Neither Shalt Thou Bear False Witness Against Thy Neighbour
K. H. Caspari. Deuteronomy 5:20 Neither shall you bear false witness against your neighbor. "Beyond our life, our spouse, our temporal possessions we have another treasure, i.e. honour and a good reputation, therefore God wills that we should not rob our neighbour of good name, forbearance, justice." — Luther. The world is false. "He who seeks faithfulness may kindle a light in clear day and yet scarcely find it." Honour is a precious possession — it is before gold. Thus God takes it under His protection and says, "Thou shalt not bear false witness," etc. To make the meaning clear we shall ask and answer three questions. I. WHAT IS FALSE WITNESS? 1. People generally think of bearing witness in a court of justice. In this view a judge may be a false witness when, like Pilate, he knowingly condemned the innocent, etc. The accused, like Achan. It is bearing false witness for one to conceal the truth, and to deny it, even when force is used. Even the smallest village may furnish examples of the truth that false witness bearing from hate, goodwill to others, or self-interest never brought blessing, but sooner or later brought the Divine judgment. 2. But false witnessing is not confined to the courts of justice — in the home and in the street and field it finds place — nor even when evident lying is practised. A false word from a false heart, and a true word from a false heart are both false witnessing. Liars are false witnesses, — how many a strife have they raised! The betrayer is a false witness. We are not to be silent concerning evil, however — to hide mischief "in order to preserve peace." This is to betray righteousness. But those who betray secrets which can be kept with good conscience; who pry into their neighbour's concerns in order with malicious glee to spread abroad any supposed weakness, etc.; those who under the guise of friendship creep into the confidence of men and betray them to the unfriendly — these are traitors whose evil report remaineth, e.g., Judas. They are false witnesses also who take up an evil reproach against their neighbour (Psalm 15:2); so, too, are backbiters. Against open liars men can defend themselves, but not against the sneaking backbiter, who ends with his hypocritical — "but I don't want it to be known more widely," etc. Words spoken in innocence are wrested so that they seem criminal, etc. "Honey is in their mouth, but gall in their heart." Every word from a false heart, be it blame or praise, etc., is false witness; and "a false witness shall not remain unpunished." II. HOW ARE WE TO PREVENT THE FALSE WITNESS BEARING OF OTHERS? 1. God has so ordered that lying in the long run never comes to good. Slander does not live long, and even at the worst, if there is no justice for you on earth, there is in heaven. We must ever seek to speak good of our neighbour. "There would be no thieves if there were no receivers," so there would be no slanderers if there were no listeners. "The slanderer has the devil in his tongue," said Luther; "and he who listens has him in his ear." Show to a slanderer a deaf ear, a reproachful look, a closed door, and if you cannot escape him, then you must not be silent. If he has the heart to slander your friend you must nave the heart to censure his lies," etc. "Honour and a good name are easily injured;" therefore so speak to the injurer of another's reputation until he blush with shame, and if the slanderer speaks truth, then seek if possible to put forward something praiseworthy in him who is slandered. 2. True, there are things that are evil, godless, etc., and they must be called by their right names, and hypocrites, wolves in sheep's clothing, must not be spared. 3. There are, however, sometimes actions and words which are difficult to class. And there are men who have two sides to their characters. Then we must remember, "love bears all, believes all things, hopes all things, etc. 4. If all were so to act, if each were a faithful Jonathan, or Ahimelech, or Gamaliel, then Doegs and Ahithophels and Judases would fail. But — the slanderer lurks in all our hearts — we don't need to seek Pharisees in Jerusalem only. Therefore — III. HOW SHALL WE KEEP OUR OWN TONGUE FROM FALSE WITNESS-BEARING? 1. The tongue is ruled by the heart. The mouth will give utterance to righteousness if the heart is righteous. "From a good root comes good fruit." Silence is an art which many do not learn during a long life. "Make a grave of thine ears, and close it up until duty compels thee to speak," says Luther. 2. If you will speak, then watch your words. "A word spoken is like an arrow shot from the bow" — who can outdistance it? who recall it? There are no harmless lies. Even what is stated from amiability (e.g., when an indolent or unfaithful servant is testified to as faithful, diligent, etc.), but which is not consonant with truth, is false witness-bearing. 3. Rash judgments of others often lead to false witnessing. "Don't do to others," etc. Readiness to believe what is said to another's harm is also a species of this transgression. When Luther stood before his accusers he almost fainted after much speaking, and Duke Erich sent him a refreshing draught in a silver cup, with the injunction to refresh himself. Anxious friends whispered that the Duke was his enemy, and that there might be poison in the draught. But Luther drank it and gave thanks, saying, "As Duke Erich has remembered me now, so may God remember him in the last hour." 4. Do not speak bitterly of one who was once your friend. Although he has failed you, do not become his enemy. 5. It may be a duty sometimes to say something hard of one in whose presence you stand in order to save an innocent or inexperienced person from danger. Then ask first: "Dare I say before this man's face what I would say of him behind his back?" and then do it clearly and unshrinkingly. Our Redeemer, a John, a Paul, are our examples. 6. Above all, covet the honour of having this said of you: "This man means what he says." Blessed is he whom the Searcher of hearts sees to be a Nathanael (John 1:47). (K. H. Caspari.) Parallel Verses KJV: Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour. WEB: "Neither shall you give false testimony against your neighbor.