A FALSE WITNESS THAT SPEAKS LIES
“A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will not escape” (Proverbs 19:5)
The lying tongue tells lies, but the false witness does worse: he can tell the truth, but in the absence of another witness (to testify against the third party), that person lies against the truth. That person is indicative of maliciousness, which spreads strife (like shooting arrows) among the brethren. In this sense, that person is the false witness, who promulgates discord (like shooting arrows) among brethren. When liars lie, they are false witnesses, but not all false witnesses tell lies (notwithstanding that they still "lie" against the truth). All false witnessing is a lie, but not all lies are false witnesses in the sense that not all lies affect the reputation of other persons and the judgment of that person in the sight of still other people.
A lying tongue can be exercised in any setting, but a false witness specifically breathes out lies in the context of a vow or an oath. A lying tongue might hurriedly fabricate an untruth, but a false witness carefully and deliberately plans the lies he plans to tell—or at least fails to honor a commitment he carefully and deliberately made.
“A false witness that speaks lies” is someone who deliberately gives a false testimony, this includes someone who, acts as a witness, who twists or perverts (misrepresents) the truth, which is closely related to someone who fabricates an accusation, it applies to one who lies as a public witness purposely. It happens to be an advanced form of lying. The first five things that God hates had to do with different parts of the body, the sixth one is a person. He is a false witness, who lies and spreads discord among brothers, or in a family or within a group. He loosens his tongue and “‘pours out lies”. It depicts the progression of evil which it’s complete form. “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor”. (Exodus 20:16)
A false witness who pours out lies” relates to the idea of perjury or deception. This is a person who lacks integrity. Integrity is the faithful support of a standard of values. It has a close connection to righteousness, blamelessness, uprightness, and steadiness. It suggests a oneness of heart with God— the One who established the standard of values. Being a person of integrity is difficult in a world of compromise. Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters.
To lie about a person under oath is to ruin their reputation and to invite a penalty upon them. False witness is not easily dismissed, for it is carefully planned to sound like a reasonable charge against its victim. David spoke of “malicious witnesses” who had risen against him, asking “things that I do not know” (Psalm 35:11). In other words, they fabricated testimony against him that was well thought out and not easily answered. Jesus was likewise subjected to the testimony of false witnesses (Matthew 26:60), as was Stephen (Acts 6:13). In both cases, it led to death.
But the application can be taken a little further, because a false witness in a legal battle was not only lying, but lying under oath. He was not only lying under the general expectation that he should tell the truth, but lying against a specific oath he had made to tell the truth. If we understand this practice of “swearing in” witnesses, it perhaps puts something of a fresh spin on the broader application of this sin. A lying tongue is always detestable to God, but lying against a vow that one makes is placed in its own category. When a couple is married, they make vows to one another.
HUSBAND AND WIFE
The husband vows to lovingly lead his wife, and the wife vows to reverently follow her husband’s leadership. God expects us to honor those oaths. To fail to do so is to behave as a false witness. And it always hurts the other party.
PARENTS AND CHILDREN
What about parents who vow to raise their children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord? That is an expectation laid upon all Christian parents, whether an “oath” is taken or not, but there are settings in which parents publicly vow to do so. If parents stand before the church and dedicate themselves to raise their children for the Lord, but then neglect to expose their children “to the numerous opportunities to learn of Jesus Christ through the ministries” of the church (Sunday school, etc.), have they not made a vow that they are failing to uphold, thereby making themselves false witnesses? And be sure that failure in this regard will hurt your children.
AGENT OF SATAN
Being a false witness is acting as an agent of Satan, “the devil, who was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. …for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44) “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornication, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. ……above defile a man.” (Mathew 15:19). Completely under the devil’s control, a false witness pours out lies and he is a ‘social insult’.
God hates lies and loves the truth (Exodus 20:16). Hence the Holy Bible warns us about the evil doings: “You shall not circulate a false report. Do not put your hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness” (Exodus 23:1) “who stirs up conflict in the community” (Proverbs 6:19) “whoever pours out lies will not go free.” (Proverbs 19:5) “a false witness tells lies.” (Proverbs 12:17) “A false witness will perish, “(Proverbs 21:28) “ Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow is one who gives false testimony against a neighbor”.(Proverbs 25:18).False witnesses will be punished .God will put them to punishment that will be beyond human understanding. “A false witness will not go unpunished, and whoever pours out lies will not go free.” (Proverbs 19:5) “Have nothing to do with a false charge and do not put an innocent or honest person to death, for I will not acquit the guilty.”(Exodus 23:7)
JUDGEMENT
False witness and lying distorts justice, and no one wins when that happens. Almost every time this commandment is referenced in the bible, it is linked with the harm it does to the social fabric of life and the pain it inflicts on the most vulnerable in our midst. The prophet Zechariah in chapter 8 lays out this moral logic by saying: Speak truth—render judgments that are true—do not devise evil against others nor love false oaths, for such things the Lord despises. In chapter 7, a similar idea is expressed when he says: Render true judgments—show kindness and mercy to one another—do not oppress the widow, orphan, alien (or immigrant), or the poor. The connection between truth-telling and caring for those at risk is a straight and direct moral pathway.
False witness will be subjected to judgment: “If a malicious witness takes the stand to accuse someone of a crime, must stand in the presence of the LORD …. judges must make a thorough investigation, … if the witness proves to be a liar, giving false testimony against a fellow men… … Show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot".( Deuteronomy 19:16).Whoever slanders their neighbor in secret, I will put to silence; whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart, I will not tolerate. No one who practices deceit will dwell in my house; no one who speaks falsely will stand in my presence. Every morning I will put to silence all the wicked in the land; I will cut off every evildoer from the city of the LORD” (Psalm 101 :5-8).
HOW TO AVOID THIS SIN
• Repentance is needed because of our own sinful nature; it is a miracle and will bring total humbleness. The fruit of repentance leads to discernment, wisdom and the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which leads to the mind of Christ. Search your heart, before you speak or do not be a false witness to any one, come what may. Remember, it is not just the outside appearance that the Lord sees, but HE sees your heart and its attitude.
• Strive to be trustworthy. As Christians, our words should reflect God’s truth. Jesus urged, “Do not take an oath at all…. Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’” (Matthew 5:3-37). He was not categorically forbidding the taking of oaths, but saying that Christians should be of such honorable character that they speak and behave truthfully whether or not they have taken an oath. We are to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15) and to put away lying (Ephesians 4:25).
• We must not keep company with those who are known to be false witnesses. “You shall not spread a false report. You shall not join hands with a wicked man to be a malicious witness” (Exodus 23:1). To become wise, we must walk with those who are wise, for companions of fools will be destroyed (Proverbs 13:20).
• While false witnesses are assured of dire consequences, Christians should be driven more by love for God than by fear of consequences. “Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him” (John 14:21). Love for God should drive our obedience. And the wonderful promise is that obedience invites sweet fellowship with the one we love.
• The Lord, being the font of wisdom and truth, has given us fair principles for guiding His community. It is essential, therefore, for a healthy church to follow His law, showing grace to the repentant and applying discipline when professing believers harden their hearts. A healthy church is going to take all of God’s Word seriously, refusing to tolerate false witness and taking tangible steps when it attempts to flourish in the body. “Truth is the foundation of all knowledge and the cement of all societies.” The God of the Bible is a God of truth.
THE MINISTERS OF GOD
We must be truthful when being asked for information by those whom God has placed in authority over us. Those in authority are human, and they depend upon other humans when fulfilling their solemn obligations as the ministers of God (Rom. 13:1-5). Rulers on earth such as judges, mayors, policemen, governors, senators, and even presidents, are ministers of God, and testifying falsely to them can cause them to make decisions that bring distress upon innocent people. God loves people, and He will not excuse those who love others so little that they bear false witness against innocent souls. Those who testify falsely against others and, so, cause the innocent to suffer will themselves suffer the fierce wrath of God, endlessly.
Let us be helpers to God's ministers, lightening their load whenever possible and, whenever called upon to do so, providing them with the most accurate and faithful information we can provide. When we do that, we not only help them, we make more secure everyone's well-being, including our own.
No one can believe a lie when he is being led by the Spirit of truth. Who could tell a lie to Jesus and successfully deceive him? The children of God are anointed to know the difference between truth and lies. That is our privilege and our calling. Stay filled with the holy Ghost, and nothing evil will find a place in our hearts. If we stayed "filled with the Spirit", we will be like our heavenly Father God to the extent that we will not be dependent upon information from human witnesses when we need to make a decision; we will feel what is true and what is not. I have had the holy Ghost stop me in the middle of nodding my head in assent to a lie. It would not allow me to believe a false witness. That is what Jesus wants to do for us all, all the time. He is our Savior, and he wants to save us from every lie that men tell. And he will save us from lies if we humble ourselves to trust what his Spirit is telling our hearts.
We can be fooled by appearances, but God never is.
“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple” (Romans 16:17-18)
Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. (James 4:11)
WORKS CITED
"A FALSE WITNESS THAT SPEAKETH LIES" by Pastor John D. Clark, Sr.
What's the difference between a “lying tongue” and a “false witness” in Proverbs 6? (https://hermeneutics.stackexchange.com/questions/11651)
"Holy Hatred: A False Witness Who Breathes Out Lies" by Stuart Chase
"A false witness who pours out lies" by (Seven Small Group Bible Study - Long Hollow Baptist church)
https://cathedralofhope.org/sermons/thou-shalt-thou-shalt-not-truth-telling-bearing-false-witness/
Several sources from the Internet
James Dina
Jodina5@gmail.com
31st July 2020
