Commandment #9: Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness (Exodus 20:16)
2023-04-08
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. (Exodus 20:16)
Most specifically, a false witness is someone who lies to get another person convicted of a crime. The reason why this is so grievous is that you can get someone killed this way. “A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow” (Proverbs 25:18).
The penalty for being a false witness is to be charged as they would have the victim charged. “And the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother; Then shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to have done unto his brother: so shalt thou put the evil away from among you” (Deuteronomy 19:18-19).
The religious leaders sought to put Jesus to death in this way, knowing all this. “Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death” (Matthew 26:59).
Moreover, a false witness can be anybody who tells lies for any reason to cause harm. “A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren” (Proverbs 6:19). This type is trying to create factions between two parties. Any liar could also be called a false witness: “He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit” (Proverbs 12:17). And again, “A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish” (Proverbs 19:9).
Who has not told a lie? And the fate of the liar is mentioned here: “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” (Revelation 21:8).