Do not bear false witness against your neighbor.
March 13, 2022

Today’s Commandment: You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

What does the commandment mean?

We should fear and love God so that we do not tell lies about our neighbor, betray him, slander him, or hurt his reputation, but defend him, speak well of him, and explain everything in the kindest way. —Martin Luther

This commandment means we must not:
1. Tell lies about our neighbor.
2. Slander our neighbor.
3. Betray our neighbot.

This commandment means we must:
1. Defend our neighbor.
2. Speak well of our neighbor.
3. Explain their behavior in the kindest way.

Expansion on the commandment

“Do not spread false reports. Do not help a guilty person by being a malicious witness.

2 “Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you give testimony in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd, 3 and do not show favoritism to a poor person in a lawsuit.

4 “If you come across your enemy’s ox or donkey wandering off, be sure to return it. 5 If you see the donkey of someone who hates you fallen down under its load, do not leave it there; be sure you help them with it.

6 “Do not deny justice to your poor people in their lawsuits. 7 Have nothing to do with a false charge and do not put an innocent or honest person to death, for I will not acquit the guilty.

8 “Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the innocent.

9 “Do not oppress a foreigner; you yourselves know how it feels to be foreigners, because you were foreigners in Egypt. —Exodus 23:1-9

25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. 26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, —Ephesians 4:25-26

29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. —Ephesians 4:29-32

Commandment Breakdown:

We are not to tell lies about our neighbor.
This includes not only direct lies, but also any kind of language tricks that deceive.

  1. The facts of our story need to be true. No exaggeration. No inflating the story.
  2. The emphasis of the story needs to be true. No inflating the other person’s sin while de-emphasizing our own.
  3. The explanation of events we give needs to be true. No using the facts to arrive at the worst possible conclusion about our neighbor.

We are not to slander our neighbor.

15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. —Matthew 18:15-17

A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches,
and favor is better than silver or gold. —Proverbs 22:1

We are not to betray our neighbor.

Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets,
but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered. —Proverbs 11:13

This does not mean that we cover up crime or ignore sin.

We must tell what we know about others if the court, or parents, or persons who have a right to know inquire of us.

We must defend our neighbor.

“the first to plead his case seems right, until another comes and examines him.” —Proverbs 18:17

We must speak well of our neighbor whenever possible.

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. —Philippians 4:8

When we cannot speak well, we must explain everything in the kindest way.

Why should we obey this commandment?

Because it is a commandment of God and the foundation of justice.

How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. —James 3:5-10

1. Because critical words are like fire.

2. Because that fire is from hell.

3. Because every person is made in God’s likeness.

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. —James 3:13-18