How does Leviticus 6:1 connect to the Ten Commandments on bearing false witness? The immediate passage “Then the LORD said to Moses: ‘If someone sins and acts unfaithfully against the LORD by deceiving his neighbor regarding something entrusted to him or placed in his care, or about something stolen, or by extorting his neighbor, or if he finds lost property and lies about it, or if he swears falsely…’” (Leviticus 6:1–3) How Leviticus 6:1–3 fleshes out the Ninth Commandment • Exodus 20:16 says, “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” • Leviticus 6:1–3 provides concrete examples of what that command looks like in daily life: – Lying about items entrusted to you – Falsely denying theft or extortion – Concealing the truth about lost property – Swearing false oaths to cover wrongdoing • By calling these sins “unfaithful against the LORD,” the passage shows that lying to people is ultimately a violation of covenant faithfulness to God Himself. Key connections and truths • Both texts focus on truth in community life. False witness fractures trust; honest witness preserves it (Proverbs 12:22). • The Ninth Commandment is the moral principle; Leviticus supplies the case-law details, illustrating that deception takes many forms, not just courtroom perjury. • Restitution is required (Leviticus 6:4–5), underscoring that bearing false witness carries tangible consequences and must be set right. New-Testament echoes • Colossians 3:9–10: “Do not lie to one another, since you have taken off the old self…” • Ephesians 4:25: “Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor…” Both passages reaffirm the same ethic first outlined in the Ten Commandments and expanded in Leviticus. Living it out today • Guard possessions and information entrusted to you; misrepresentation is still false witness. • Return or report lost property instead of exploiting it. • Let your “Yes” be yes and your “No” be no (Matthew 5:37); truthfulness should mark every promise and agreement. • Where deception has occurred, seek forgiveness and make restitution just as Leviticus commands. Truth telling is more than avoiding perjury; it is a daily expression of loyalty to God and love for neighbor. |
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