Lying and Bearing False Witness

Exodus 20:16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

It is one of the 10 commandments that we see all the time. It’s on plaques in public buildings all around the nation.

Yet in our society this is happening all the time with very dire consequences.

There are a lot of innocent people in jail because of this. Some people have gotten put to death because of this and a lot of people have gotten their life totally ruined because of this.

What brought about this topic is all the recent sexual allegations that have been coming out. Some of which have been proven to be true while others were just straight up lies.

When the scriptures says not to bear false witness – it means that you’re falsely saying that you witnessed (or testifying to) something that happened which did not. In other words, you’re lying. And the neighbour that it’s talking about is each other and not necessarily the person that lives next door to you.

Keep in mind that this is one of the six things that the Lord hates.

Proverbs 6:16-19 These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,

19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

You have to really put this into perspective-Of all the things that are done in the world, the Lord God pick out six and a false witness that speaks lies is one of them that he hates-that’s saying a lot.

So when we go and tell lies on each other, especially with what’s been happening a lot recently-rape allegations and sexual misconduct. It is not a light thing to do in the eyes of the Lord.

Think about the consequences of your action. In the case of rape, think about some of the true victims of this horrendous act and them coming forth with it. It makes it difficult for the true victims to come forward and to present their stories.

Rape is a serious thing and should not be taken lightly. So to falsely accuse someone of doing that carries a lot of weight and turmoil.

The scriptures also lets us know that liars will not make it into heaven.

Revelation 22:14-15 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life [tree of life means eternal life], and may enter in through the gates into the city [the city is referring to the kingdom of heaven].

15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

Proverbs 19:9 A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.

People don’t stop to think how their actions are seriously affecting other people either, when they lie and bear false witness. There are people sitting on death row right now because of lies and false witness[es]. People spending years in prison-having their livelyhood taken away, because of lies and people bearing false witness.

It’s things like these that Jesus Christ came preaching and teaching us to repent from.

Acts 3:19  Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.

To repent in this case means that we no longer lie and bear false witness against people but live an honest life according to the scriptures going forward.

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