Honest ToGoodness

Exo

dus

20:1

6

Jeremiah 17:9 NIV

The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?

Matthew 12:34 NIV

You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.

John 8:44 NIV

You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

God's attitude toward lying is serious

Proverbs 6:16-19 NIV There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.

What the ninth command is not about

It is not about honest untruths

What the ninth command is not about

It is not about honest untruths

It is not about total disclosure

The issue is not accuracy, but intention

Perjury

Deuteronomy 19:15-21 NIV

One witness is not enough to convict a man accused of any crime or offense he may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.

Deuteronomy 19:15-21 NIV

If a malicious witness takes the stand to accuse a man of a crime, the two men involved in the dispute must stand in the presence of the LORD before the priests and the judges who are in office at the time.

Deuteronomy 19:15-21 NIV

The judges must make a thorough investigation, and if the witness proves to be a liar, giving false testimony against his brother, then do to him as he intended to do to his brother. You must purge the evil from among you.

Deuteronomy 19:15-21 NIV

The rest of the people will hear of this and be afraid, and never again will such an evil thing be done among you. Show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.

The issue is not accuracy, but intention

Perjury Slander

Psalm 15:1-5 NIV

LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill? He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman,

Psalm 15:1-5 NIV

who despises a vile man but honors those who fear the LORD, who keeps his oath even when it hurts, who lends his money without usury and does not accept a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken.

Romans 1:29-31 NIV

They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless.

The issue is not accuracy, but intention

Perjury Slander Insinuation

Devil’s insinuations about God

Genesis 3:1-6 NIV Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?"

Devil’s insinuations about God

The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.'"

Devil’s insinuations about God

"You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."

Devil’s insinuations about God

When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.

Devil’s insinuations about man

Job 1:9-11 NIV "Does Job fear God for nothing?" Satan replied. "Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face."

Devil’s insinuations about man

Job 2:3-5 NIV Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason."

Devil’s insinuations about man

"Skin for skin!" Satan replied. "A man will give all he has for his own life. But stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face."

The issue is not accuracy, but intention

Perjury Slander Insinuation Silence

When you feel compelled to speak, ask three questions:

Is it true?

Proverbs 29:20 NIV

Do you see a man who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

When you feel compelled to speak, ask three questions:

Is it true? Is it necessary?

Proverbs 13:3 NIV

He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.

When you feel compelled to speak, ask three questions:

Is it true? Is it necessary? Is it kind?

1 Peter 3:10 NIV

For, "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.

Wrapping Up

Psalms 141:3 NIV Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips.