THE 9TH COMMANDMENT: YOU SHALL NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS
EXODUS 20:16 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.”
Subtitle: SATURATING OUR SOIL WITH THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH
Theme: THE TRUTH MATTERS TO GOD
PART 1: THEOLOGY + THE FATHER OF LIES
1. WHAT GOD SAID
God gave 10 Commandments. The first 4 = Our relationship with God.
The last 6 = Our relationship with man. The 9th guards relationship, reputation, and righteousness.
In Hebrew: “lo ta’aneh b’re’acha ed shaker” “You shall not answer as a false witness against your neighbor.”
”Neighbor” rea anyone in covenant/community with you. This goes far beyond the courtroom.
Why it matters to God:
“The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.” Proverbs 12:22
“Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, But those who deal truthfully are His delight.” Proverbs 12:22
Of the 7 things God hates, 2 deal directly with the 9th: “a lying tongue… a false witness who speaks lies” Proverbs 6:16-19
2. WHO IS BEHIND LIES? THE FATHER OF LIES
John 8:44 “He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth… When he lies, he speaks out of his own character.”
The very word “devil” means slanderer
How Satan uses false witness:
- Corrupts: Genesis 3:3-4 He slandered God’s honesty to Adam: “You will not surely die.”
- Criticizes: Job 1:8-11 He slandered Job before God’s throne.
- Tempts: Matthew 4 He slandered Jesus in the wilderness.
- Accuses: Revelation 12:10 He is “the accuser of the brethren.”
When we lie, we become messengers of Satan. “All liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire” Revelation 21:8
When we speak truth, we partner with the Spirit of Truth. John 16:13
God is Truth. Numbers 23:19, Titus 1:2
Jesus is Truth incarnate. John 14:6
The Word is Truth. John 17:17
So to be like God = to walk in truth. 3 John 1:4
PART 2: WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BEAR FALSE WITNESS?
It’s not just perjury in court. Here are 6 ways we break the 9th:
1. RUMORS — “You shall not circulate a false report” Exodus 23:
A rumor-monger is a child of the Father of Lies.
2. PERJURY — “Do not put your hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness” Exodus 23:1
One day we will all stand in God’s courtroom. Ecclesiastes 12:14
3. FLATTERY — “A flattering mouth works ruin” — Proverbs 26:28
“The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart” Psalm 55:21
Flattery uses people. God forbids it.
4. SLANDER / BACKBITING — “Do not speak evil of one another, brethren” James 4:11
God doesn’t care if it’s true. If it tears down, it’s sin. Psalm 101:5
5. INSINUATIONS / WHISPERINGS — 2 Corinthians 12:20
Tone of voice, eye rolls, “I’m just saying…” You can bear false witness without words.
6. NOT SPEAKING UP — Leviticus 5:1
“If he does not tell it, he bears guilt.”
Silence when you should defend the innocent or confront sin is also false witness.
The negative implies the positive: “You shall bear true witness.”
The Power of the Tongue:
Words can build up or tear down. Heal or wound. Bring justice or create injustice.
“A gentle tongue is a tree of life” Proverbs 15:4
“The tongue is a fire… it sets on fire the entire course of life” James 3:6
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue” Proverbs 18:21
PART 3: THE 4 FILTERS = HOLY SPIRIT WISDOM
Before you speak, post, or forward run it through the signpost:
- IS IT TRUE? Ephesians 4:25 “put away lying speak truth”
Truth is objective, not that “feels right”. John 8:32
2. IS IT NECESSARY? Proverbs 25:11 “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold”
Ecclesiastes 3:7 “a time to keep silence, and a time to speak”
3. IS IT LOVING? 1 Corinthians 13:6 “Love… rejoices with the truth.”
Truth without love = Pharisee. Love without truth = Compromise. John 8:11
4. WOULD I SAY IT TO THEIR FACE? Matthew 18:15, Luke 6:31
This kills group chats, gossip, and backbiting. Proverbs 11:12
Wisdom means choosing silence.
“When words are many, transgression is not lacking” — Proverbs 10:19
“Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth” — Psalm 141:3
3 Holy Silences: Restraint, Prayer, Trust. Exodus 14:14, Isaiah 30:15
PART 4: THE SCALES + THE GOD OF TRUTH
The image shows TRUTH heavier than LIES. “A false balance is an abomination to the Lord” — Proverbs 11:1 God weighs: Motives Proverbs 16:2, Words Matthew 12:37, Secrets Romans 2:16
The Bible says: “THE TRUTH SETS US FREE — JOHN 8:32” Truth frees us from fear, manipulation, and the accuser. Galatians 5:1 “Psalm 15:2-4 — He who... speaks the truth in his heart; he who does not backbite with his tongue... He who does these things shall never be moved.”
But you shall be witnesses to Me Acts 1:8
God didn’t just say “don’t lie.” He said BE A WITNESS.
Your home, your business, your WhatsApp status should testify of Christ.
Tell what you’ve seen and heard. Tell how you failed and how God forgave you.
PART 5: LIVING BY THE TRUTH OF GOD IN HOME AND SECRET
Truth has been “kicked down by philosophers and chloroformed by preachers.” Isaiah 59:14 Our job is to set truth back on her feet.
1. TEACH THE TRUTH OF GOD Deuteronomy 6:7
Don’t just say “don’t lie.” Give theological reason:
“When you lie, you act like the devil. When you tell truth, you act like Jesus.”
2. MODEL THE TRUTH OF GOD
Fathers, Mothers — keep your word. Matthew 5:37 “Let your yes be yes”
Never teach kids to lie for you: “Mama said she’s not here.”
If you break a promise, ask forgiveness. Proverbs 11:3
3. DISCIPLINE IN THE TRUTH OF GOD
Don’t tolerate the 3 D’s: Disobedience, Defiance, and Dishonesty.
Be kind, but stern. Ephesians 4:15 “speak the truth in love”
4. INTEGRITY IN SECRET
“When we choose truth when nobody is watching, we honour God.”
This is Daniel Daniel 6:10, Joseph Genesis 39:9, Jesus Matthew 4:1-11
Colossians 3:9-10 “Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self”
PRAYER: “GUARD MY LIPS”
Father, in the name of Jesus who is THE TRUTH,
We repent for bearing false witness — in rumors, flattery, slander, and silence.
Forgive us for partnering with the Father of Lies.
Holy Spirit, Spirit of Truth, come. John 16:13
Put a seal on our lips. Psalm 141:3
Circumcise our hearts to love truth more than approval. Deuteronomy 30:6
Make our homes witnesses to Your saving power. Acts 1:8
And when tempted to lie to be liked or stay silent to be safe…
Give us courage to choose YOU. Because when we choose truth in secret, we honor You. 1 Peter 2:12
Let our words be honey Proverbs 16:24, and our lives be light. Matthew 5:16
In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen
PROPHETIC APPLICATION FOR TODAY
Paddy, in the age of AI, social media, and "narratives"... truth is under attack.
But God is raising “sons and daughters in whom there is no deceit” John 1:47
3-DAY CHECK FOR YOUR TONGUE:
1. Morning: Psalm 19:14 “Let the words of my mouth be acceptable in your sight”
2. Midday: Run your words through the 4 signposts before you send that text
- 3. Night: Repent for 1 word. Ask God to redeem it.
