The Ninth Word
Introduction
We’ve discussed already how all the Ten Words have both individual applications as well as social applications. The tenth word is probably the most individualistic commandment while this one is the most societal in scope. The ninth word assumes an office of justice, a sphere of authority that deals with crimes.
The Passage
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. Exodus 20:16
Explain the Passage
We summarize this commandment for children as “do not lie.” But that’s not what the text literally says. From the Hebrew, the text says “do not answer according to your neighbor deceit or falsehood.” The command requires witnesses in court to tell the truth about their neighbor who is on trial. The Old Testament calls false witnesses “witnesses of violence” (Ex 23:1; Deut 19:15-21). This commandment requires courts to operate on true testimony, not bribery and intimidation (Ex 23:8; Deut 10:17; 16:19; 27:25). As we discussed with earlier commandments, human beings are made in the image of God so bearing false witness is like blaspheming (third word) against an image bearer (second word).
What makes obeying the ninth word difficult to obey is internal and external pressure. Internally, you may not like your neighbor. Externally, you want to fit in with everyone else who is rallied against him. This is why the ninth word requires courage. It’s easy to speak lies about someone you hate or someone your friend hates. It’s hard to speak truth regardless of the consequences. In Leviticus, in between God telling Israel to love their countryman (Lev 19:17) and to love your neighbor as yourself (Lev 19:18), He commands them to reprove their neighbor (Lev 19:17).
Witnesses and Slanderers
Throughout scripture we see two things about God that concern our study today. First, is that God’s words have power (Heb 4:12; Gen 1). Second, God cares about His glory (Isaiah 48:9-11). In Genesis 1, God created everything by the power of His speech. In Genesis 2, He made man as the pinnacle of creation for His glory. And in Genesis 3, the serpent deceived Eve to doubt God’s word and His glory with the question, “Did God really say?” (Gen 3:1). From this point on, the world has been filled with two types of people: children of God and children of the devil (1 John 3:10). Because the devil is the accuser of the brethren (Rev 12:10), his children also practice lies, deceit, slander, gossip, and strife.
Jesus came into the world to transfer children of the devil into the family of God (Ephesians 2:1-9). But He did this as the word of God and to give glory to God. Listen to what Paul says in Hebrews.
And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, Hebrews 1:3
Notice, Jesus is the radiance of God’s glory who upholds things by His word. This is also why John in Revelation 1 calls Jesus the faithful witness (Rev 1:5).
As Christians who have been adopted into God’s family, Jesus has tasked us with being faithful witnesses. We are to live under the watchful eye of God and bear true witness. We are to live every day in God’s courtroom speaking the truth. We are to live every day as if our life is a microphone giving someone glory—and that someone better be God. We do this by encouraging one another, correcting one another at times when we notice sin, praising God together. We share the good news of Jesus with our words and we live as if that good news is really good in the way we treat our family, neighbors, and church. Jesus testifies about us in heaven so we can testify about Him here on earth. And you can’t make much of Jesus without making much of His church. The best way to give glory to a righteous man is to give glory to his bride. The best way for us as Christians to show our love to Christ is by showing our love to our church with our words.
Wise Words for People of the Word
God cares about our reputations and our use of words. Christians should love our neighbors by watching how we use our words. The book of Proverbs gives instruction on the wise use of words. Beware of talking too much talking because it is dangerous (Prov 10:8). Timing with our words separate then from being received as rotten words or as golden words (Prov 25:11). Sweet speech can lead a man into adultery (Prov 5:3) but can also persuade kings into righteousness (Prov 16:21; 22:11). Loving our neighbors requires using our words wisely.
If you lose your house in a fire, people will rally behind you to help. If you lose a loved one in an accident, your friends and neighbors will comfort you. But if you lose your good name, no one will help you. A youth minister was working at a church. From what I recall he was in his thirties and was hoping to become a full-time pastor one day. He just got back to the church after a youth trip. Parents picked up all their kids except for two girls. Their parents didn’t show so he drove them home. The next day he was called to meet with the pastor and deacons for an emergency meeting. Earlier that morning, both girls told their parents that he did some very inappropriate things before dropping them off. Over the next few days, members of the church called one another and started messaging on Facebook about the youth minister. They recounted all the times they witnessed him discipline his children or disagree with his wife. Some assumed he was having marriage issues. That assumption led to the rumor that he was also having an affair. Someone asked the deacons to look over his expenses to the church with a fine-tooth comb. “If a guy cheats on his wife, he will cheat the church.” Due to the pressure, the pastor and deacons fired him before the next Sunday. After a year, the girls during a Wednesday night service walked down the aisle and confessed to the pastor that they lied about the entire thing.
Conclusion
You can tell what church growth books have influenced a pastor or church by what that church emphasizes on their website. I’m guilty of this too (My church growth philosophy is very simple). We all have our opinions about what makes a healthy, worth-while church. But is one of your opinions on how the people talk about one another? You see God doesn’t command churches to have a praise band or a choir. He doesn’t explicitly say if there should be age-segregated small groups or not. But He does tell Christians multiple times to love their brothers and sisters with their words.