October 17, 2013
BE AWARE OF THIS COMMANDMENT EVERY HOUR OF EVERY DAY
Deuteronomy 19:11-21
Larry Long
Central Truth
God cares about the truth. Our honesty is important to Him.
Key Verse | Deuteronomy 19:18–19
"The judges shall investigate thoroughly, and if the witness is a false witness and he has accused his brother falsely, then you shall do to him just as he had intended to do to his brother. Thus you shall purge the evil from among you." (Deuteronomy 19:18-19)
Deuteronomy 19:11-21
11 But if anyone hates his neighbor and lies in wait for him and attacks him and strikes him fatally so that he dies, and he flees into one of these cities, 12 then the elders of his city shall send and take him from there, and hand him over to the avenger of blood, so that he may die. 13 Your eye shall not pity him, but you shall purge the guilt of innocent blood 1 19:13 Or the blood of the innocent from Israel, so that it may be well with you.
Property Boundaries
14 You shall not move your neighbor's landmark, which the men of old have set, in the inheritance that you will hold in the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess.
Laws Concerning Witnesses
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. 16 If a malicious witness arises to accuse a person of wrongdoing, 17 then both parties to the dispute shall appear before the LORD, before the priests and the judges who are in office in those days. 18 The judges shall inquire diligently, and if the witness is a false witness and has accused his brother falsely, 19 then you shall do to him as he had meant to do to his brother. So you shall purge the evil 2 19:19 Or evil person from your midst. 20 And the rest shall hear and fear, and shall never again commit any such evil among you. 21 Your eye shall not pity. It shall be life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.
Dive Deeper | Deuteronomy 19:11-21
Ok, real quick. What is the ninth commandment? This passage in Deuteronomy is full of instruction about how to deal with criminals and those who accuse them. It even includes Moses' instruction on how capital punishment was to be handled among the Israelites. However, look at verses 18-19, which can be passed over in the first reading; and then check out Exodus 20:16. Why do you think God makes such a big deal about telling the truth about others? He gives the Israelites all of these principles of justice and includes a strong statement about giving false testimony. The ninth commandment says, "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor."
Does this really apply to us today? I will surely not lie under oath in a court of law, so I am good with that commandment right? Or am I? Have you ever been in a conversation with someone when talking about a third person? Is it "bearing false witness" to embellish the truth or paint a picture of that person in a worse light than what is true? Sometimes, it may be as simple as looking at the world through our own lens and commenting about a person or a situation from our limited perspective. One exercise that may humble us is to put ourselves in that other person's shoes and try telling the story from his vantage point. Wow, paradigms shift!
Sometimes bearing false witness will come in the form of omission. Many of us do not like confrontation, and we build up certain thoughts and attitudes about others without the other people even being aware of them. This can eventually lead to bitterness toward those people without their awareness. Is that really fair? We are called to reconcile those relationships in love. Let's make a list and get started.
Discussion Questions
1. Notice how long it will take today before you have the chance to bear false witness against your neighbor. Keep a log over several days, counting how many times this temptation presents itself. You may be surprised.
2. Bearing bitterness and resentment in our hearts towards another will always result in a damaged relationship. In what relationships do you need to seek reconciliation this week?
3. Deuteronomy 19:19 says, "Thus you shall purge the evil from among you." How can we apply this verse to our own heart and personal walk?