Sæktu forritiðThe Ten Commandments: A 10-Day DevotionalSýnishorn
You Shall Not Bear False Witness Against Your Neighbor
The ninth commandment doesn’t cover just courtroom infractions. It deals with all manner of falsehoods. Throughout the Ten Commandments we’ve seen that God cares about justice. Why would he make laws against murder except that he cares about each person made in his image? Why would he make laws against stealing except that he cares about the right of private property? Here we see that God cares deeply about verbal justice. “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me” just isn’t true. Lies hurt people deeply. This command was meant to protect marriages, property, life, reputation, and honor
Why is telling the truth so important? It’s important because it is the nature of God himself. “The Glory of Israel will not lie or have regret, for he is not a man, that he should have regret” (1 Sam. 15:29). What makes God *God* and not human? One answer is that he doesn’t lie—ever. “Let God be true though every one were a liar” (Rom. 3:4). As Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). It’s the nature of God himself.
Reflect
How is motive a factor in breaking or keeping the ninth commandment? Give some specific examples.
Ritningin
About this Plan
Over the next ten days, read through the ten commandments and begin to understand God’s law so that you might delight in it as a way to expose your sinfulness and reveal the glories of his grace to you in Christ.
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