Exodus 20:16 You Shall Not Bear False Witness

​Biblical Church Worship: A Study of the Ten Commandments 
Exodus 20:3-17
Exodus 20:16 You Shall Not Bear False Witness[1]
Reading: John 8:31, 32; Colossians 3:8-10; II John 1:4
I. Bear No False Witness
  A. Bear (Heb. “aw-naw”: pay attention, heed, utter)
  B. False (Heb. “Sheh-ker”: untruth, falsehood, vain, without cause)
  C. Witness (Heb. “ayd”: witness, recorder)
  D. Neighbor (Heb. “ray-ah”: another)
II. What Does False Witness Cover?
  A. Slander: Unjust reporting of others[2] (Dt. 19:15-21)
    1. “He that raiseth a slander, carries the devil in his tongue: and he that receives it, carries the devil in his ear.” – Joseph S. Exell
      1a. Talebearing: Spreading destructive news (Lev. 19:16)
      2a. Backbiting: Slanderous talebearing designed to assault (Ps. 15:3)
      3a. Accusatory (Ps. 101:5-7)
      4a. Defamatory, evil reporting (Prov. 10:18)
  B. False witness[3]
    1. Lying, Failure to defend another against false report
III. The Depths of Evil from a False Witness
  A. Perverts justice (Ex. 23:6, 7)
  B. Fraudulent (Cf. Ex. 20:15)
  C. Hunts the life of another (Lev. 19:16[4]; Ezek. 22:9)
  D. An evil deserving of punishment   
IV. Implication: Worship is Dealing in Truth and Love
V. How to Avoid Breaking the Ninth Commandment:
  A. Respect[5] others (Prov. 11:12).
    1. Takes wisdom and understanding
  B. Keep silent (Prov. 11:12, 13).
    1. Some things should not be revealed.
  C. Stay away from talebearers (Prov. 20:19).
    1. Talebearers (slanderers) flatter (gossip) to learn secrets to share[6].


[1] March 9, 2025 Hall Church and Renewal Bible Fellowship

[2] (Exell, 1900)

[3] Ibid.

[4] Leviticus 19:16 implies false witness as a way to endanger another’s life (Perowne, 1921)

[5] Respect is the opposite of despising.

[6] (MacArthur, 2005)