How does 1 Kings 3:20 connect to the commandment against bearing false witness? The Scene in Solomon’s Court 1 Kings 3:20: “During the night she got up and took my son from my side while your servant was asleep. She laid him at her breast and put her dead son at my breast.” • Two women, each with a newborn, stand before Solomon. • One child has died; the surviving infant has been secretly switched. • The guilty mother’s swap sets up a deliberate lie that will be told before Israel’s king—and before God. The Heart of the Ninth Commandment Exodus 20:16: “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” • Centers on honesty in all testimony, whether formal courtroom statements or everyday claims. • Protects life, reputation, property, and justice by requiring truth. • Extends beyond words to any deceptive act that misleads others (Leviticus 19:11; Proverbs 12:22). False Witness in Action: 1 Kings 3:20 • Physical Deception—The mother moves the babies, creating false evidence. • Verbal Deception—She will swear in court that the living child is hers. • Bearing False Witness—Her lie is directed at a real “neighbor,” the other mother. • Perjury Threatens Justice—Only two witnesses exist, so Solomon must discern truth. Consequences of Bearing False Witness • Harm to the Innocent—The true mother faces loss of her child and slander of her character. • Distortion of Justice—An entire court is forced to investigate a lie rather than celebrate new life. • Divine Displeasure—Proverbs 6:16-19 lists “a lying tongue” and “a false witness who pours out lies” among the seven things the Lord hates. • Ultimate Accountability—Revelation 21:8 warns that “all liars” face judgment apart from Christ. Solomon’s Wisdom and God’s Vindication • Solomon’s call for a sword exposes the heart motives (1 Kings 3:24-27). • The self‐sacrificing love of the true mother contrasts sharply with the selfish deceit of the false witness. • Justice is restored, illustrating that God defends truth and the vulnerable. Living Truthfully Today • Guard the Heart—Lies often begin with envy, fear, or selfish ambition (James 3:14-16). • Speak the Truth in Love—Ephesians 4:25: “Each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor.” • Protect the Helpless—Refuse to remain silent when false witness harms others (Proverbs 31:8-9). • Reflect Christ—Jesus is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (John 14:6). Following Him means choosing truth over convenience or gain. 1 Kings 3:20 vividly illustrates the Ninth Commandment’s reach. A single act of deceit threatens a child, a mother, and a nation’s justice. God’s Word calls every believer to the opposite path—truth that upholds life, honors neighbor, and glorifies the God of truth. |
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