Exodus 20:16: The Ninth Commandment

Of all of the Ten Commandments, the breaking of the ninth may be the most common and socially acceptable of them all.  It seems that any time a politician, athlete, celebrity, or average Joe is accused of anything, their knee-jerk reaction is to deny the accusation or to frame the story in such a way that they look as good as the possibly can.  But don’t we do the same?  Almost half of people who apply for jobs in this country do.  In a recent survey of nearly three million job applicants, “nearly 50 percent of American resumes contain one or more falsehoods.”[1]It seems that it is just assumed that breaking this commandment is not that big of a deal from time to time. 

As God’s people, however, we must remember that these commandments represent God’s moral standards for all people.  Whether breaking a commandment is culturally acceptable or not, we must agree with God when our culture is wrong.  In the ninth commandment, God commanded His people to speak truth with and about one another: “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor” (Exodus 20:16).  So whether culturally acceptable or not, God’s people must speak truth with and about one another. Let’s ask God for grace today in order to do so and then let’s consider what the ninth commandment requires of us as God’s people.  

I.              The Ninth Commandment Calls Us to be People Who Treasure Justice

Mark Rooker says “The original focus of this commandment pertained to the giving of false testimony in legal proceedings (see Exod 23:2).”[2] This understanding of the ninth commandment is expanded in a few other passages.  Consider Exodus 23:1-3: [23:1] “You shall not spread a false report. You shall not join hands with a wicked man to be a malicious witness. [2] You shall not fall in with the many to do evil, nor shall you bear witness in a lawsuit, siding with the many, so as to pervert justice, [3] nor shall you be partial to a poor man in his lawsuit.  Deuteronomy 19:15-21 also highlights this understanding of the ninth commandment: [15] “A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established. [16] If a malicious witness arises to accuse a person of wrongdoing, [17] then both parties to the dispute shall appear before the LORD, before the priests and the judges who are in office in those days. [18] The judges shall inquire diligently, and if the witness is a false witness and has accused his brother falsely, [19] then you shall do to him as he had meant to do to his brother. So you shall purge the evil from your midst. [20] And the rest shall hear and fear, and shall never again commit any such evil among you. [21] Your eye shall not pity. It shall be life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.

The point here is simply that God is just and God’s people are to reflect the just character of their Redeemer and Creator.  To bear false witness in a legal case, whether out of malice or in an effort to help someone you love, is to pervert justice.  Lying in legal matters is a threat to the whole justice system because without truth, there can be no justice.  The justice system is meant to protect those who have been wronged in some way, not to be abused and manipulated in order to cover up something or to wrong someone else. 

Imagine what a difference the truth would make in some of the racial cases we see on the news right now.  One of the problems in the Michael Brown shooting is simply that there are so many inconsistencies in the testimonies of eyewitnesses.  It wouldn’t solve the racial problem in our country, but imagine what a difference it would make if all the eyewitnesses simply told the truth. 

You may never find yourself in a legal proceeding where you have to give testimony, but if you do, remember the ninth commandment.  Resolve by God’s grace to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.  Tell the truth and leave the rest to God. 

II.            The Ninth Commandment Calls Us to be People of Integrity

The ninth commandment, however, does not just address telling the truth in legal matters.  This commandment also prohibits any false statement that may bring harm to any neighbor.  Remember that some of the Ten Commandments are categorical, meaning that they stand not just for the specific sin mentioned, but also for whole categories of sin.  The specific sin mentioned in these commands is simply the most extreme form of that sin.  So this commandment does not just call us to treasure justice, but to also be people of integrity. 

The rest of the Bible applies this commandment to other types of lying as well.  Of the seven things that Yahweh hates in Proverbs 6:16-19, lying makes the list more than once: [16] There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him: [17] haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, [18] a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, [19] a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers. (Proverbs 6:16-19 ESV) Proverbs 12:22 says, “Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, but those who act faithfully are his delight.” 

In the New Testament, Paul states that a mark of spiritual maturity is when we are “speaking the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15).  Later in the same chapter, where Paul is charging believers to live morally upright lives, he mentions the ninth commandment in this way: “Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.”  (Ephesians 4:25 ESV)

In this light, this commandment also condemns the lies we tell our neighbors over the fence and the rumors we whisper between the pews at church.[3]  Have you ever exaggerated or embellished a story?  Have you ever said something like, “I didn’t lie; I just didn’t tell them everything.”  Friend, a wise preacher once said that a half-truth is a whole lie. 

Gossip and slander is also a form of lying and a breach of this commandment.  Gossip is talking about people in a way that damages their reputation and involves much speculation.  Philip Ryken gives some helpful questions to consider for when we are tempted to gossip: Is what I am about to say true?  If so, does it really need to be said to this person in this conversation?  Would I put it this way if the person I’m talking about were here to listen?  He goes on to say that “Telling the truth means thinking and saying the best about people.”[4]

Another way we lie is when we act like we have it all together when we really don’t, or when we call our selves faithful Christians and then don’t live like it.  It’s called posing.  John addressed posers in 1 John 1:6: “If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.”  Instead of posing, lets come out into the open and rejoice that we are a bunch of liars that have been covered by Christ’s blood so that we can be transformed into people of integrity by His grace! 

Have you ever considered why we lie?  Jesus called the devil “the father of lies” and said that unbelievers lie because they belong to him (John 8:44).  Even Christians still struggle with this old nature on this side of heaven.  So one reason is because it is our nature to do so.  But there are more practical reasons.  Some people lie because of malice.  Some people lie because of pride.  Some people lie because of greed.  I know that in my own life, much of my lying has to do with insecurity and the fear of man.  I don’t want people to be disappointed with me so I frame a situation in order to paint myself in the best light.  Why are you tempted to lie? 

The bottom line once again is that God is truthful.  Titus 1:2 says that He cannot lie.  So in order to reflect God’s character to this world, we must be truthful as well.  We must be people of integrity. 

III.         The Ninth Commandment Calls Us to be People Who Love Our Neighbor

Finally, this commandment also calls us to be people who love our neighbor.  We’ve said this is true about all of the last six commandments, but notice how this commandment specifically states that when we break it; we are doing something “against” our neighbor (20:16).  Psalm 15 also makes this connection: [15:1] O LORD, who shall sojourn in your tent? Who shall dwell on your holy hill? [2] He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart; [3] who does not slander with his tongue and does no evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend; [4] in whose eyes a vile person is despised, but who honors those who fear the LORD; who swears to his own hurt and does not change; [5] who does not put out his money at interest and does not take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved. (Psalm 15:1-5).  Remember that anytime we lie, whether in court or in church, someone suffers. 

Another reason it is important to think through this point is because there are some cases in Scripture we see people lying and yet not condemned.  The Hebrew midwives lied to protect children in Exodus 1:19.  Rahab lied to protect the two Israelite spies in Joshua 2:2-6.  Jonathan lied to protect David in 1 Samuel 20:27-29.  What I would first say about this instances is that even though their lying wasn’t condemned, it wasn’t condoned either.  These are situations where the lesser of two evils had to be chosen because love for one’s neighbor required that one withhold the truth.  If a soldier is captured during war, simply telling the truth when interrogated could result in great harm to his fellow soldiers or his country.  J.I. Packer says here that when the love that seeks our neighbor’s good prompts us to withhold truth that, if spoken, would bring him harm, the spirit of the ninth commandment is being observed.[5]  But again, you should see these as instances where the lesser of two evils is being chosen, not as an excuse to lie with good intentions.  These aren’t situations where someone is saving their own hide, but their neighbor’s.   

Don’t blow off this commandment like the rest of our culture does.  As we saw earlier, God hates lying.  When Revelation 21:8 mentions those who will burn in the lake of fire one day, it includes liars: “But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”  And in case John’s readers didn’t get warning, he repeats in it Revelation 22:14-15: [14] Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. [15] Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

Only us liars who have our robes washed can enter heaven.  Thankfully, God has provided a way for us to have our lying hearts washed clean.  That way is to turn to Jesus, admit the truth to Him that we are liars and sinners who rightly deserve God’s wrath and to ask for His forgiveness in full surrender to Him as Lord and King of our lives.  That way is to trust what He has done on our behalf in His life and death to make us right with God.  Jesus, who never lied, was lied about and ultimately was falsely accused and crucified.  Jesus told the truth even when it lead to His own death so that we could be forgiven and changed.  Will you turn to Him today for salvation?  Will you repent of lying as His follower and beg Him for grace to be a person of integrity?  This is who you were meant to be and this is who you can be, but only by God’s grace and only by Christ’ blood.

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[1] Philip Ryken, Written in Stone, 186

[2] Rooker, Mark (2010-04-29). The Ten Commandments (New American Commentary Studies in Bible and Theology) (Kindle Locations 4037-4038). B&H Publishing. Kindle Edition.

[3] Philip Ryken, Written in Stone, 189

[4] Ibid, 193

[5] J.I. Packer, Keeping the Ten Commandments, 98