Don’t Give
False Testimony
Commandment #9: “Do not give false testimony against your neighbor.” (Exodus 20:16) Once upon a time in a land far away, there lived a wicked king and his wife who was even more wicked. His name was Ahab, her name was Jezebel. King Ahab wanted a piece of property, a vineyard, belonging to a citizen of his realm named Naboth. Ahab offered to purchase the vineyard, but Naboth refused to sell because the vineyard had been in his family for generations. Ahab did not like being denied something and he went into his bedroom to sulk. But Queen Jezebel knew there was more than one way to skin a cat. If Naboth wouldn’t sell the land legally, there were other ways. She wrote a letter to the elders of the city making false accusations against Naboth and she hired two liars to testify against him in court. When he was found guilty, he was executed. Once Naboth was dead, King Ahab was free to take his vineyard. And everyone—other than Naboth— lived happily ever after.
I told this story as though it was a fairy tale, but sadly it was true (1 Kings 21:1-16). And sadly, such stories are still common. It is an example of using false accusations in order to help oneself or to harm others. Other examples in the Bible include Potiphar’s wife who falsely accused Joseph of rape because he wouldn’t go to bed with her. Or, the chief priests who sought to use false accusations against Jesus (Matthew 26:59-60).
My wife and I recently watched the movie, “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” (James Stewart, 1939). Mr. Smith, an honest civic leader with no experience in politics, was appointed to fill a vacant seat in the US Senate, but he refused to go along with the corrupt deals happening around him. Therefore, the other senator from his state created a series of false accusations against him in order to have him expelled from the Senate. He still refused to give in, and ultimately the other senator was forced to admit that his charges were false.
These are all legal examples of using lies and slander to hurt one’s neighbor. In court “An honest witness tells the truth, but a false witness tells lies” (Proverbs 12:17). Such dishonesty is the reason that the Ninth Commandment is needed. The Ninth Commandment unites two important biblical values: truth and justice. To value truth means a consistent commitment to honesty, no matter what the consequences may be. To value justice requires fairness to all others, treating them as my equals.
Truth is the basis of trust, which is the cornerstone of society. Marriages, families, churches, communities, nations, and even civilization itself depend on both truth and trust to survive and to thrive. The book of Proverbs says that the righteous “hate falsehood” and “buy truth” (13:5; 23:23).
But the Ninth Commandment is more specific than a general prohibition of lying. It prohibits creating falsehoods about your neighbor in order to take advantage of them. The oath we use in courtrooms, “To tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth” (this oath goes back to courts in the 1600s) expresses the Ninth Commandment in a positive way: tell the whole truth as you know it, don’t leave out any pertinent part (because omissions can create a misleading testimony), and don’t mix error and truth in your statement. There is a reason that witnesses in court are required to place their hand on a Bible as they promise to tell the truth: it is a reminder that God is listening, and that he despises lying! (Proverbs 6:16-19).
The Ninth Commandment is also about the principle of justice: fairness in how we treat others. Fairness should be accomplished through both legal justice: unbiased laws, and honest judges and witnesses; and through social justice: treating neighbors or strangers without prejudice or discrimination. Justice requires equal treatment for all, for citizens and foreigners alike (Deuteronomy 10:18-19).
Jesus gave us a definition of treating others fairly: “Do unto others as you would have them do to you, for this sums up the law and the prophets” (Matthew 7:12— the Golden Rule). In other words, give others the same treatment we want for ourselves and for our family. We would never want false accusations leveled against ourselves, so we ought never make them against others. Following the Golden Rule fulfills all ten of the Ten Commandments.
The fairy tale version of the story of Ahab and Jezebel told above, ended with “happily ever after,” but that ending would be an injustice. The God who cares about truth; the God who cares about justice; also cares about people who are victims of injustice. God sent the prophet Elijah to tell King Ahab that God had seen what he and Jezebel had done and they would be severely punished for falsely accusing and murdering Naboth. Ahab got the vineyard he wanted, but he did not get a happy ending!
The Ninth Commandment, “Do not make false accusations against your neighbor,” unites the biblical principles of truth and justice. In keeping with this commandment, Christians should be speakers of truth, do-ers of justice, and watching out for our neighbor.
Greg Giles is a published author, who, along with his wife Jean, has embraced the call to serve and teach around the globe. Their life together has included missionary work in Liberia, Bangladesh, teaching in China, and raising a family in Bemidji, Minnesota. Between global travels and local commitments, including serving as superintendent of Corn Bible Academy and their current part-time roles at Corn Heritage Village, the Gileses have found “home” in many places; yet, they now happily reside in retirement in Cordell.