Lesson No. 42

Lesson No. 42 Ninth Commandment

"Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour". (Exodus chapter 20: verse 16).51

The first case recorded in the history of humanity related to false testimony is clearly reflected in the Devil's deception of Eve, according to Genesis chapter 3: verses 2 to 5 cited in one of the previous themes where Scripture declares that, to the serpent's question, the woman responded: And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 3But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 4And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.51

In this case, one can clearly see how the enemy of God and our souls used his trick, mixing lies with truth and falsehood with reality, to achieve his evil purpose.

Evidently, from all that the author of sin and falsehood told the woman in this passage, a single lie is recorded constituting in this case, the key expression of deception and false testimony: "You will not die". This is a categorical phrase of discredit towards the divine warning and therefore, the most serious known case of false testimony devised against none other than the Author and source of truth, justice, and sanctity.

A single false and lying expression was enough to seduce with deceit the woman to sin against God and consequently bring chaos and disaster in such a calamitous way to humanity, as we already know. Thus, it is assumed that anyone who uses this false and abominable habit or conspires with it, becomes inescapably an accomplice of the Devil.

False testimony is a disguised declaration about the conduct or deeds of a person, made with the purpose of blaming them for something of which they are innocent. This declaration can be made before a judge or another person. Any way it is done, this despicable attitude of human behavior always affects the individual's honor. And in many cases, this detriment extends to affect several people.

This precept, according to our eminent reference writer, forbids any attempt to damage our fellow beings' reputation through distortions or malicious insinuations, through slanders or gossip.

Even the suppression of the truth, done with the intent to harm others, is a violation of the ninth commandment.

Experience itself is the most evident proof of all the evils false testimony has caused humanity. Many people have been sentenced to the death penalty, others have been imprisoned to suffer long hardships. False testimony has also prompted considerable acts of homicides and suicides. And when it has caused the least effects, it has at least caused the suffering of countless people, sometimes entire families, who have been victims of vile slander, and have had to bear the affront and moral wound it has inflicted upon them.

As a consequence of false testimony, many people have lost their jobs and suffered hunger, misery, and severe hardships. This criminal sin has also promoted countless family divisions and the breakdown of many homes. This bad habit has continually brought disputes, enmities, hatred, resentment, and vengeance to humanity.

We believe that these reasons are sufficient to affirm that false testimony is also a criminal offense, worthy of being judged not only by human justice but also by the divine tribunal, from which the guilty cannot escape.

This horrendous sin is wholly reproved by God, as it always leads to slander and is completely linked with lying.

As our eminent writer of Christian literature32 explains, lying can be manifested through a glance, a gesture, or an expression of the face, by which one can lie as effectively as using words.

Any promise made without the intention of fulfilling it, any intentional exaggeration, any insinuation or indirect words said to produce an erroneous or exaggerated concept, up to the presentation of facts in a way that gives a wrong idea, all of this is lying.

The so-called "white" or "pious" lies are not approved by God, for all lies are diametrically opposed to the nature of the God of truth. Let's see what the Lord Himself tells us through the Holy Scriptures:

Psalm 101: verse 7: “He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight”.51

Proverbs chapter 12: verse 22: “Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight”.51

Proverbs chapter 13: verse 5: “A righteous man hateth lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame”.51

Proverbs chapter 19: verse 9: “A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish”.51

The apostle John confirms to us the expression of Our Lord Jesus Christ regarding that lying is from the Devil, as is false testimony.

Since the Son of God told his adversaries: 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. (John chapter 8: verse 44).51

Therefore, the apostle Paul advises the Church of Ephesus saying:

Ephesians chapter 4: verse 25: “Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another”.51

In this case, as I explained in the tenth commandment, it is necessary to bear in mind that it was the Devil who passed on to the human race the despicable and disastrous sin of false testimony. Therefore, it must be kept in mind that whenever the perverse and malicious instinct of this horrible sin is manifested, behind it hides the inductive influence of the enemy of God. Therefore, considering the gravity of the violation of this divine precept in all its extension, it should be of high esteem to always remember the mandate bequeathed by our Divine Creator: "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor".