In Exodus 20:16, we read, “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.”
What exactly does it mean to “bear false witness?”
Essentially, bearing false witness is to lie about someone else’s actions or words. When we say our neighbor was somewhere he wasn’t, or said something he didn’t, this is bearing false witness. The modern term is “perjury,” but this is generally used when speaking of testimony born in a court of law. A courtroom isn’t necessary for this sin to be committed.
When we bear false witness, we are trying to get someone else in trouble. Sometimes, we’re trying to shift the blame for our own misdeeds onto someone else. Other times, we just want to see that person get in trouble. Perhaps they angered us in some way, and we are seeking revenge. Whatever the reason for bearing this false witness, it can ruin lives.
Even if the accusation is a small one—as an example, you claim you saw your friend steal a pack of gum—the ramifications are huge. Your friend will never be trusted in that store again. The story will get around, and soon others won’t trust him as well. He’ll lose the respect of his other friends, his family, his employers, his church—that is, if you are believed. If you’re not, all those loses will happen to you. Whatever you were trying to gain by spreading the story, you’ve lost a hundred times over.
If you choose to launch a bigger accusation, the consequences will have ripples that will extend outward for miles. Accusing someone of inappropriate flirting or touching, abuse, or taking it further and claiming to have witnessed a murder can land your accused in jail. Evidence is often needed, but in certain circumstances, the word of a witness has been enough to call for prosecution. If you are not truthful, you could ruin someone’s entire life, and that of their family, as well.
Of course, if someone has done you wrong, you need to call it to the attention of the right authorities. But we should be very careful that we never accuse someone of something they did not do. Even exaggerating an offense done to us is wrong, and can seriously hurt someone’s reputation.
Related Blogs: