is genuine or not. I can recall many accounts of lives of those who were faithful to the Lord and His gospel and venture out into eternity still clinging to Christ alone and humbly, yet joyfully leaving this life for the reward that awaits them. I have heard the stories of those who lived lives in mockery and abandonment of the gospel only to find them either leaving this life in cursing and blasphemies or either being turned in the final moments by the grace of God from everlasting destruction. The hour of death proves us for who we are. While we live we may be able to deceive others and even ourselves, but the moment of truth comes at the hour of death. Oh that we would examine ourselves today and have a clean conscience before God that we are men, women and children of integrity. May God grant us such a name. May we honor His good and glorious name by being those children “who remember who their Father is” and walk in a character that is worthy of calling God “Our Father”.

Picture your deathbed. Let’s say it was tomorrow. Are there things you would change right now if you could? What is the character of your life now? Do you have a good name among people? Are your words trustworthy? Can you be counted on? Have you walked in integrity? Are you known for your truthfulness and honesty? If so, bless the Lord and exalt Him for He has done these things in you. If not, repent, seek forgiveness and begin to turn from such things that your Father in heaven may be glorified.

Scripture: Exodus 20:16; Zechariah 8:16; Acts 25:10; Ecclesiastes 7:1; 3 John 12; Proverbs 14:5,25.