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Speak the Truth in Love

Sunday, January 23, 2022
Pastor Jojo Ma

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Exodus 20:16

16 You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

The main point is this: Don’t be a lying witness. Don’t spread any falsehood when you testify because people’s lives are on the line.

Deut 19:15 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. [See also Deut 17:6, Matt 18:16, 2 Cor 13:1]

16 You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. 

Heidelberg Catechism Question 112:
Q. What is the aim of the ninth commandment?

A. That I never give false testimony against anyone, twist no one’s words, not gossip or slander, nor join in condemning anyone rashly or without a hearing.

First, we should never give false testimony against anyone.

Second, never twist another’s words.

Third, never gossip or slander.

R. Kent Hughes: Gossip involves saying behind a person’s back what you would never say to his or her face. Flattery means saying to a person’s face what you would never say behind his or her back.

Three simple questions can be helpful: Is it true? Is it necessary? Is it loving? How you answer those three questions can help you determine what to do with sensitive information.

Matt 15:19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.

Fourth, never join in condemning anyone rashly or without a hearing.

James 3:17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.

Prov 18:17 The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him.

Speak the truth in love, protect reputations, look out for one another, forgive and bear with one another, encourage one another and build one another up. We should be using our mouths and our speech to bless and love, not hurt and divide.

Eph 4:15-16 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Prov 6:16-19 There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.

Ligonier Ministries: There are a number of different ways in which we can break this rule against false witness. If we teach or proclaim wrong things about God’s character, we are bearing false witness. If we gossip and backbite to destroy how a person is viewed in the eyes of others, we are bearing false witness. Ultimately, if we do not prize truth as highly as the Lord does, we will find it easy to break the ninth commandment. Let us, therefore, aim for truth in all our speech.