Don't Give False Testimony

 In this post we come to the 9th Commandment:

"You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor." 
-Exodus 20:16

The Ten Commandments are God's laws that help us live in relationship with Him and each other.  The 9th Commandment is definitely in the 'each other' portion.  Alongside the honoring of parents, the prohibition against murdering and stealing and coveting, we find this command.  

Yahweh commands that we not give false testimony, bear false witness, against our neighbors.  Who are our neighbors?  Well, those living around us; although Jesus amplified the idea of neighbor in the parable of the good Samaritan.  So, let's just say: "Don't express false things about those you encounter in person, online or simply know about."

So, what does it look like to follow this command?  I will examine three areas in which we must obey the 9th Commandment.

1) In Court

The most obvious reading of this is to not give false testimony against someone in a court of law.  We can expand this into any situation where our testimony may affect the punishment of someone else.  

The entire system of justice is based upon this commandment being followed.  We can't have a functioning society if people can't generally be trusted to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth to the best of their recollection.  In my country, when people fail to do this they can, and should, face jail time.

This commandment must be followed in a court-like setting no matter what.  God was/is very understanding of our biases to manipulate justice and He won't stand for it.  See what is written just verses apart:

"Do not spread false reports.  Do not help a wicked man by being a malicious witness.  Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong.  When you give testimony in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd, and do not show favoritism to a poor man in his lawsuit." Exodus 23:1-3
"Do not deny justice to your poor people in their lawsuits.  Have nothing to do with a false charge and do not put an innocent person to death, for I will not acquit the guilty.
Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the righteous." Exodus 23:6-8

Do not be untruthful out of a love of money or a hatred of those with great wealth.  Simply tell the truth in court.

It's interesting to note that this very command was shattered in the unjust murder of Jesus Himself.

"The chief priest and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put Him to death.  But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward." Matthew 26:59-60

2) In the Court of Public Opinion

It's likely you will never place your hand on a Bible and swear to tell the truth in the presence of a judge.  However, we all bear witness in the ever-growing court of public opinion.  We seemingly have an insatiable desire to try suits of all kinds in this wild courtroom.

The Twitter Mob is quick to raise gallows and the Facebook Firing squad is fast to fire bullets.

Passing along gossip or convicting people with little-to-no knowledge in the court of public opinion is wrong.  We must resist the urge to testify in this courtroom, especially when we have no idea whether or not we might be breaking the 9th Commandment.  We must resist entertaining accusations against our elders without multiple, truthful witnesses (1 Timothy 5:19)

3) In the Court of Your Own Mind

By this I mean prejudices.  How very often we pre-judge other human beings made in the image of God based upon false testimony from our own minds.  From pre-judging the Southern draw or skin color or job title or nationality or political affiliation or church denomination or whatever... we give false testimony to ourselves that leads to false convictions in the court of our own mind.  Any time we exercise prejudices we make a verdict based upon a false witness.

Be truthful witnesses.  Christians, we should be known as speakers of truth.  We should be known as witnesses of the truth, not givers of false testimony.  Next time you're in a courtroom, think of this commandment.  Next time you're a job reference, consider this command.  Next time you hear a rumor, be wary of God's wrath.  

Be truthful people today.