The Bible’s Ninth Commandment

The Bible’s Ninth Commandment states, You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor (Exodus 20:16; Deuteronomy 5:20). The question is, how important is truth? To be more specific, what does the Bible tell us about our Almighty Father in heaven (Yahweh), His Word and truth? How did Elohim view the Israelites’ epidemic of lies? And the important questions to you personally: Are you truthful? Do you lie? Maybe it would be kinder to word the questions a little differently: How much importance do you place on being truthful? Or, reversing this question, is lying repugnant to you? We lack the resolve and strength to resist temptation. How, then, can we neutralize this weakness? These questions are very important. You need to ask and answer them truthfully to yourself. Today, we are going to share with you the meaning and importance of the Ninth Commandment of the Scripture. As always, we’ll let the Bible interpret itself and Yahweh’s Holy Spirit to give us wisdom in teaching you this. We pray that you may have the eyes to see and the ears to hear for this true and faithful heavenly message.

To fully appreciate the Ninth Commandment, with its prohibition of lying, we must all fully realize how very  important truth is to Yahweh. Notice what several Bible verses declare about it: “Every word of Elohim is pure (Proverbs 30:5). The Scripture of truth (Daniel 10:21). Almighty Yahweh’s Begotten Son and Savior of humanity, Yahshua the Messiah said in prayer to Elohim the Father, “Your word is truth” (John 17:17). The Bible throughout teaches that “Yahweh is not a man, that He should lie” (Numbers 23:19). It plainly explains that “the word of Yahweh is right, and all His work is done in truth” (Psalm 33:4) because He is “Elohim of truth” (Deuteronomy 32:4). And “His truth endures to all generations” (Psalm 100:5). As the very source of truth, Yahweh requires that His servants always speak truthfully. Elohim expects truth to permeate every facet of our lives. In fact, restoring regard for truth as a universal way of life will be a top priority when Messiah Yahshua returns to establish His rule. “Thus says Elohim: I will return to Zion, and dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Jerusalem shall then be called the City of Truth, the Mountain of the Elohim of hosts, the Holy Mountain” (Zechariah 8:3). Speaking of Yahshua’s rule in Yahweh’s Kingdom, Psalm 85 reveals the emphasis Elohim will place on righteousness and truth. At that time, Yahshua will insist that all of mankind follow His footsteps in accepting, believing and speaking the truth.

Moreover, Almighty Yahweh said these words to that of ancient Israelites’ lies: “So you shall say to them, This is a nation that does not obey the voice of Yahweh their Elohim nor receive correction. Truth has perished and has been cut off from their mouth” (Jeremiah 7:28). “And like their bow they have bent their tongue for lies. They are not valiant for the truth on the earth. For they proceed from evil to evil, and they do not know Me, says Yahweh” (Jeremiah 9:3). As it was then, most people today routinely inject deceit into their relationships—personal, social, political, religious and economic. The dearth of honesty is so widely accepted that public censure no longer even discourages lying. That demand must come from within. Yes, truthfulness is absolutely essential to holiness. All relationships, if they are to fully maximize the value due to each person involved, must be founded on truth. A liar disregards the dignity of others. Put this in another way, lying is dehumanizing. It is spiritually and psychologically very harmful to the one telling the lie, and reflects a lack of proper respect to the one to whom the lie is told.

Furthermore, always remember that Satan the devil “has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44). His servants here on earth through his power of the air are masters of deception— disguise themselves as servants of righteousness” (2 Corinthians 11:15). Pay attention that lying is listed in the “six things that Yahweh hates, as these are abomination to Him! These include “haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devices wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers” (Proverbs 6:16-19). Did you notice how many of these things relate directly to the sin identified by the Ninth Commandment? And yes, notice also that in the latter times, “some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared” (1 Timothy 4:1-2). Yes indeed, Satan’s demonic influence is so powerful that he “deceives the whole world” (Revelation 12:9). He’s the father of lies! Ultimately, “murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars” will be destroyed in a lake of fire, which is the second death” (Revelation 21:8).

Temptations to lie never cease. They are always present. Lying is such a quick and effortless way to gain an unfair advantage over others. It appears to offer easy and swift escape from the embarrassment, fear and guilt. But the Bible says, “Lying lips are an abomination to Yahweh, but those who deal truthfully are His delight” (Proverbs 12:22). We often find ourselves doing things that we know are wrong. So why, then, do we do them? The prophet Jeremiah gives us the biblical answer: “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it? I, Yahweh, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give to each man according to his ways, according to the results of his deeds” (Jeremiah 17:9-10). Yes, Elohim understands our nature and reveals how to combat it. Yahshua explained that even though we may be willing to obey, our flesh is weak (Mark 14:38). The apostle Paul plainly explains the cause of and the solution to this universal human problem. Citing himself as an example, Paul had described the timeless human struggle in Romans 7:14-15. We can relate to Paul. We all have experienced the same frustration and remorse. Paul continues to explain about this subject matter in Romans 7:22-24. Yes, apostle Paul had learned that people need help to rise above the weaknesses of human nature to resist temptations. Paul urged Church members in Ephesus to “put on the new man which was created according to Elohim, in true righteousness and holiness.” How were they to do this? Yes, by putting away lying! He told them this: “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor, for we’re members of one another” (Ephesians 4:24-25).

Another apostle, Peter, denied Yahshua on the night of His betrayal, even lying about being acquainted with Him (Matthew 26:69-74). Like Peter, many people find it almost impossible to abandon all forms of deceit until they surrender their lives to Elohim and begin sincerely seeking His help. That help is readily available, “for it is Elohim who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). Yes, we must ask for help! And how do we receive it? The Bible tells us: “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Yahshua the Son of Yahweh, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:14-16). Yes, we need Elohim’s help to overcome all lies. Lying, when compared with murder, adultery, or theft, may seem benign or a relatively slight character flaw. Often, however, lying stems from a much more serious character defect than we might imagine. Stop creating a fake self image to attain true conversion and holy living.

While the Bible’s Ninth Commandment directly forbids false accusations, the broad general principle forbids all falsehood and dishonesty. In addition to asking Elohim’s help to overcome deceit, we must also repent of lying. Repentance—true repentance—requires “truth in the inward being.” This means no more cover-ups, no more pretense, no more mental games and false self-images. It also means an open-hearted—and often painful—confession of sins, all sins, not just our “minor flaws” only that still allow us to continue lying to ourselves and deceiving others. It means honesty looking into the darkened recesses of our own hearts and minds and, no matter how painful, laying our hearts bare before Elohim, confessing the true nature of our own motives, admitting our “secret” sins, and resolving to put an end to all lying, both to ourselves and to others. Yes, as true believers and doers, the real truth must be our way of life. When Yahweh forced King David to come to terms with the enormity of his sins (2 Samuel 11-12:13), David stopped lying to himself, stopped his effort to escape his guilt. The depth of his repentance can be read in Psalm 51. Yes, our genuine repentance is a key prerequisite to true conversion and holy living. Remember, without true repentance in us, there will be no forgiveness of our sin!

In closing, those who willingly believe and obey the truth of Elohim can, by being baptized and receiving the Holy Spirit, become members of the Church that Yahshua the Messiah built. Savior Yahshua refers to them as the “light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). They represent “the way of truth” (John 14:6). The apostle Paul calls Elohim’s Church “the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15). Its members are the servants of “the living and true Elohim” (1 Thessalonians 1:9). By “rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15), it is commissioned by Messiah Yahshua to preach “the truth of the Gospel” to all the world (Galatians 2:5; Matthew 24:14; 28:19). Yes, everything in the life of a true believer and a doer is anchored to truth. Almighty Yahweh wants us as His children, to commit ourselves to truth and reflect it in everything we do. This is why Elohim commands all of humanity with these words: “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor (Exodus 20:16; Deuteronomy 5:20). May Elohim bless you and keep you, especially the true believers and followers of His Word (Bible). We pray for peace in Israel and all of the earth. Let’s continue to spread love, hope, faith and truth. We humbly pray these things to Yahweh through Yahshua the Savior and Master and King, amen. Hallelluyah and Shalom to all of the brethren!