Follow Me: Law[1]

Observations as I follow God through the Chronological Bible

Exodus  20:16; 23:1-3^[2]

I was sure the KJV said “Thou shalt not lie.” It doesn’t. Apparently, that is a summary to fit the dimensions of Christian gifts on plaques, stones, pictures etc. Like the The Cajun Ten Commandments – Stop Lyin! You tongue gonna fall out yo mouf. The KJV as well  several other translations says you shall not “bear false witness against thy neighbor.” God’s comments about telling lies lean more toward giving false testimony to pervert justice in a court of law. The judicial aspect puts keeping this command in the realm of possible.

There is a difference between the myriad of reasons that give us cause to lie and giving false testimony against a neighbor in a legal matter. Humanity has perfected the art of “lyin.” As soon as we start talking, we start “lyin.” The man the Bible points to as the father of our faith lied, more than once, but it wasn’t his intent to be malicious. He feared for his life, which was never in danger, but he did not know that. Many of the lies we tell are for the same reason – self preservation.

The only one who cannot lie is God.[3] Hebrews tells us God does not have a choice about honesty, because it is impossible for him to lie.[4] Therefore we can trust what God says. What we can’t trust is our interpretations of God’s intent.

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[1] In 1 Corinthians 10 Paul warns us that the things that happened in the wilderness were recorded as a warning to the church because Moses preached the same gospel about Jesus that was preached after Jesus resurrection. For this reason Israel/Jacob will be called the church in this series.

[2] All Scripture is from the NKJ Bible unless otherwise noted.

[3] Titus 1:2

[4] Hebrews 6:18