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
The False Witness and the Sworn Confession of Guilt
A Historical Review
A calculating liar frames a deceitful tale that omits the single-most important forensic event of the narrative.
