Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.
Exodus 23:1 belongs to the statutes, judgments and commandments given to Moses on the mount at Sinai, given by Christ Himself. Those laws express God's impartial and exalted requirements, and among them are directions guarding the interests of the poor. They were given to guide dealings with one another and to guard against doing injustice.
They are to be studied and set before the people, strictly obeyed from the heart and carried out in practice, and they are needed now just as verily as by the children of Israel in the days of Moses. Moses was to gather up their truth and light and grace and set them before the people in his life. Obedience to them is the condition for being kings and priests unto God and for God to communicate with His people so they need not stumble in darkness. Israel promised with voice and uplifted hands to comply, then broke that promise by making the calf when temptation came. The same royal priesthood and communion with God is offered now for the same obedience, and God still tests by His Word, giving strength of character under every temptation to those who obey and work out the truth in righteous character.
The verse forbids raising and spreading a false report and putting the hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness, showing slander and false witness to be wrong. It forbids judges to aid a false cause or let judgment be corrupted. It also forbids accepting or receiving an evil report without a proper basis, including reports that wrongfully accuse others. This requires refusing to listen to accusations against fellow workers or to imagine evil about them. In church disputes it requires hearing both sides and believing only what the facts compel, with the safe course until that is done being not to listen to the report.
Keeping it requires all contention to cease, with brotherly love and softened and subdued hearts. It protects against prejudice, resentment and jealousy. It protects against those who artfully draw out private matters that are not theirs to know. It protects against suspicion and accusation that damage the sacred unity and shared work God calls His people to protect.
Exodus 23:1 belongs to the statutes, judgments and commandments given to Moses on the mount at Sinai, given by Christ Himself. Those laws express God's impartial and exalted requirements, and among them are directions guarding the interests of the poor. They were given to guide dealings with one another and to guard against doing injustice.
They are to be studied and set before the people, strictly obeyed from the heart and carried out in practice, and they are needed now just as verily as by the children of Israel in the days of Moses. Moses was to gather up their truth and light and grace and set them before the people in his life. Obedience to them is the condition for being kings and priests unto God and for God to communicate with His people so they need not stumble in darkness. Israel promised with voice and uplifted hands to comply, then broke that promise by making the calf when temptation came. The same royal priesthood and communion with God is offered now for the same obedience, and God still tests by His Word, giving strength of character under every temptation to those who obey and work out the truth in righteous character.
The verse forbids raising and spreading a false report and putting the hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness, showing slander and false witness to be wrong. It forbids judges to aid a false cause or let judgment be corrupted. It also forbids accepting or receiving an evil report without a proper basis, including reports that wrongfully accuse others. This requires refusing to listen to accusations against fellow workers or to imagine evil about them. In church disputes it requires hearing both sides and believing only what the facts compel, with the safe course until that is done being not to listen to the report.
Keeping it requires all contention to cease, with brotherly love and softened and subdued hearts. It protects against prejudice, resentment and jealousy. It protects against those who artfully draw out private matters that are not theirs to know. It protects against suspicion and accusation that damage the sacred unity and shared work God calls His people to protect.