SCRIPTURE READING: Ephesians 4:15, 25

GOLDEN TEXT:  Exodus 20:16

1. Who was it that verbally spoke to Moses and the children of Israel? (Exodus 20:1). Did the Lord God bring Israel out of bondage? (Exodus 20:2). What did God do to keep the children of Israel free from bondage? He gave them His Ten Commandments.

2. Does God’s Ninth Commandment command people "not to bear false witness"? (Exodus 20:16, Deuteronomy 5:19). What does it mean "not to bear false witness"? Adam Clarke's Commentary (Abridged edition 1967), page 127 states at Exodus 20:16: "Thou shalt not bear false witness. Not only false oaths, to deprive a man of his life or of his right, are here prohibited, but all whispering, talebearing, slander, and calumny; in a word, whatever is deposed as a truth, which is false in fact, and tends to injure another in his goods, person, or character, is against the spirit and letter of this law. Suppressing the truth when known, by which a person may be defrauded of his property or his good name, or lie under injuries or disabilities which a discovery of the truth would have prevented, is also a crime against this law. By the term neighbour any human being is intended, whether he rank among our enemies or friends."

3. Did Jesus list the Ninth Command-ment when He was talking to the rich young ruler? (Matthew 19:18-19.)

4. Is it impossible for God to lie? (Numbers 23:19, Titus 1:2, Hebrews 6:18.) Did God allow a lying spirit to deal with Ahab? (1 Kings 22:19-23.)

Note: God doesn’t lie, but has at times allowed lying spirits to work on His behalf for His overall plan and purpose.

5. What is the penalty for lying? (Revelation 21:8.) Will a liar’s name be in the "book of life?" (Revelation 21:27.) Note: God wants us to eradicate lying from our behavior. How do we do that? We must REPENT! (Acts 2:38.)

6. Is Rahab listed among the champions of faith who have not yet received the promise of inheritance? (Hebrews 11:31, 39-40.) Was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? (James 2:14-26.) Did Rahab lie? (Joshua 2:4-6.) Note: Rahab lied, but God did not hold it against her. It is God’s intent that we are not to lie, but only under rare circumstances will God excuse this sin. In this situation Rahab was protecting the lives of God’s people.

7. Are we commanded not to lie? (Leviticus 19:2.) Is lying one of the seven abominations that God hates? (Proverbs 6:16-19.) Does God hate lying lips? (Proverbs 12:19, 22, 13:5, 17:4.) Is it better to be a poor man than a liar? (Proverbs 19:22.) Don’t lie to get rich. 8. Are you to speak truth to your neighbor? (Zechariah 8:16.)

9. Who is the father of lies? (John 8:44.) Did Satan influence Ananias to lie? (Acts 5:3-11.) What was Ananias’ fate?

10. Are we to speak the truth and put away lying? (Ephesians 4:15, 25, Colossians 3:9.)

11. Is a "false witness who speaks lies" also one of the seven abominations that God hates? (Proverbs 6:16-19.) If you give a false report, does God classify you with the wicked? (Exodus 23:1-3.) Are we to show favor to a poor person in a court trial? (Verse 3.) Does a deceitful witness who speaks lies scorn justice? (Proverbs 12:17, 14:5, 25, 19:28, 24:28, 25:18.) Note: The Ninth Commandment is not just about lying, it is talking about "bearing false witness." It is talking about our legal system. "Truth" in our courts and our legal system is one of the fundamentals of liberty. When people lie in court - justice is destroyed. If you lie in court then you have committed perjury and perjury is a criminal offense, for justice is based upon the truth. Also, to show favor to a poor person in a court trial is to corrupt the system. In order to be honest and fair, Justice is to be blind to race, religion and wealth.

12. Did the chief priests, elders and all of the council seek false witnesses against Jesus to put Him to death? (Matthew 26:57-60.) Did they succeed?

13. Was Stephen stoned to death because of false witnesses? (Acts 6:9-13, 7:57-59.)

14. In Old Testament times, how many witnesses did it take to put someone to death? (Deuteronomy 17:6-7, 19:15.)

15. In the New Testament if a brother will not hear you, how many witnesses are you to take to him that every word may be established? (Matthew 18:16, 2 Corinthians 13:1, 1 Timothy 5:19.)

16. What kind of consequences are there for a false witness? (Proverbs 19:5,9, 21:28.) Will a false witness receive the penalty that he sought to have delivered to an innocent man? (Deuteronomy 19:16-21.) Note: The "eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth" principle came from the penalties for a false witness.

17. Is telling the truth the opposite of bearing false witness? (Ephesians 4:25.) Does truth come from God’s word? (John 17:17.) Is Jesus the way to truth and life? (John 14:6.) Will the truth make you free? (John 8:32.)

18. Are you to change God’s word? (Proverbs 30:6, Deuteronomy 4:2, 12:32, Joshua 1:7,11:15.) What is the punishment for changing God’s word? (Revelation 22:18-19.) Who is God holding responsible for prophesying lies in His name? (Jeremiah 14:14-15.) Does God say not to learn the way of the heathen? (Jeremiah 10:2-10.) Did Paul tell Timothy that the time would come when people in the church would not hold to sound doctrine, but would turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. (2 Timothy 4:2-4.)

Note: If you or your minister knows the Truth of God as recorded in the Bible and you change it and teach false doctrines then you may reap the curse of the seven last plagues and your name will be blotted out of the "Book of Life." You are without excuse if you continue to teach and practice heathen and pagan holidays, beliefs and customs condemned in the Bible, the Word of God.

In Conclusion: God’s Ninth Commandment commands us "not to bear false witness." Keeping the Ninth Commandment shows that we love our neighbors and that we would not want to damage their character or reputation by making statements that are not true and causing them to be punished or even executed. Are you willing to obey the Ninth Commandment?

(Ephesians 4:25 NKJV) Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another.

2.) (Exodus 20:16 NKJV) "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

(Deuteronomy 5:20 NKJV) 'You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

3.) (Matthew 19:18-19 NKJV) He said to Him, "Which ones?" Jesus said, " 'You shall not murder,' 'You shall not commit adultery,' 'You shall not steal,' 'You shall not bear false witness,' {19} 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'"

(Mark 10:19 NKJV) "You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery,' 'Do not murder,' 'Do not steal,' 'Do not bear false witness,' 'Do not defraud,' 'Honor your father and your mother.'"

(Luke 18:20 NKJV) "You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery,' 'Do not murder,' 'Do not steal,' 'Do not bear false witness,' 'Honor your father and your mother.'"

4.) (Numbers 23:19 NKJV) "God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?

(Titus 1:2 NKJV) in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began,

(Hebrews 6:18 NKJV) that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.

(1 Kings 22:19-23 NKJV) Then Micaiah said, "Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by, on His right hand and on His left. {20} "And the LORD said, 'Who will persuade Ahab to go up, that he may fall at Ramoth Gilead?' So one spoke in this manner, and another spoke in that manner. {21} "Then a spirit came forward and stood before the LORD, and said, 'I will persuade him.' {22} "The LORD said to him, 'In what way?' So he said, 'I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.' And the LORD said, 'You shall persuade him, and also prevail. Go out and do so.' {23} "Therefore look! The LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these prophets of yours, and the LORD has declared disaster against you."

5.) (Revelation 21:8 NKJV) "But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."

(Revelation 21:27 NKJV) But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.

(Revelation 22:14-15 NKJV) Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. {15} But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.

6.) (Hebrews 11:31 NKJV) By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.

(Hebrews 11:39-40 NKJV) And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, {40} God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.

(James 2:14-26 NKJV) What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? {15} If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, {16} and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? {17} Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. {18} But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. {19} You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe; and tremble! {20} But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? {21} Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? {22} Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? {23} And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." And he was called the friend of God. {24} You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. {25} Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? {26} For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

(Joshua 2:4-6 NKJV) Then the woman took the two men and hid them. So she said, "Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. {5} "And it happened as the gate was being shut, when it was dark, that the men went out. Where the men went I do not know; pursue them quickly, for you may overtake them." {6} (But she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order on the roof.)

7.) (Leviticus 19:11 NKJV) 'You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another.

(Proverbs 6:16-19 NKJV) These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: {17} A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, {18} A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, {19} A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.

(Proverbs 12:19 NKJV) The truthful lip shall be established forever, But a lying tongue is but for a moment.

(Proverbs 12:22 NKJV) Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, But those who deal truthfully are His delight.

(Proverbs 13:5 NKJV) A righteous man hates lying, But a wicked man is loathsome and comes to shame.

(Proverbs 17:4 NKJV) An evildoer gives heed to false lips; A liar listens eagerly to a spiteful tongue.

(Proverbs 19:22 NKJV) What is desired in a man is kindness, And a poor man is better than a liar.

8. (Zechariah 8:16 NKJV) These are the things you shall do: Speak each man the truth to his neighbor; Give judgment in your gates for truth, justice, and peace;

9.) (John 8:44 NKJV) "You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.

(Acts 5:3-11 NKJV) But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? {4} "While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God." {5} Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. {6} And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him. {7} Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. {8} And Peter answered her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?" She said, "Yes, for so much." {9} Then Peter said to her, "How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out." {10} Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband. {11} So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.

10.) (Ephesians 4:15 NKJV) but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head; Christ;

(Ephesians 4:25 NKJV) Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another.

(Colossians 3:9 NKJV) Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,

11.) (Proverbs 6:16-19 NKJV) These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: {17} A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, {18} A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, {19} A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.

(Exodus 23:1-3 NKJV) "You shall not circulate a false report. Do not put your hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness. {2} "You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after many to pervert justice. {3} "You shall not show partiality to a poor man in his dispute.

(Proverbs 12:17 NKJV) He who speaks truth declares righteousness, But a false witness, deceit.

(Proverbs 14:5 NKJV) A faithful witness does not lie, But a false witness will utter lies.

(Proverbs 14:25 NKJV) A true witness delivers souls, But a deceitful witness speaks lies.

(Proverbs 19:28 NKJV) A disreputable witness scorns justice, And the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.

(Proverbs 24:28 NKJV) Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause, For would you deceive with your lips?

(Proverbs 25:18 NKJV) A man who bears false witness against his neighbor Is like a club, a sword, and a sharp arrow.

12.) (Matthew 26:57-60 NKJV) And those who had laid hold of Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. {58} But Peter followed Him at a distance to the high priest's courtyard. And he went in and sat with the servants to see the end. {59} Now the chief priests, the elders, and all the council sought false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, {60} but found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false witnesses came forward

13.) (Acts 6:9-13 NKJV) Then there arose some from what is called the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia), disputing with Stephen. {10} And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke. {11} Then they secretly induced men to say, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God." {12} And they stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; and they came upon him, seized him, and brought him to the council. {13} They also set up false witnesses who said, "This man does not cease to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the law;

(Acts 7:57-59 NKJV) Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; {58} and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. {59} And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."

14.) (Deuteronomy 17:6-7 NKJV) "Whoever is deserving of death shall be put to death on the testimony of two or three witnesses; he shall not be put to death on the testimony of one witness. {7} "The hands of the witnesses shall be the first against him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So you shall put away the evil from among you.

15.) (Matthew 18:16 NKJV) "But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that 'by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.'

(2 Corinthians 13:1 NKJV) This will be the third time I am coming to you. "By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established."

(1 Timothy 5:19 NKJV) Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses.

16.) (Proverbs 19:5 NKJV) A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who speaks lies will not escape.

(Proverbs 19:9 NKJV) A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who speaks lies shall perish.

(Proverbs 21:28 NKJV) A false witness shall perish, But the man who hears him will speak endlessly.

(Deuteronomy 19:16-21 NKJV) "If a false witness rises against any man to testify against him of wrongdoing, {17} "then both men in the controversy shall stand before the LORD, before the priests and the judges who serve in those days. {18} "And the judges shall make careful inquiry, and indeed, if the witness is a false witness, who has testified falsely against his brother, {19} "then you shall do to him as he thought to have done to his brother; so you shall put away the evil from among you. {20} "And those who remain shall hear and fear, and hereafter they shall not again commit such evil among you. {21} "Your eye shall not pity: life shall be for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.

17.) (Ephesians 4:25 NKJV) Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another.

(John 17:17 NKJV) "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.

(John 14:6 NKJV) Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

(John 8:32 NKJV) "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

18.) (Proverbs 30:6 NKJV) Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.

(Deuteronomy 4:2 NKJV) "You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.

(Deuteronomy 12:32 NKJV) "Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it.

(Joshua 1:7 NKJV) "Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.

(Joshua 11:15 NKJV) As the LORD had commanded Moses his servant, so Moses commanded Joshua, and so Joshua did. He left nothing undone of all that the LORD had commanded Moses.

(Revelation 22:18-19 NKJV) For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; {19} and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

(Jeremiah 14:14-15 NKJV) And the LORD said to me, "The prophets prophesy lies in My name. I have not sent them, commanded them, nor spoken to them; they prophesy to you a false vision, divination, a worthless thing, and the deceit of their heart. {15} "Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who prophesy in My name, whom I did not send, and who say, 'Sword and famine shall not be in this land'; 'By sword and famine those prophets shall be consumed!

(Jeremiah 10:2-10 NKJV) Thus says the LORD: "Do not learn the way of the Gentiles; Do not be dismayed at the signs of heaven, For the Gentiles are dismayed at them. {3} For the customs of the peoples are futile; For one cuts a tree from the forest, The work of the hands of the workman, with the ax. {4} They decorate it with silver and gold; They fasten it with nails and hammers So that it will not topple. {5} They are upright, like a palm tree, And they cannot speak; They must be carried, Because they cannot go by themselves. Do not be afraid of them, For they cannot do evil, Nor can they do any good." {6} Inasmuch as there is none like You, O LORD (You are great, and Your name is great in might), {7} Who would not fear You, O King of the nations? For this is Your rightful due. For among all the wise men of the nations, And in all their kingdoms, There is none like You. {8} But they are altogether dull-hearted and foolish; A wooden idol is a worthless doctrine. {9} Silver is beaten into plates; It is brought from Tarshish, And gold from Uphaz, The work of the craftsman And of the hands of the metalsmith; Blue and purple are their clothing; They are all the work of skillful men. {10} But the LORD is the true God; He is the living God and the everlasting King. At His wrath the earth will tremble, And the nations will not be able to endure His indignation.

(2 Timothy 4:2-4 NKJV) Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. {3} For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; {4} and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.