I can think of no practice-other than deep-seated hatred and lack of forgiveness-that will so quickly cut off the blessing and power of God in a Christian's life.Įxcerpt taken from Answers to 200 of Life's Most Probing Questions, Copyright 1984 by Pat Robertson. Starting lies about someone or spreading them is bearing false witness, a terrible offense in the sight of God.Ī Christian might not be involved in drug addiction, drunkenness, fornication, adultery, or homosexuality, but a Christian may be big on slander and backbiting. Christian people not only believe falsehoods but also pass these stories on without even stopping to investigate. I can think of several times when rumors have started about me. Reputations of honest and honorable people are damaged. fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not live according to the truth. If we wish to understand the true meaning of these verses, we must look at. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.253. Marriages are broken up because of false rumors that someone has spread. Thou shalt not lie with mankind as with womankind it is an abomination. Those who spread them were guilty of bearing false witness.įrequently people say untrue things about others. These rumors hurt the man's career and reputation. It was too late to stop the false rumors that this man was involved in drug dealing. It turned out that the white powder was a diet mix, and so the singer was discharged from his arrest and confinement. A search of his car revealed some white powder, and he was booked on a drug charge. For example, a well-known gospel singer was picked up in Los Angeles because of his careless driving. It is possible to bear false witness or slander by spreading rumors. Outside the context of the courts, it is termed slander. The penalty is death ( Leviticus 20:13 ). The fourth prohibition forbids the sin of Sodom (see Genesis 19:5 Judges 11:22 Romans 1:27 1 Corinthians 6:9 1 Timothy 1:10 ). EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES) Pulpit Commentary Verse 22. Since judgment based on false testimony could destroy the life or property of innocent human beings and discredit a country's system of justice, the penalty for perjury was very severe.īut the commandment against bearing false witness has a much broader application. Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. A false witness could lie under oath during judicial proceedings in order to establish guilt in a criminal case, or fault in a civil case. Two or three witnesses were needed in ancient Hebrew law to establish a claim under civil law or a crime under criminal law. "You must not testify falsely against your neighbor. The ninth commandment says, "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor" ( Exodus 20:16 Close Exodus 20:16
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