Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour.
The command forbids giving false testimony against a neighbor or any other person, and as one of the last six commandments it defines duty toward fellow human beings. It was given as part of the covenant made at Horeb with those then living, when the Lord spoke face to face out of the fire, and was recapitulated by Moses to the new generation at Jordan who had not witnessed its first giving so they would know it and obey it as the condition of prosperity in the land. Its requirements are definite expressions of God's will that must be remembered, learned, kept and done rather than altered, neglected or forgotten, with perfect obedience for which no excuse is accepted. Keeping it marks God's holy people and calls for full surrender, daily self-searching and sanctification, seriousness in all speech and action, and diligent teaching of children from infancy. It remains to be studied and practiced in principle now to make the path plain and shield from temptation, because obedience brings covenant mercy, blessing and life as the world nears the final review when every character is investigated and every case decided for eternity.
Words and Historical Setting
The prohibition forbids giving false testimony against a neighbor or other person. As one of the last six commandments, it defines duties toward other people. It belongs to the statutes and judgments Moses called all Israel to hear in order to learn them and keep and do them. It was given as the covenant the Lord made in Horeb not with their fathers but with those alive that day, when the Lord talked with them face to face in the mount out of the midst of fire.
Moses was instructed to recapitulate the Ten Commandments before his death, so that the new generation would know the commandment and understand the need to obey it. Many of that generation had not witnessed the giving of the law. The law was rehearsed when Israel had come again to the river Jordan and the appointed time for possessing Canaan was at hand. It was rehearsed together with the history of deliverance from Egypt and the wilderness journeyings, because few of the present generation were old enough to have comprehended the solemnity of the giving of the law, and obedience was enjoined as the condition of prosperity in the promised land.
The repetition to the whole encampment in solemn assembly came after Israel failed to fulfill the solemn covenant, when in mercy they were not destroyed but were given another opportunity to obey. It was delivered with a command for special earnest attention as a matter concerning eternal welfare, to be learned and kept and done. It bound all words and actions to be governed by the law.
Obedience and Present Application
The commandments repeated in Deuteronomy 5:6-21 are definite requirements expressing God's will, to be remembered and kept rather than altered or forgotten. They are to guide in obedience as the fixed expression of what God requires.
Keeping this prohibition against bearing false witness against a neighbor marks God's people as His holy people. It belongs to the instruction to live in sanctification of mind, soul, and body. Perfect obedience is required in it, and no excuse is accepted for disobedience.
The commandment requires full surrender and continuing simplicity of obedience. It is not to be neglected among the important things specified in God's Word, but is to be read to the people and carefully regarded and obeyed with special interest in doing it. Every soul is to search and study it for himself and sanctify himself daily according to it, so that the Lord is glorified through obedience and rebellion is avoided.
Its requirement remains to be studied and practiced in principle, making the path plain and shielding from temptation. The commands were to remain continually before the people and be taught to their children. Parents are to read and obey Deuteronomy 5-7 in training children from very infancy to form characters that meet approval and prevent objectionable traits of character. This work requires parental self-control for the sake of the Creator and Redeemer, since those unprepared for the present and future life will not be admitted into the city of God.
The prohibition of giving false testimony against another person is part of God's directions that must be carefully observed. Its warning about careless speech calls for seriousness in speaking and acting that applies broadly to conduct in speech. Keeping it is part of obeying the law, while those who profess to serve the Lord but refuse to obey His commandments are disobedient and cannot expect His cooperation and blessing.
It is part of what was required in Deuteronomy 4 to 8 that they might be a holy people unto Himself. It is to be studied with profit now because the world is nearing the great final review before the Judge of all the earth to answer for deeds, and is in the time of investigation when every character will have been investigated and every case decided for eternity. Keeping the commandments and statutes and judgments brings covenant mercy, love, blessing, multiplication, removal of all sickness, life, and possession of the land promised to the fathers. This is learned by remembering all the ways of leading for forty years in the wilderness to humble and prove and know the heart, suffering hunger and feeding with manna to teach that man lives by every word from the mouth of the Lord, and by considering that as a man chastens his son so the Lord chastens His people, in order to walk in His ways and fear Him.
The command forbids giving false testimony against a neighbor or any other person, and as one of the last six commandments it defines duty toward fellow human beings. It was given as part of the covenant made at Horeb with those then living, when the Lord spoke face to face out of the fire, and was recapitulated by Moses to the new generation at Jordan who had not witnessed its first giving so they would know it and obey it as the condition of prosperity in the land. Its requirements are definite expressions of God's will that must be remembered, learned, kept and done rather than altered, neglected or forgotten, with perfect obedience for which no excuse is accepted. Keeping it marks God's holy people and calls for full surrender, daily self-searching and sanctification, seriousness in all speech and action, and diligent teaching of children from infancy. It remains to be studied and practiced in principle now to make the path plain and shield from temptation, because obedience brings covenant mercy, blessing and life as the world nears the final review when every character is investigated and every case decided for eternity.
Words and Historical Setting
The prohibition forbids giving false testimony against a neighbor or other person. As one of the last six commandments, it defines duties toward other people. It belongs to the statutes and judgments Moses called all Israel to hear in order to learn them and keep and do them. It was given as the covenant the Lord made in Horeb not with their fathers but with those alive that day, when the Lord talked with them face to face in the mount out of the midst of fire.
Moses was instructed to recapitulate the Ten Commandments before his death, so that the new generation would know the commandment and understand the need to obey it. Many of that generation had not witnessed the giving of the law. The law was rehearsed when Israel had come again to the river Jordan and the appointed time for possessing Canaan was at hand. It was rehearsed together with the history of deliverance from Egypt and the wilderness journeyings, because few of the present generation were old enough to have comprehended the solemnity of the giving of the law, and obedience was enjoined as the condition of prosperity in the promised land.
The repetition to the whole encampment in solemn assembly came after Israel failed to fulfill the solemn covenant, when in mercy they were not destroyed but were given another opportunity to obey. It was delivered with a command for special earnest attention as a matter concerning eternal welfare, to be learned and kept and done. It bound all words and actions to be governed by the law.
Obedience and Present Application
The commandments repeated in Deuteronomy 5:6-21 are definite requirements expressing God's will, to be remembered and kept rather than altered or forgotten. They are to guide in obedience as the fixed expression of what God requires.
Keeping this prohibition against bearing false witness against a neighbor marks God's people as His holy people. It belongs to the instruction to live in sanctification of mind, soul, and body. Perfect obedience is required in it, and no excuse is accepted for disobedience.
The commandment requires full surrender and continuing simplicity of obedience. It is not to be neglected among the important things specified in God's Word, but is to be read to the people and carefully regarded and obeyed with special interest in doing it. Every soul is to search and study it for himself and sanctify himself daily according to it, so that the Lord is glorified through obedience and rebellion is avoided.
Its requirement remains to be studied and practiced in principle, making the path plain and shielding from temptation. The commands were to remain continually before the people and be taught to their children. Parents are to read and obey Deuteronomy 5-7 in training children from very infancy to form characters that meet approval and prevent objectionable traits of character. This work requires parental self-control for the sake of the Creator and Redeemer, since those unprepared for the present and future life will not be admitted into the city of God.
The prohibition of giving false testimony against another person is part of God's directions that must be carefully observed. Its warning about careless speech calls for seriousness in speaking and acting that applies broadly to conduct in speech. Keeping it is part of obeying the law, while those who profess to serve the Lord but refuse to obey His commandments are disobedient and cannot expect His cooperation and blessing.
It is part of what was required in Deuteronomy 4 to 8 that they might be a holy people unto Himself. It is to be studied with profit now because the world is nearing the great final review before the Judge of all the earth to answer for deeds, and is in the time of investigation when every character will have been investigated and every case decided for eternity. Keeping the commandments and statutes and judgments brings covenant mercy, love, blessing, multiplication, removal of all sickness, life, and possession of the land promised to the fathers. This is learned by remembering all the ways of leading for forty years in the wilderness to humble and prove and know the heart, suffering hunger and feeding with manna to teach that man lives by every word from the mouth of the Lord, and by considering that as a man chastens his son so the Lord chastens His people, in order to walk in His ways and fear Him.