How does Proverbs 25:18 connect with the Ninth Commandment about false testimony? Verse at a Glance “Like a club or sword or sharp arrow is the man who bears false witness against his neighbor.” (Proverbs 25:18) The Ninth Commandment in Brief “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” (Exodus 20:16) How These Two Passages Interlock • Proverbs 25:18 illustrates the Ninth Commandment in action. • Both texts focus on “false witness”—not merely casual lying but lies that damage another person. • The proverb supplies vivid imagery (club, sword, sharp arrow) to show what Exodus states plainly: false testimony is violent. • Exodus 20:16 gives the rule; Proverbs 25:18 gives the consequences. Why God Compares False Testimony to Weapons • A club crushes: reckless words can break reputations and opportunities. • A sword cuts: slander divides families, friends, and churches (Proverbs 16:28). • An arrow pierces from a distance: gossip travels beyond our sight and control, wounding people we may never meet. • Each weapon inflicts harm intentionally; lies are never “harmless.” Supporting Scriptures • Proverbs 6:16-19—God lists “a lying tongue” and “a false witness who pours out lies” among things He hates. • Ephesians 4:25—“Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor.” • Colossians 3:9—“Do not lie to one another, since you have taken off the old self.” • Revelation 21:8—“all liars” share the fate of the unrepentant, underscoring the eternal seriousness. Practical Implications for Today • Courtroom testimony: perjury can imprison the innocent—literal swords and bars. • Workplace rumors: one slanted comment can torpedo a career. • Social media: a single post can travel like an arrow, reaching thousands in seconds. • Family life: exaggerations and half-truths erode trust, slicing relationships over time. Guarding Our Tongues — A Checklist 1. Pause: Ask, “Is this true, necessary, and loving?” (Proverbs 15:28). 2. Verify: Refuse to repeat unconfirmed information (Proverbs 18:13). 3. Speak openly: Address issues face-to-face rather than whispering behind backs (Matthew 18:15). 4. Repent quickly: If you’ve spread falsehood, confess and make restitution (Luke 19:8). 5. Saturate speech with Scripture: Truth spoken in love builds, not bludgeons (Ephesians 4:15). By placing vivid weapon imagery beside the Ninth Commandment’s moral imperative, Proverbs 25:18 drives home that false testimony is not a minor slip of the tongue; it is assault with words. God calls His people to wield truth, not weapons, for the good of their neighbors and the glory of His name. |
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