The Ninth Commandment (No Lying)
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. (Ex 20:16)
Who is our neighbor?
We are to treat all people as our neighbor. (Lk 10:33-37)
False Accusation Harms a Person's Life
Jesus was falsely accused and killed. (Mk 14:55-65, Lk 23:10-15, Jn 18:28-30, Jn 19:1-7,14-16)
Stephen was falsely accused and killed. (Ac 6:8-14, Ac 7:52-60)
Paul was falsely accused and killed. (Ac 18:12,13, Ac 21:27-34, Ac 24:1-9, Ac 25:6,7, 2Ti 4:6-8,14-16)
Throughout the dark ages, God's remnant people were falsely accused and killed. (Da 7:20,21,25, Da 8:21-25, Rev 12:12-15)
In the end times, God's remnant people will be falsely accused and killed. (Mt 5:11, Jn 15:20, Rev 12:16,17, Rev 13:11-15, Rev 14:9-13, Rev 20:4)
We are not to falsely accuse. (Ps 31:18, Pr 25:18, Lk 3:14, Ro 13:9,10, Tit 2:3)
Gossip Harms a Person's Reputation
Gossip harms a person's reputation. (Ps 31:13, Jer 20:10)
Slander - "A false tale or report maliciously uttered, and tending to injure the reputation of another by lessening him in the esteem of his fellow citizens, by exposing him to impeachment and punishment, or by impairing his means of living; defamation." (Webster's Dictionary 1828)
Note: Murmuring against a person is a form of gossip.
Jesus was a target of gossip. (Lk 15:1,2, Lk 19:5-7)
God's people are a target of gossip. (1Pe 3:14-17)
We are not to gossip. (Pr 10:18,19, Php 2:14, 1Ti 3:10,11)
Material Fraud is Theft via Deception
Fraud - "a stratagem intended to obtain some undue advantage; an attempt to gain or the obtaining of an advantage over another by imposition or immoral means, particularly deception in contracts, or bargain and sale, either by stating falsehoods, or suppressing truth." (Webster's Dictionary 1828)
Lying about the facts of a transaction is material fraud. (Lev 19:11, Pr 21:6)
Using unbalanced scales is material fraud. (Lev 19:35,36)
Taking advantage of a person's handicapped situation is material fraud. (Ge 27:1-13, Dt 27:18,19)
We are not to materially defraud. (Pr 26:18,19, Mk 10:19, 1Th 4:6)
Spiritual Fraud is Theft via Blocking Needed Truth
False prophecies perpetrate spiritual fraud. (Jer 23:25-32, Eze 13:6-8)
We are to test the prophecies against the Bible. (Isa 8:20, Mk 13:22, Ac 17:10,11, 1Jn 4:1-3)
False doctrines perpetrate spiritual fraud. (Mt 15:9, Eph 5:6, 2Th 2:3-12, 1Ti 4:1, 2Ti 4:3,4, Rev 16:13,14, Rev 17:1-5)
The false doctrine that God's health laws are no longer relevant robs many of health and life.
The truth is that God's health laws protect us from disease and death. (Ps 67:1,2, Pr 20:1, Jn 10:10, 1Co 6:19,20, 1Co 10:31)
The false doctrine of salvation by works robs many of eternal life.
The truth is that we are saved only by the grace of God through faith in Jesus. (Ro 11:5,6, Gal 3:11, Eph 2:8,9, 1Jn 5:12)
The false doctrine that the Ten Commandments need not, should not, and cannot be obeyed robs many of protection from sin.
The truth is that we are to obey the commandments joyfully out of love for God and faith in God. (Jn 14:15,21, Ro 3:31, Heb 8:10, 1Jn 3:4-6, 1Jn 5:2,3)
The false doctrine that the dead live on after death, prior to the return of Christ, promotes demonic spiritism and idolatrous prayers to "saints".
The truth is that the dead sleep until the return of Christ. (Ps 6:4,5, Ps 115:17, Ps 146:4, Ecc 9:5,10, Isa 38:18,19, Jn 11:11-14, Ac 7:59,60, 1Th 4:16,17, Heb 11:39,40)
We are not to spiritually defraud. (Pr 4:2, Ro 16:17, Eph 4:14,15,25, 2Th 2:13, Tit 2:1, 2Jn 1:9-11)
Self-Deception is Personal False Witness
Self-deception is personal false witness. (Mt 7:21-23, 1Co 3:18, Jas 1:26, Rev 3:14-18)
In the 1st commandment topic, we introduced the 10 commandments with the following observations:
Commandments 1-4 focus on love for God.
Commandments 5-10 focus on love for others.
Now, as we near the end of our study, we find that:
Commandments 5-10 also focus on love for God.
5. Honor parents
Honor God our Father. (Ro 8:15)
6. No killing
Do not try to kill God through disbelief in His existence. (Heb 11:6)
7. No adultery
Do not be unfaithful to God. (2Co 11:2)
8. No stealing
Do not rob God of our worship, time, tithes, or offerings. (Mal 3:8)
9. No lying
Do not profess any false characterization of God. (Jn 17:3)
10. No coveting
Do not try to usurp God's sovereign position. (Ac 5:29)
Many False Doctrines Falsely Portray God
The false doctrine of evolution portrays God as non existent.
The truth is that God is the Creator. (Ge 1:1, Ex 20:8-11, Ps 14:1, Ac 14:12-15, Rev 14:6,7)
The false doctrine of eternal hell fire portrays God as a cruel torturer.
The truth is that the wicked will be quickly destroyed. (Ps 37:9,10,20,38, Ps 104:35, Mal 4:1-3, Mt 7:13, Mt 10:28)
The false doctrine of unchecked suffering portrays God as distant, cold, and uninvolved.
The truth is that God is close, caring, and involved. (Ro 8:38,39, Heb 13:5, 1Pe 5:6,7, 1Jn 4:8,9 )
The truth is that Satan and his followers are the primary cause of suffering. (compare Job 1:9-19, Job 2:4-7, Lk 13:11-16)
The false doctrine that God creates some people as objects of His wrath and doomed to damnation portrays God as a dual-natured fiend.
The truth is that God has elected to offer everyone the free choice to receive salvation through His Son. (Jn 3:16, Jn 6:40, Jn 7:37, Ac 17:26,27, Ro 5:18, 1Ti 2:3-6, Rev 22:17)
The Punishment for Disobedience is Death
The punishment for disobedience is death. (Nu 14:35-37, Dt 19:16-21, Ps 101:5-8, Rev 19:20, Ro 6:23, Jas 2:10)
Satan is particularly condemned due to his widespread "traffick" in the "merchandise" of falsehood. (Eze 28:13-19)
As our substitute, Jesus paid the penalty for our sins. (Isa 53:6, Jn 1:29, Eph 5:2, Heb 7:27, 1Jn 1:7)
God is Truth and the Author of Truth
God is Truth and the Author of truth. (Ex 34:4-6, Ps 146:5,6, Jn 14:6, Jn 14:16,17, Jn 16:13, Jn 17:17, Heb 6:17,18)
Satan is the Author of Falsehood
Satan is the author of falsehood. (Jn 8:44, Rev 12:9, Rev 20:1-3,7-10)
Satan [Gr. Satanas (sat-an-as')] - "The accuser, i.e. the devil:--Satan." (Strong's Dictionary)
God is against Falsehood
God is against falsehood. (Pr 6:16-19, Pr 12:22, Isa 5:20, Isa 59:1-4, Jer 7:8-10,28, Zec 5:1-4, 2Ti 3:1-5, Rev 22:12-15)
Satan is against Truth
Satan is against truth. (Da 8:8-12, Rev 12:7-10,17, Rev 16:13,14)
Satan [Heb. satan (saw-tawn')] - "An opponent; Satan, the arch-enemy of good:--adversary." (Strong's Dictionary)
Jesus Protects us from Satan's Accusations
Jesus protects us from Satan's accusations. (Zec 3:1-10)
Notes on Zec 3:1-10:
Joshua the high priest - The church (every Christian) (1Pe 2:5,9, Rev 1:5,6, Rev 5:9,10)
Filthy garments - Sin (Ps 14:2,3)
Change of raiment (clean garments)
Forgiveness of sin (Isa 1:18, 1Jn 1:7,9, Rev 7:13,14)
The righteousness of Christ (Isa 61:10, Rev 19:7,8,14) (compare Php 3:9)
The BRANCH - Jesus (Jer 23:5,6, Zec 6:12,13)
The stone - Jesus (Da 2:44,45, Ac 4:10-12, 1Co 10:4, Eph 2:19,20)
The vine - Jesus (Jn 15:1-5)
The fig tree - Spiritual Israel (compare 1Ki 4:25, Hos 9:10, Lk 13:6-9)
The 9th Commandment Proclaims Truth
The 9th commandment proclaims truth. (Ps 85:11, Pr 23:23, Jn 8:32, Eph 5:9, Eph 6:14, 1Ti 2:3,4, 2Ti 2:15, 1Jn 3:18, 3Jn 1:4)
The 9th Commandment Proclaims Justice
The 9th commandment proclaims justice. (Ge 18:18,19, Dt 17:6, Dt 19:15, Ps 82:3, Ps 89:14, Isa 9:6,7, Rev 15:3)
The 9th Commandment Calls God's People out of Falsehood
The 9th Commandment calls God's people out of falsehood. (Jn 4:23,24, Ac 5:27-29, Eph 4:14,15, Rev 18:1-4)
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.