Sharon Reformed Presbyterian Church · Sermon study sheet

Promote Truth

Bryan Schneider · November 27, 2021

Exodus 20:16

sharonrpc.org/sermons/promote-truth

Summary

The ninth commandment directly forbids false testimony in court, because justice cannot function when witnesses distort the truth.
Old Testament requirements for multiple witnesses and penalties for malicious testimony display God's concern to protect the innocent and uphold justice.
Truthfulness reflects God's own character: he is the God of truth and hates the lying that destroys neighbors and communities.
The command extends beyond perjury to fabrication, half-truths, flattery, misleading silence, spin, exaggeration, gossip, slander, broken promises, and imagined accusations.
Telling the truth often requires courage because honesty can threaten employment, reputation, friendship, or family peace.
Ananias and Sapphira show the gravity of religious hypocrisy that seeks a righteous reputation through deception.
Jesus alone speaks perfect truth, bears true witness, and saves guilty liars; those united to him must put off falsehood and walk by his Spirit.
Believers promote truth by loving their neighbors, verifying testimony, guarding their tongues, confessing sin honestly, and speaking truth even when it costs them.

Why does the ninth commandment first address testimony against a neighbor in court?
How do the biblical rules concerning multiple witnesses and malicious witnesses protect justice?
What does God's identity as the God of truth require of those who bear his name?
Which forms of deception can communicate falsehood while using technically accurate words?
How can assuming another person's motives become a lie within one's own heart?
Why is truthful confession of personal sin more consistent with the gospel than a polished appearance of righteousness?
What does the death of Ananias and Sapphira reveal about hypocrisy and lying to God?
How does Jesus' identity as the truth and his gift of the Spirit enable believers to put away lying?
Where might telling the truth presently require costly courage?

False witness: Testimony that lies about or unjustly harms a neighbor, especially within a judicial proceeding.
Perjury: False testimony given under oath, corrupting justice and profaning the solemn appeal to God.
Truthfulness: Conformity of thought, speech, and conduct to what is real, expressed with faithfulness toward God and neighbor.
Hypocrisy: A deceptive presentation of righteousness intended to secure a reputation that does not match reality.
Slander: A false or unjust report that damages another person's good name.
Half-truth: A statement containing selected facts while withholding or arranging them to produce a false impression.
Integrity: A consistent commitment to truth across private thought, public speech, promises, relationships, and testimony.