This commandment strikes at the heart of falsehood and lies, which in their turn are the native language of the devil. Without truth and trust, biblical culture is an impossibility. “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor” (Ex. 20:16).
First, what is the context of false witness? The commandment prohibits lying against one’s neighbor. Paul tells the Colossians not to lie to one another, because they had put off the old man with his deeds (3:9). Trust is essential to all community, and false witness makes trust impossible. False witness can exist in such a society, but if it is not punished severely that society will not be a society long. At its base, deception is an act of war — “A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a club, a sword, and a sharp arrow (Prov. 25:18; cf. 12:17–18). The psalmist recognizes this — “false witnesses have risen against me, and such as breathe out violence” (Ps. 27:12).
Bearing false witness is therefore civil war — warfare against one’s neighbor, one’s brother. It is an act of violence directed against someone with whom you should be at peace.
Lying, Liars, & Deceit
“the enemy of her own people, and secondly, the enemy of everyone else”
The Soviet Union is, first, the enemy of her own people, and secondly, the enemy of everyone else. Totalitarians are not just a ‘little different.’. . . Perhaps we should take off our blinders. The Soviets are good at what they do, and one or things they do is lie convincingly to invertebrates.
Douglas Wilson
“Liars are usually clever — you have to give them that.”
Liars are usually clever — you have to give them that. And one of the things the really smart ones know how to do is to use the last lie you caught them in as a basis for getting you to believe the lie they are currently telling. Douglas Wilson
“When we begin to lie, we are the first liar”
When we begin to lie, we are the first liar, but we are also frequently the first dupe. We don’t start by telling other people lies. We begin by telling ourselves that we are not lying — which is the first lie.
Douglas Wilson
“You shall not circulate a false report. Do not put your hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness”
God does not only prohibit the invention of such lies, He prohibits us from circulating them. ‘You shall not circulate a false report. Do not put your hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness’ (Ex. 23:1). As Thomas Watson put it, very bluntly, it makes little difference if we carry the devil around in our mouth or in our ear.
Douglas Wilson
“habitual liar”
“If a person is a habitual liar, his conscience is seared and calloused. It doesn’t work if he tells a lie.”
Jim Wilson
“Cain cheated”
But note this well. Cain is the first man who was ever born. He is the archetype for all men who want to dwell in the City of Man. The first man ever born of woman was the man who rose up and killed his brother. He is the pattern of worldliness. And why did he kill him? Because Abel was righteous, and Cain was unrighteous, and this meant that Abel was going to win every competition unless Cain cheated. And this is what all church conflicts are — the result of attempts to usurp and cheat. God’s world will be run God’s way, in accordance with God’s Word. But sinful and envious men are constantly at war with the inexorable law of God’s blessing.
Douglas Wilson
“God hates the sin of bearing false witness”
Having said this, we have to remind ourselves that God hates the sin of bearing false witness. “These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren” (Prov. 6:16–19). God hates seven things, and lying makes the list twice. God sees to it that a liar does not go unpunished — liars will perish and not escape (Prov. 19:5, 9) The lake of fire is reserved for liars (Rev. 21:8). Jesus repeats this commandment with others (Mark 10:19).
Douglas Wilson
“When they lie, they speak their native language.”
This means that when rulers are ungodly, we should expect them to be like their father, the devil, who is the father of liars (John 8:44). When they lie, they speak their native language. Bitterness and cursing are under their tongue, but of course never at the press conference.
Douglas Wilson
“Liars hate being caught.”
Of course it is bigger than that. Double standards always are. Hypocrisy is always much bigger than the sin it pretends not to be committing. Liars hate being caught. It throws them off their rhythm.
Douglas Wilson
“Reject every form of fraud and ungodly deceit.”
Reject every form of fraud and ungodly deceit.
Douglas Wilson
“Watch out for liars.”
Watch out for liars. When a man lies in the course of a church conflict (which needs to be distinguished from being simply mistaken), you know that you are dealing with a seared conscience.
Douglas Wilson