What is the meaning of Exodus 20:16? You – The command starts personally: “You” means every listener and reader is addressed directly. – Scripture consistently places moral responsibility on individuals. Joshua said, “But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15); Paul exhorts Timothy, “Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching” (1 Timothy 4:16). – By singling out “you,” God eliminates excuses that blame culture, upbringing, or peer pressure (Romans 14:12: “So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.”). Shall not bear – “Shall not” is an unequivocal prohibition, not a suggestion. The same absolute wording appears in the preceding commands—“You shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13)—showing God’s moral law is fixed. – “Bear” implies actively carrying or presenting something. We are accountable not only for speech but for any action that transmits untruth—emails, social media shares, silent nods, even body language (Ephesians 4:25: “Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor.”). False witness – A “witness” is testimony conveyed about someone or something. False witness is deliberate misrepresentation—lying, slander, gossip, exaggeration, omitting vital facts. – Proverbs 6:16-19 lists “a lying tongue” and “a false witness who pours out lies” among the seven things the LORD hates. – Jesus deepens the standard: “Let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’” (Matthew 5:37), showing truthfulness must permeate everyday speech, not just courtroom testimony. – Revelation 21:8 warns that “all liars” face judgment, underscoring the seriousness God places on truth. Against your neighbor – “Neighbor” covers more than immediate family next door; Jesus expanded it to anyone we encounter (Luke 10:29-37, the Good Samaritan). – Bearing false witness is especially grievous because it harms relationships, reputations, and community trust. Proverbs 25:18 likens it to “a club, a sword, and a sharp arrow.” – God ties love for neighbor to truth telling: “Love does no wrong to its neighbor” (Romans 13:10). Speaking truth is an act of love, while lies are violence against community. summary Exodus 20:16 commands every believer to refrain from any form of deceit that damages another person. God’s people must actively uphold truth, reflecting His character as the God “who cannot lie” (Titus 1:2). Truthful speech honors God, protects neighbors, and strengthens the witness of those who bear Christ’s name. |
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