Exodus 20:16
~3 min read
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. (Exodus 20:16)
The ninth commandment forbids us to bear false witness against our neighbour. To bear false witness is to speak falsely, and we must never lie to harm anyone. God has given to us the ability to speak so that we can use our words to praise Him and to bless others. But if we speak falsely to mislead someone, damage someone’s reputation or for our selfish reasons, it is a terrible sin.
We lie when we speak falsely, make up stories, exaggerate and gossip. Often when we gossip behind someone’s back, we add a lot of untruth and we are hurting the person’s reputation. Do you like someone speaking falsely about you, making up stories about you and gossiping about you? If you do not like that to happen to you, why should you be doing that to someone else?
As Christians, we are children of God and therefore we are children of Light and not children of Darkness. We ought to live in the truth, whether in church, family, school or wherever we are. We tell the truth no matter what happens; we may be scolded or punished but God loves us because we dare to stand up for the truth.
Learn to be careful with what you say. Ask yourself these questions, “Is it true with what I am about to say? Would I say it if the person I am talking about is here to listen? Will God be pleased with what I am about to say?” Remember that God knows everything that you say, whether truthfully or falsely, and He is grieved whenever His children lie and break the ninth commandment.
In Christ,
Pastor Paul Cheng
2024 SUMMER BREAKThe BeatitudesThe BeatitudesMatthew 5:3-12
Thou Shalt Not CovetThou Shalt Not CovetExodus 20:17
Thou Shalt Not LieThou Shalt Not LieExodus 20:16
Thou Shalt Not StealThou Shalt Not StealExodus 20:15
Thou Shalt Not Commit AdulteryThou Shalt Not Commit AdulteryExodus 20:14