The Ninth Commandment-You Shall Not Give False Testimony

The ninth commandment says "You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor." Exodus 20:16

The word translated as neighbor here can actually mean just about anyone. So basically it is saying to tell the truth about other people. Don't go around telling lies about other people. Especially if you would gain something by doing so. This includes both public speaking, as in a court of law, and private, as in speaking to your best friend in your own kitchen.

There are several reasons for this commandment. One is that Gods people were to reflect his character. God is completely honest. Therefore his people should be honest. Another reason is that bearing false witness against a person, even just gossiping about him, was and is, very hurtful to that person. It can harm him in many ways such as damaging his reputation, hurting his business, or just hurting his feelings. Gods people were commanded to love their neighbors. Hurting someone is not loving. False witness was also very destructive to society as a whole. If people can not trust the courts and do not believe that justice will be done then law and order tends break down. This causes suffering for everyone.

Jesus also said to love your enemy as well as your neighbor. So this means you are not even to tell lies about your worst enemy. Which is extremely hard to do. Especially if you are really angry at the person. Remember, the new testament also says to be angry but do not sin. Ephesians 4:26

Another post I read cited some times in the old testament when telling lies seemed to be ok. He made the point that it is hurting others and the expectation of honesty that matter. I'm not sure if that is entirely correct or not but there are some good points in that post.

I think this is something that needs more consideration on my part. I need to make sure that I'm not saying harmful things. Unless of course they are true! Maybe.

References : Got Questions?org
Micheal Williams-Master of None

The Eighth Commandment - You Shall Not Steal

The eighth commandment says : You Shall Not Steal. I have been thinking about this and reading some online sermons, then thinking some more.

One of the online bible studies by Jim Davis makes the point that everyone has stolen something at some time in their lives. Therefore we are all thieves. He lists many ways that we steal. Some of them are things that never entered my mind.  There is also a long list of the excuses we make for this. He says it much better than I can so You should go read it here.

There is another good bible study at St. John in the Wilderness.  They make the point that ownership of anything is a gift from God. Stealing is not only wronging the person stolen from but God himself. And stealing also implies that one does not trust God.

This one is hard. These days there are so many ways to steal and people don't really think anything of it. Just about everyone I know tries not to have to pay any taxes. That could be stealing. Finding something of value and not returning it is stealing. Going to work and goofing off...but still accepting your pay...that is stealing. Cheating on exams to get a grade you don't deserve...is that stealing? According to one pastor M.G. Blankenship "the greatest theft of all is an unrepentant, unsurrendered life!"

This one I'm going to have to work on. And think about a lot more. I don't like thinking of myself as a thief.