Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday evening, June 01, 2003, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia.

DISHONESTY IN TESTIMONY THE NINTH COMMANDMENT

By Michael D. O’Neal Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany, Georgia

Scripture Reading: Exodus 20:12-17

Text: Exodus 20:16

Exodus 20:16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

Introduction: Two of the ten commandments have to do with the tongue. You might even put it this way, that 20 percent of obeying the ten commandments meant simply to say the right thing.

The tongue is very important. Jesus said

Matthew 12:36-37 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

Seven things are said to be an abomination to the Lord in Proverbs 6, and three of them are connected with the tongue:

Proverbs 6:16-19 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

The importance of this commandment is emphasized by the statement in Proverbs that “a false witness that speaketh lies” is one of the things that God hates!

Lying is a sin. Bearing false witness is a lie about another person.

Proverbs 14:5 A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.

I. BEARING FALSE WITNESS IS A DESTRUCTIVE ACT

James 3:5-6 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

Like a fire, it can be said of a false witness that:

A. It scorches

B. It scars

C. It stops growth

D. It shuts down work

E. It spreads, sometimes out of control

II. BEARING FALSE WITNESS IS A DEVILISH ATTRIBUTE

John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

A. He is the foremost liar

B. He is the father of lies

C. He fills a person’s heart to lie

Acts 5:3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?

III. BEARING FALSE WITNESS IS A DEFILING ACTIVITY

Mark 7:20-23 And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

How do things come out of the heart of the man? Answer:

Matthew 12:34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

A. It defiles your conscience

B. It defiles your character

C. It defiles your communion

With God
With others

IV. BEARING FALSE WITNESS IS A DELIBERATE ASSASSINATION

Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

Proverbs 26:22 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

Lying about people is like

A. Smashing them with a hammer

Proverbs 25:18 A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.

B. Shooting them with an arrow or spear

Psalms 64:2-4 Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity: 3 Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words: 4 That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.

C. Stabbing them in the back

Proverbs 12:18 There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.

D. Slaying them with poison

Romans 3:13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:

E. Shredding them in your teeth like an animal with his prey

Galatians 5:15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.

Conclusion:

Proverbs 19:5 A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.

Proverbs 17:20 He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.

Another note: A lying tongue is not always accusing. Sometimes it is FLATTERING!

Proverbs 26:28 A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.

Don’t listen to liars:

Proverbs 17:4 A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.

Proverbs 25:23 The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.