Ten Commandments - 'Do not testify falsely against your neighbour.'

Exodus 20:16, ‘Do not testify falsely against your neighbour.’

James writing 2000 years ago said that the tongue even though a small part of the body could do enormous damage. 2000 years later millions of tongues have proved the truth of that statement.

1: Why do I lie?

It is a self-protection mechanism and self-defence mechanism I hide behind. Facing the truth about yourself is the most difficult and painful thing in the world to do. We tell one lie to cover up and one lie inevitably leads to another and yet another, and before we know it, we find ourselves tangled in a web of lies.

2: In what ways do I say things to others or about others that aren’t totally true.

1: Lies are so offensive to God. Satan is the ‘father of lies’. John 8:44, ‘Satan is a murderer from the beginning and has always hated the truth. There is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.’ God is not only the truth, but God knows the truth about every one of us.

2: Slander – Ephesians 4:21 says, ‘Get rid of all slander and malice.’ We can ruin someone’s reputation with one word, the word BUT! She’s great, BUT? He’s popular BUT? You see one word which sows doubt/

3: Gossip – Hearing something you like about someone you don’t! Proverbs 26:22, ‘Gossip is so tasty! How we love to swallow it.’ When we are tempted to pass on a rumour we ought to stop and ask ourselves, ‘Am I willing to sponsor this story by signing my name to it? If we’re not willing to put our name to it, we shouldn’t say it. It’s amazing how many people back off when you ask them – ‘have you checked that out with the source?’ Someone might say, ‘there’s been some talk!’ Well, who said it? A gossip always gets caught in their own trap!

3: What does Jesus have to say to us?

Jesus says that ‘I have myself felt the hurt and pain when others have said things about me that weren’t true, so I know how you’re feeling right now?’

Toward the end of His life Jesus became a victim of those who broke the 9th Commandment literally. Matthew 26:59-60. Here is Jesus the One who claimed to be the truth, the One who tells the truth, the One who makes us face up to the truth about ourselves. He was tried before a twisted jury and condemned by false witnesses and it hurt.

Maybe you are living and believing lies about yourself and that is crushing you and you need to be set free.

Open your heart, share with Jesus the soreness that you feel if you’ve been talked about unfairly by others and let Him (Jesus) share in your pain.

4: So how am I going to live and speak to others and about others this week?

Ephesians 4:25, ‘So put away falsehood and tell your neighbour the truth because we belong to each other.’

The 9th Commandment is not about censorship, but rather it’s about how to build a sense of community that includes respect and mutual caring. Ephesians 4:27, ‘We do not give the devil a grip, a foothold, a strong hold in our lives.’ Here’s a simple thing to do this week, an action plan this week. THINK before we speak!