Which other scriptures emphasize the importance of truthful speech? Psalm 50:20—The Starting Point “You sit and malign your brother; you slander your own mother’s son.” God calls slander what it is—sin. From this launching pad, Scripture keeps pressing the same theme: our words must line up with His truth. Why God Takes Our Words So Seriously • He created by speaking (Genesis 1). • We bear His image; our speech is meant to reflect His character. • Falsehood aligns us with the enemy, “the father of lies” (John 8:44). • Truthful words protect community, honor God, and reveal Christ to the world. Old Testament Cornerstones • Exodus 20:16 — “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.” • Proverbs 12:22 — “Lying lips are detestable to the LORD, but those who deal faithfully are His delight.” • Proverbs 6:16-19 — A “lying tongue” and “a false witness who gives false testimony” are on the short list of things the LORD hates. • Psalm 15:1-2 — “Who may dwell on Your holy mountain? … he who speaks the truth from his heart.” • Psalm 34:12-13 — “Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from deceit.” • Proverbs 14:5 — “An honest witness does not deceive.” • Zechariah 8:16-17 — “Speak truth to one another… do not love to swear falsely, for I hate all these things, declares the LORD.” Wisdom’s Repeated Warnings • Proverbs 12:17; 19:9; 20:17—truth saves, lies destroy. • Psalm 120:2—“Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips.” Jesus on Straight-Up Speech • Matthew 5:37 — “Let your ‘Yes’ be yes and your ‘No,’ no. Anything more comes from the evil one.” The Apostles: Truth as a Mark of the New Life • Ephesians 4:25 — “Put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor.” • Ephesians 4:15 — “Speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ.” • Colossians 3:9-10 — “Do not lie to one another… put on the new self.” • James 1:26 — An unbridled tongue renders one’s religion worthless. • James 3:9-10 — Blessing God while cursing people “should not be”! • 1 Peter 3:10 — “Keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.” • 1 John 3:18 — “Let us love… in action and truth.” The Final Word on Lies • Revelation 21:8 — “All liars… will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur.” Putting It All Together From the Law to the Prophets, from the Psalms to the apostles, God’s voice is crystal clear: truthful speech is non-negotiable. Psalm 50:20 exposes slander; the rest of Scripture drives the point home—our tongues must mirror the God of truth, for eternity is at stake. |
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