How does Leviticus 6:3 connect with the commandment against bearing false witness? Leviticus 6:3—What Does the Verse Say? “or finds lost property and lies about it, or swears falsely, or commits any such sin that a man might commit—” Why This Verse Matters • It pinpoints a specific act: covering up wrongdoing by lying. • It shows that deceit against a neighbor is counted as “offending the LORD,” tying every lie directly to God’s moral law. • The phrase “swears falsely” links the act to courtroom language—bearing false testimony. Direct Connection to the Ninth Commandment Exodus 20:16 declares, “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor”. Leviticus 6:3 gives a real-life scenario illustrating that commandment: • Someone discovers lost property. • Instead of returning it, he lies—creating a false narrative. • If necessary, he backs up the lie with a false oath (“swears falsely”). This is exactly what the ninth commandment forbids: using deceptive words to harm or defraud a neighbor. Wider Biblical Pattern • Deuteronomy 19:16–19—false witnesses receive the penalty they hoped would fall on the accused. • Proverbs 12:22—“Lying lips are detestable to the LORD.” • Zechariah 8:16—“Speak truth to one another.” • Ephesians 4:25—“Each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor.” • Colossians 3:9—“Do not lie to one another.” Practical Takeaways Today • Truthfulness is not optional; it is covenant loyalty to God. • Even “small” lies about property or responsibility break fellowship with both God and neighbor. • Restitution in Leviticus 6:4-5 (restore plus add a fifth) shows how seriously God views dishonest gain; modern obedience includes making things right where deceit has profited us. • The moral fabric of community relies on truthful testimony; Christians uphold that fabric by rejecting every form of false witness. Summary Leviticus 6:3 turns the ninth commandment from principle into practice. By condemning lies about lost property and false oaths, it demonstrates that bearing false witness is any deliberate distortion of truth that injures another—an offense God requires us to avoid and, when committed, to repair. |
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