Don't lie. This is something we learn at a very early age. Lies are bad. Lies erode trust. Lies can cause harm. Don't lie. Not lying is so important we think this is what the ninth command is. Do not lie. But interestingly, that isn't

actually the command. The way we normally summarize the meaning of the ninth commandment is we flatten

it out. Don't lie. But instead, it's you will not bear false witness against your neighbor.

Do not bear false witness. What does that mean?

This is a fixed little phrase used to refer specifically to legally or publicly making a declaration.

So bear false witness is specifically about twisting or manipulating the truth in a communal legal setting.

It's really specific. And honestly, it kind of sticks out

alongside these more general commands, don't kill, don't steal. Why is it so specific?

The biblical authors have this conviction of when truth is misrepresented in the one place where

the truth is the most at stake in a public way, it results in violence towards most vulnerable.

Because who tends to suffer get the most taken advantage of when people bend the truth in legal settings?

Often it's people who are in vulnerable social and economic positions.

In this series, we talk about how the Ten Commandments are words of wisdom that lead to life

and flourishing. And we often see this when we flip over the command into a positive.

And so flip over, do not bear false witness. And what do we get?

Hold up and celebrate and reinforce the value of truth telling in our public setting. That is what's at

stake in the Ninth Command. Do not bear false witness. That's what's on the docket today.

Thanks for joining us. Here we go. Hey, Tim. Hello, John Collins.

Hello, we are looking at the Ten Commandments.

We are nearing almost the end.

We are command number nine of the ten.

Nine of ten is today.

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