Bearing False Witness Is A Sin God Holds You Responsible. Many Christians believe if they tell what is known as a ‘White Lie’, it is not a big thing.

The ninth commandment states, ‘you shall not bear false witness against your neighbour. When the word shall is used, it is absolute. God is warning us that there is no maybe nor perhaps about his instruction, and ‘ thou shall ‘ means you cannot commit that sin and or altered how you carry out God instructions.

God knew that telling lies is dangerous to his people and that it is why you will find in the Bible number of scriptures referring to bearing false witness against your neighbour. Exodus 20:16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

Biblical references to telling lies
Exodus 23:1 Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness. It is not only that God deplores lies; he also warns us that we should not join with the unrighteous witness to spread the lie. If you do, God holds you equally responsible for whatever harm occurs because of the lying.

Proverbs 6:16-19 These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in the running to mischief. A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. Lying is offensive to the Almighty God; he knows the consequences of a lie that thousands of people believe can cause riots and kill those who do not believe or buy into the bearing of false witness.

Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. Notice the scripture says ‘all liars’; that is how deep God think about liars and why we should stay clear of lying.

John 8:44 Ye are of your father, the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning and abode not in the truth because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar and the father of it. God attribute lying to the Devil, so when you lie, we accept Satan as our father because we are doing his work.

Mark 10:19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. Once again, in the book of Mark, we are warned against bearing false witness. The scriptures, the word of God, cannot make it any clearer that God detest lying.

Jeremiah 23:32 Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the Lord, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit these people at all, saith the Lord. This scripture is warning those who, through their lies, cause God people to err they will be held responsible for their actions.

Proverbs 24:28 Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause and deceive not with thy lips. Do not tell lies about your neighbours or anyone for that matter. Telling lies is a deplorable action and can sometimes have dire consequence for the person that the lie is told against.

Telling lies, or as the justice system called it, perjury is a dangerous thing. Many people lost their lives because another person believes they could use lies to imprison people, especially people from the minority community. Lies are counterproductive, and the repercussions of lies can be far-reaching, and we should not tell lies or buy into those who perpetuate lying for there own selfishness.

Prayer
Mighty God, I come to you today on bending knees, asking for your forgiveness if I told a lie that will harm or hurt my neighbour. Having recognised the devastation that lying can cause, Father, I am asking that you, if I open my mouth to tell a lie, remind me of what I am doing and save me before the lie escapes my lips. Amen