Deuteronomy 19:14-20:9
This scripture reference talks about being fair with your neighbor. Not stealing his land by moving the border markers or bearing false witness against him. If you did not personally see something, then to give a statement as if you had made you a false witness. There needed to be at least 2 witnesses and it was better to have 3. If a witness was found to be false then the punishment given was to be what would have been done to the one who was lied about if they had been found guilty. In other words, the punishment for murder was death and if you testified falsely about seeing someone murder another, then you would be killed for your false witness.
In todays world, there are false witnesses everywhere. It's difficult to believe anything you hear on the news especially if it's political or involving someone in politics. On Facebook lies are rampant and people who claim to be Christian are speedy to pass on things that oft times are just not true. Then they become irate when called on it. It makes us a false witness and a slanderer when we pass on things that are not true. If the info being passed is true, it makes us gossipers.
Some have tried to legitimize such bad behavior by referring to the recording of King David and his affair with Bathsheba, but it's not the same. The situation was recorded and it could be read but the Prophet Nathan did not go throughout the kindom posting bills on every door and telling people to not listen to King David because he's committed adultery. Nor did Nathan instruct anyone else to do such. There is a very big difference between it being written for the record, and it being touted over and over and over again and again.
Fairness. As Yeshua put it, "do unto others as you would have them do unto you".
This scripture reference talks about being fair with your neighbor. Not stealing his land by moving the border markers or bearing false witness against him. If you did not personally see something, then to give a statement as if you had made you a false witness. There needed to be at least 2 witnesses and it was better to have 3. If a witness was found to be false then the punishment given was to be what would have been done to the one who was lied about if they had been found guilty. In other words, the punishment for murder was death and if you testified falsely about seeing someone murder another, then you would be killed for your false witness.
In todays world, there are false witnesses everywhere. It's difficult to believe anything you hear on the news especially if it's political or involving someone in politics. On Facebook lies are rampant and people who claim to be Christian are speedy to pass on things that oft times are just not true. Then they become irate when called on it. It makes us a false witness and a slanderer when we pass on things that are not true. If the info being passed is true, it makes us gossipers.
Some have tried to legitimize such bad behavior by referring to the recording of King David and his affair with Bathsheba, but it's not the same. The situation was recorded and it could be read but the Prophet Nathan did not go throughout the kindom posting bills on every door and telling people to not listen to King David because he's committed adultery. Nor did Nathan instruct anyone else to do such. There is a very big difference between it being written for the record, and it being touted over and over and over again and again.
Fairness. As Yeshua put it, "do unto others as you would have them do unto you".
