The Sin of Bearing False Witness
8/20 Reading Portions: 1 Samuel 12; Romans 10; Jeremiah 49; Psalms 26-27
Online Bible Audio/Readings Links (ESV)
8/20 Reading Portions: 1 Samuel 12; Romans 10; Jeremiah 49; Psalms 26-27
Psalm 27:12
Give me not up to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and they breathe out violence.
LIES
In our flesh, we will tend to gauge the maliciousness of sins by the damage the sin inflicts upon another human being. For example, natural men, apart from the grace of God, will see murder as despicable and justifiably punished; yet many of the same men would see lies, deceit, and falsehoods as lesser infractions that are, in America, by and large innocent and pardonable. If you don’t believe me, just take a glance at our political system in the U.S.A. Certainly, not every unfulfilled pledge or promise is a lie. There are some, with honest intent, who believed they could wield enough influence to right a wrong, establish justice, or promote the general welfare. Nevertheless, there are those that outright lie, who defy truth, and who intentionally deceive— and continue to hold seats of political power. Lies are as pernicious and damnable as murder because, eternally speaking, every lie is spiritually connected with the lies and false witnesses that sent our Lord Jesus Christ to be crucified on the tree. Surely, the first lies came from Satan in the garden, making him the father of lies, and a murderer from the beginning (John 8:44), for his lies plunged the whole human race into corruption and death. Yet the devil’s lies only foreshadowed the more heinous and ghastly offense of lying against the Savior (Matt 26:59-61) at his two illegal trials in the homes of Annas and Caiaphas (John 18:12-14). When we see lies in this light, whereas false witnesses have risen against the Lord Jesus Christ to breathe out violence against Him, it will give us a whole new perspective on the villainy of deceit and untruth. We have a natural tendency toward lying, from birth (Psa 58:3). But when we do lie, and confess it to the Lord,
He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
Hallelujah! What a merciful Savior!
Lies, deceit, and untruth breathe out
Murder against our Lord;
May we, by God’s grace, guard our tongues
To speak forth truthful words.