Commending the Commandments.

The Ninth Commandment.

Exodus 20 v 16.

"I promise to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth." Familiar words that one would hear in a court of law. The Ninth Commandment is there to protect a man’s reputation, as a barrier to some that may bear false witness.

In ancient Israel, there were no policemen. Society was not very mobile. Courts were much less formal. If a man was robbed, it was frequently by a neighbour, someone the victim knew and associated with day after day. One did not call the police if one was victimised illegally; it was that person’s obligation to press charges. These charges were most often presented to the group of the elders or leaders of the town or city in which the victim (or the villain) lived. The accused and the alleged victim both produced their witnesses and the leaders passed judgement. The sentence was frequently imposed immediately, initiated by the one who had pressed charges (cf. Deut. 17:6-7).

This commandment ensured a fair trial and that justice would be done.

We live in a day when we could say with Isaiah:

Isaiah 59:14 And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.

Newspapers will lie to get readers. There is a great hunger and thirst for the latest juicy gossip, the latest scandal and the latest muck raking. How many were so annoyed by the behaviour of the paparazzi after the death of Princess Diana and yet many of those people rushed to buy the papers to read the latest scandal or gossip concerning her.

I remember someone once saying the only thing that you can believe in the newspaper is the date.

Advertisers will lie to sell their product. It is the best, the newest and the biggest. They will mislead in order to sell.

Politicians lie, it is amazing that one of the things you must not do in the House of Commons is call someone a liar, and it is considered improper.

Winston Churchill was annoyed with someone on one occasion, they had lied so Churchill accused the person of "perpetrating a terminological inexactitude." He called him a lair in a fancy way.

Lying has become an accepted way of life. The Third Commandment concerned our tongues and it was put there to protect and guard the reputation of God. The Ninth Commandment concerns our tongues and guards our neighbour’s reputation.

The Eight Commandment ties our hands the Ninth Commandment ties our tongues.

Pink says we break this commandment when any words of ours wound the reputation of our neighbours.

God has given two fences to keep the tongue at bay that is our lips and our teeth.

The book of James reminds us of the danger of misusing the tongue.

• Our tongues can direct.

James 3:3-5 Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. [4] Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. [5] Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

• Our tongue can also destroy.

James 3:6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

How many homes, families, marriages, businesses, churches, societies, prospects, thrones, governments and nations have been ruined by the misuse of our tongues?

• Our tongue can dispense.

James 3:9-10 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. [10] Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

What about our tongues?

Do our words bless or bruise? Heal or hurt? Love or lambaste?

This commandment deals with a particular misuse of the tongue that is lying.

Particularly it deals with bearing false witness in a court situation but all forms of lying are condemned in this commandment.

Society must be built on trust. We have to be able to trust banks, trust the law enforcement agents, trust is built on honesty and integrity. Due to fallen man’s nature we have had to build in safe guards. Man ultimately cannot be trusted. What a blessing it would be to live in a society were honesty was the norm.

The Root Of Lies.

The Lord Jesus lets us into the source of lying.

John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

We are more like the devil when we tell a lie. He is the father of all lying.

• He lied to Eve.

Genesis 3:4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:

• He lied to man about God.

Job 2:4-5 And Satan answered the Lord, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. [5] But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.

• He lied to God about man.

Satan is a lair and all lies are from the pit of hell.

Every thing about God is truth.

• God the father:

Deut. 32:4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

• God the son:

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

• God the Holy Spirit.

John 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

• The word of God.

John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

Everything God stands for and every thing he says and everything he shows us is truth. Satan is opposed to truth. The truth of the Gospel, the truth of God’s Word the truth of man’s fall and his need for salvation.

There is a battle on between truth, righteousness and evil. Every time we lie we take the side of the devil.

Man is born with a tendency to lie.

Psalm 58:3 The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.

How often we have to check our children for lying and yet no one ever taught them to lie. Our sinful nature and Satan’s evil desires cause men and woman to lie.

2 Thes. 2:11-12 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: [12] That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Sadly many have swallowed Satan’s greatest lie that they need not a saviour. Let’s make sure we don’t side with the Devil.

God hates lying.

Proverbs 6:17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

Lying is an abomination to God.

Proverbs 12:22 Lying lips are abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are his delight.

Smart bombs were used during the Gulf War with pinpoint accuracy they hit their target. What if God had smart bombs that would cast a die over all that had broken this commandment this week. How many of us would escape?

We need to be filled with the spirit of God. One of the things that grieves the spirit is the breaking of this commandment.

Ephes. 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

Ephes. 4:29-31 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. [30] And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. [31] Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

What or who fills us when we lie?

Acts 5:3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?

We see two opposing kingdoms of darkness and light, truth and lies. Lets make sure we are always on the Lord’s side.

What constitutes a lie according to A W Pink?

Speaking what is not true and deliberately doing so. Doing so with intent to deceive. Sometimes we try and justify lying we call it by many other names, white lies or whatever. Sometimes we say, "Well it’s not really a lie."

A judge was once asked to define, what is pornography?

He said, "I cannot define it but I know it when it see it."

I believe we know when we lie in our own hearts.

In England on one occasion in a little town where there were iron and ore mines, they would pile up the slag. A lady did her laundry on one occasion and hung it out in the evening. It looked so white and she was well pleased, however, she forgot to bring it in and that night it snowed.

The clothes didn’t look clean anymore they looked yellow instead of white.

Against the heaps of slag her clothes looked white, against the pure white snowy background they looked yellow and not as clean.

If we take a lie and look at it against this world black standards it may pass but when we view it against the Lord Jesus Christ who was truth. We will see it for all its blackness and depravity.

Ephes. 4:25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

The Reputation At Risk From Lying.

We have two things in our life that are very important our character and our reputation. The world cares about reputation and when the reputation goes it is a big thing the character is not as important.

For the believer character and reputation should be in tandem as reputation is built on character.

Character is what we really are, reputation is what the world thinks we are.

Proverbs 22:1 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.

Eccles. 7:1 A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.

Reputation for a believer is very valuable.

Do we want to be respected? No one will respect one who is dishonest or deceptive.

Remember what was said of Christ?

Luke 2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

Samuel gives us the right formula.

1 Samuel 2:26 And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the Lord, and also with men.

Our reputation is valuable if we want respect.

Do we want to see others respond?

"What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you are saying."

Our reputation is everything when it comes to witnessing. Our reputation is important what people perceive you to be is usually what you actually are.

This commandment is here to protect your neighbour’s reputation.

The Range Of Ways We Lie.

Keep in mind it is our neighbours reputation primarily that we are charged not to bear false witness against. How can we be guilty of this?

Could we be breaking this commandment in ignorance or do we need to be reminded again of the importance of our words?

Matthew 12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

The man who with the breathe lent him by heaven,
Speaks words that soil the whiteness of a life;
Is but murder, for death is given,
As surely by the tongue as by the knife!

Augustine said, "The tongue inflicts greater wounds than the sword."

Thomas Watson said, "The wounds of the tongue can no physician heal."

When it comes down to it this sin hurts at least three people. The one who is the victim of the false witness the one who listens to the tale told and the one who tells it.

Lets see a range of ways in which this commandment can be broken.

• Judiciary. [prejudice or perjury]

Leviticus 19:15 Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour.

• Lying.

Col. 3:9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

• Spreading truth unseasonably.

Proverbs 29:11 A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.

T.H.I.N.K.

• Hiding truth.

Acts 5:2-3 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. [3] But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?

• Twisting the truth.

John 2:19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.

Matthew 26:60-61 But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses, [61] And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.

Psalm 56:5 Every day they wrest my words: all their thoughts are against me for evil.

• Slander is a lie invented and spread it will do harm, at least murder is over quickly.

Psalm 15:3 He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.

Psalm 50:20 Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother's son.

• Talebearer, by this I mean repeating something that you don’t know whether it is true or not. Too many Christians delight in telling tales.

Leviticus 19:16 Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I am the Lord.

Proverbs 18:8 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

Proverbs 26:20 Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.

• False impressions can be lying. For instance remarks like, "The least said in that matter the better," even our gestures like rolling eyes or raising eyebrows. ‘A nod and a wink,’ so to speak.

• Silence is another way we can break this commandment. Remaining quiet when someone’s reputation is being attacked. You know the truth but you don’t rise to defend them. We should follow Peter’s example.

Acts 2:15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.

• Questioning someone’s motive is another way in which we can break this commandment. For instance it could be said of a preacher, "He knows what side his bread is buttered on."

2 Samuel 10:3 And the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their lord, Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? hath not David rather sent his servants unto thee, to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?

Job 1:9 Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?

• Flattery can break this commandment, that is giving false praise.

Psalm 12:2-3 They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak. [3] The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things:

• Whispering is another method of breaking this commandment.

Psalm 41:7 All that hate me whisper together against me: against me do they devise my hurt.

2 Cor. 12:20 For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:

• Listening to slander, gossip and false witnessing all break this commandment.

Psalm 15:3 He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.

The talebearer should be hung by tongue the tale listener hung by ears.

If we taped all the conversations we have had this week would we be guilty of any of the above?

The Reaping Of Breaking This Commandment.

• Cuts.

Psalm 52:2 Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp rasor, working deceitfully.

• Pierces.

Psalm 55:21 The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.

• Penetrates.

Psalm 120:4 Sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of juniper.

• Poisons.

James 3:8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

This sin like all sin can be forgiven. There is a device called a demagnetiser, which wipes both sides of cassette tape clean. Our sins under his blood will be cleansed totally.

But remember the damaged caused can take a lot longer to heal and sometimes a persons reputation may be so damaged that it will never be retrieved.

Friendships could be ruined.

Proverbs 16:28 A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.

Proverbs 17:9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.

Oh what a curse those are who bear false witness from the pulpit. Crying peace peace when there is no peace.

2 Tim. 4:1-2 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; [2] Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

We need to watch our words.

Matthew 12:37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

Hell is surely a place for liars.

Rev. 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

There is no place in Heaven for those who make and love lies.

Rev. 22:15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

What awful reaping there is from lying. May God help us all to reject the temptations of Satan.

Psalm 119:29 Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously.

Proverbs 30:8 Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:

Psalm 141:3 Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.

Something To Remember.

• Be honest.

Zech. 8:16 These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates:

• Be happy.

Romans 1:8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.

2 John 1:4 I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.

• Be a hinderer.

Psalm 101:5 Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.

Don’t suffer talebearers. Shun them, rebuke them.

Would you let someone steal from a neighbour and say nothing?

Don’t let someone steal your neighbour’s character.

Let me finish with the way to defeat this sin in our lives.

• Learn the truth.

Ephes. 4:21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:

Get to know more about Jesus.

• Love the truth.

Ephes. 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

If we really know Jesus we will hate lies and love the truth.

• Live the truth.

Ephes. 4:25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

Ephes. 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

Pastors are often the subjects of gossip and backbiting. How should one react?

I suppose we could agree with the preacher who said, "If they knew as much about me as the Lord knows they would criticise more."

I read about a man who loved and lived the truth. He was a pastor who was the victim of awful scandal and abuse. Much untruth and malicious gossip was spread about him.

His young boy was asked at school, "What way has your dad reacted?"

The young lad said this, "Dad said he would now find it impossible to ever say an unkind word about anyone."

Psalm 51:6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

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