Truth and Justice

Scripture Reading — Exodus 20:16; Proverbs 14:21-27

“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.”
— Exodus 20:16

Courtroom dramas can make for interesting and engaging stories. Why? Because often in a court of law, two of the most basic concerns for living together in society come into sharp focus: truth and justice. These two main concepts are the foundational principles behind the ninth commandment: “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.”

In settling a dispute between two parties, the ancient people of Israel had neither a police force nor crime labs to produce evidence. They had to rely on the testimony of witnesses to resolve legal disputes. This was especially true in highstakes cases involving murder. Only on the testimony of at least two witnesses could the truth of a crime be discovered. Then justice could be served to protect the innocent and hold the guilty accountable. And if a witness was found to be a liar, that person received the harshest of penalties (Deuteronomy 19:19).

Justice in society is impossible without truth-telling. When all that people ever hear is lies, their life together as citizens and neighbors is reduced to uncertainty and chaos. Sadly, because of rampant lying and disinformation in our societies today, it’s difficult to trust anything some people say. We need to see the utter importance of telling the truth.

God never lies. Nor should we, as we seek to love him and our neighbors. 

With the power of your words, Lord, you created the heavens and the earth. Help us to honor you and others with truthful words always. Amen.

Written by: Kurt Selles