10 Commandments / The Ninth Commandment

 

…when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth.                    

  (Jn.16:13)

Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow is one who gives false testimony against a neighbour. 

(Prov.25:18)

You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

(Jn.8:44)

Therefore, each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbour, for we are all members of one body. 

(Eph.4:25)

 

By now we should be familiar with the idea that the Law is the expression of Christ’s character.   And that in the 10 Commandments we are not simply confronted with a list of prohibitions, but with the call to grow into being those who reflect Christ’s character in our own.  Christ is full of truth (Jn.1:14), the embodiment of truth – the very definition of truth (‘I am…the truth’ John 14:6, see also e.g. Is.53:9).  As such, we are called to be a people of the truth, to grow into being truthful.  Of course we will be those who eschew falsehood and deceit. 

 

However, this is more easily said than done.  Fallen humanity is systemically false, and given to deceit.  Outside of Christ, we speak falsehood as a native language (Jn.8:44).  Jesus confronts us: How can you who are evil speak anything good’.  In truth, we need a new heart before we are able to speak truthfully.  The tree must be made good before it can bear good fruit (Matt.12:33-37).  And we note in passing that this, like others in the table of the Ten Commandments is a ‘salvation-issue’ (Rev.21:27; 22:15).  Not that by keeping the Law we are saved, but that insofar as we are saved, we grow into those who keep the Law with increasing consistency.  That said, our propensity to dishonesty is so prevalent than when the Lord wants to distinguish Himself from us He simply says: ‘He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie … for he is not a human being…’ (I Sam.15:29).  As the God of truth, He detests dishonesty in any form, and sets Himself against those who practise deceit to destroy them (e.g. Ps.5:5; Acts 5:1-11; Rev.21:8).  He does not & cannot lie (Heb.6:18, Tit.1:2).  By contrast, our sinfulness finds expression in systemic falsehood.  We suppress truth (Rom.1:18), exchange the truth of God for a lie (Rom.1:25).  As the ground of our being is built on a self-imposed deceit, our lives become shaped by this truth.  And in a culture shaped by such foundational falsehood we accept deceit and dishonesty as a simple fact of life, as normal. 

 

But, as we are redeemed by the Lord and brought into covenant relationship with Him, and as the Spirit of Truth takes up residence in our life (I Jn.4:6), this way of being must be dismantled: ‘…you shall not bear false witness against your neighbour’ (Dt.5:20).  As with other Commandments it would be a serious misunderstanding to limit the scope of these words to a legal or formal context.  It clearly applies in such contexts (e.g. Dt.19:18-19).  But equally clearly, it applies far beyond such a specific environment.  Gossip, slander, slur, libel and defamation, parody and distortion have no place in a Christian’s speech, online or off (e.g. II Cor.12:20; Eph.4:31 etc.).  Assuming the worst, and attributing the most base of motives to each other, are likewise off limits.  And as ‘bearing false witness’ to others about a third party is prohibited, so also is such dishonesty to be excised from all our dealings with others, especially when the outcome is their harm.  But the Commandment has a ‘vertical’ dynamic as well.  Misrepresenting the LORD, by speaking of Him in ways not warranted by Scripture, or that fail to take into account the fullness of the Bible’s witness, lands us on the wrong side of the Ninth Commandment (Is.43:10-12; Hos.7:13).

 

Far from thinking and speaking about people in ways characterised by falsehood, that result in other’s loss or harm, those who know the God of truth must be characterised by truth in our dealings with others (Zech.8:16; Ps.15:1-3; II Cor.13:8; Eph.4:15, speaking the truth in love).  God’s Word is truth (Jn.17:17), and through it, the Spirit of truth will be at work to conform us to the image of the Christ who is truth.  By knowing the truth, we are liberated from falsehood, and can grow into those who are truthful.  If we abide in His word, we will know the truth and the truth will set us free (Jn.8:31-33).  May this be the longing of our hearts.

Questions

Where in life do you simply expect to be lied to?  How do you guard yourself against being taken advantage of? 

 

Is it always wrong to lie? …or to misrepresent truth?  Can you think of examples in the Bible where dishonesty is seen as a virtue?

 

What do you make of the fact that the Bible attributes deceit to the action of God (see e.g. I Kings 22:19-23; II Thess.2:9-12)?

 

Read James 3:2-10.  If this is true, how can we ever hope to control our tongues?  Why do you think James equates controlling our tongues with ‘perfection’?  How would you counsel a young Christian who struggled to ‘tame their tongue’?

 

Read Deut.5:20 & Prov.6:16-19

Of seven things that are detestable to the Lord, two, possibly three, are related to the use of our tongue, and questions of honesty.  Does this surprise you?  Do you think we should have the same emotional reaction (hate, detest) that the Lord has to such matters?  If you do, what would that look like?

 

How comfortable are you talking about the Lord’s hating of behaviours, and of people characterised by them (note v.19)? 

 

Further examples of this kind of language in relation to deceitfulness is found in Ps.5:4-6, and more generally relating to the wicked in Ps.11:5.  How do you reconcile this sort of language with the idea of a God who is love (I Jn.4:8)?  How does this shape our worship? …and our discipleship? 

 

How does the Lord’s hatred of such things find expression?

 

Does speaking of the Lord’s hatred of sin create a sense of urgency in your pursuit of holiness?  Do you think it should?   Is this a helpful way to inspire our fight against sin? 

Catechism:

340. What is bearing false witness against your neighbour?

It is to wilfully communicate a falsehood about my neighbour, either in legal or in other matters, in order to misrepresent them. (Deut.19:16–19; Matt.26:57–61)

341. Why does God forbid such false witness?

Because it defames and wounds my neighbour, erodes my love of truth, disobeys my Lord Jesus, and aligns me with Satan, the father of lies. (Ps.52:1–5; Prov.25:18; Jer.9:3–9; John 8:42–47)

342. How is false witness given in public life?

Any wilful misrepresentation of the truth in legal, civic, or business affairs bears false witness, rebels against God’s will, and subverts God’s justice. (Ex.23:1–3; Lev.6:1–7; Prov.11:1; 24:23–26, 28–29; Acts 6:8–15)

343. How is false witness given in respect to the teaching of the Church?

All false or misleading teaching concerning the Christian faith bears false witness against the truth of God’s Word and abuses the authority given by Christ to his Body. (Deut. 13; Matt.24:3–14; 2 Pet.2:1–3; 1 Jn 2:18–27)

344. What other acts are forbidden by this commandment?

This commandment forbids all lying, slander, or gossip; all manipulative, deceitful, or insulting speech; and testifying falsely about myself for personal gain. (Lev.19:15–17; Ps.12:2–3; Prov.10:18; 11:12; Matt.5:21–22; Rom.16:17–18; 1 Pet.2:1)

345. What sort of speech should you practice instead?

I should speak at all times with love, wisdom, and truth, so that my words may honour God, and comfort and encourage my neighbour. (Ps.32:2; Prov.12:17–20; 14:25; 15:1–4; Zech.8:16–17; Matt.5:33–37; Eph.4:25)

346. When is it right to speak of your neighbour’s sins?

I am forbidden to gossip or slander, but I must speak the truth in love, reporting crime, speaking against injustice, and advocating for the helpless. (Lev.19:17–18; Prov.28:23; 31:8–9; Matt.18:15–17; Eph.4:15–16; James 5:19–20)

347. Must you always speak the whole truth?

To keep a confidence or to protect the innocent, I may at times need to withhold the whole truth; and I should always exercise discretion, that my candour may not needlessly cause harm. (Ex.1:15–21; Josh.2:1–14; Prov.11:13)

348. How does keeping this commandment help you to become like Christ?

By practicing love and truthfulness in speech, I grow in self-restraint, kindness, and honesty, so that I may know God with a mind free of deception, praise him with an undefiled tongue, and more truly love my neighbour. (Prov.8:1–17; Matt.15:10–20; Eph.5:1–4; James 3:1–12)