FALSE WITNESS
Exodus 20:16
INTRODUCTION
One of the most fun times we can have as a parent is when our children finally learn to talk. How we work with them on their first words: Dad-dad and Mommy. Then they begin to discover words on their own like: Mine! and No! Before we know it they are putting words together and making sentences. Then they won’t shut up.
As their vocabulary increases we began to become protective at to what words they should learn and not learn. Usually it is a losing battle. Instead we go for control of what words they are allowed to say and what words they are not allowed to say.
Then there is one final step that we deal with the rest of their lives. Now we are talking about ourselves as well as our children. When we speak we must tell the truth. The greatest battleground of our tongue is the battleground of being truthful.
It has been humorously said that politicians exaggerate; ministers speak ministerially, and others stretch the truth (or lie). But before God there is no exaggeration, no speaking ministerially or stretching the truth. Rather God wants us to speak about others and ourselves truthfully, exactly, without trying to verbally paint ourselves. or others. in a better or worse light.
The tongue which was made to be an organ of God’s praise and the proclaiming of truth can become an instrument of unrighteousness, deceit, manipulation, lying and sinning. Our speech can be used to gladden or sadden the heart of God. Ultimately the final judge of what we say, or don’t say, is God. This commandment binds the tongue to its good behavior … it is a fence set about it that it should not break forth into evil.
THEME: IN ORDER TO HONOR GOD WE MUST:
I. BE CAREFUL IN OUR DISCUSSING THE TESTIMONY OF OTHERS
A. We Bear Responsibility For Our Words
1. We must be careful of what we bear
a. Answer
b. Hear
c. Testify
d. Speak
e. Witness
2. Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue. Psalm 120:20
B. We Must Be Careful Of What We Say About Others
1. Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding. Proverbs 17:28
2. If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain. James 1:26
C. What Must Be Careful About What We Feel About Others
1. He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he. Proverbs 14:21
NOTE: There are twelve passages in the New Testament regarding loving one another
2. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. John 15:12
3. Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently I Peter 1:22
T.S. IN ORDER TO HONOR GOD WE MUST:
I. BE CAREFUL IN OUR DISCUSSING THE TESTIMONY OF OTHERS
II. WE ARE DO NOT LIE ABOUT OTHERS
A. Lying Is Not A Mark Of A Saved Person
1. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds Colossians 3:9
a. Lie
1) Deception
2) Falsehood
3) Fraud
4) Respond as a witness
5) Injurious in testimony
b. To
1) For
2) Against
2. LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?
He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.
He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.
Psalm 15:1-3
B. Lying Is Of The Devil John 8:44; Acts 5:3
1. Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight. Proverbs 12:22
2. 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
3. For without are … whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. Revelation 22:15
C. The Slanderer Wounds Three At Once
NOTE: The wounds of the tongue no physician can heal
1. He that is slandered
2. He to whom the slander is reported
3. His / her own soul
NOTE: “Slander” – to report things of others unjustly
NOTE: A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape. Proverbs 19:5
D. The Godly Have Been, And Will Be Slandered
1. John the Baptist was slandered Matthew 11:18
2. Christ was slandered
3. Paul was slandered Luke 7:34; Romans 3:8; Acts 24:5
NOTE: Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he? Habakkuk 1:13
T.S. IN ORDER TO HONOR GOD WE MUST:
I. BE CAREFUL IN OUR DISCUSSING THE TESTIMONY OF OTHERS
II. WE ARE DO NOT LIE ABOUT OTHER
III. TREAT OUR NEIGHBOR RIGHT
A. Who Our Neighbor Is
1. Brother
2. Fellow – Citizen
3. Friend
4. Intimate
5. Others
B. How We Feel About Others Comes Out In Our Conversations
1. An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour … Proverbs 11:9
2. A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue. Proverbs 17:4
3. A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood Proverbs 6:17
C. How We Treat Our Neighbor Relates To Our Relationship With God
1. For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen: because their tongue and their doings are against the LORD … Isaiah 3:8
2. The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth. Proverbs 10:20
3. Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles. Proverbs 21:23
4. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile I Peter 3:10
D. The Conflict Of The Ages Is The Conflict Between Satan And Christ
1. Satan is the liar John 8:44
2. Christ is the Truth John 14:6
NOTE: Lies and truth are revealed in one’s words
a. Our words reveal our inward nature
b. Our character is judged by our words
NOTE: If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well James 2:8
CONCLUSION
IN ORDER TO HONOR GOD WE MUST:
I. BE CAREFUL IN OUR DISCUSSING THE TESTIMONY OF OTHERS
II. WE ARE DO NOT LIE ABOUT OTHERS III. TREAT OUR NEIGHBOR RIGHT
III. TREAT OUR NEIGHBOR RIGHT
Sermons And Lessons From The Old Testament 