Exodus 20:16 - Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor (KJV)
New Testament:
Matthew 19:18 - He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, (KJV)
AND
Romans 13:9 - For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. (KJV)
To bear false witness means to testify against someone falsely. Whether we want to say it involves speaking under wrong motives (ie. to retalliate against someone) or to speak a lie about someone, I do not think it matters. Both are wrong. To retaliate is to have hatred towards someone and to hate someone is to murder. To lie about someone is to bear false witness. Both break commandments which we as Christians are instructed to obey. I would consider even leaving "bits and pieces" out of a story to be bearing false witness since the parts left out could change the outcome of the situation.
Just as we are expected to tell the truth in the government's world, we are ordered to tell the truth in God's world.
Blessings in Christ,
AMEN!
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