Bahan Alkitab: Exodus 20:16, Deuteronomy 19:18-19, Proverbs 12:22, 18:8, 22:1, Genesis 3:4-5, John 8:44, 14:6, Leviticus 19:16, Psalm 25:5, Ephesians 4:15, 25
Tanggal: 08/11/2020
Ringkasan:
Today, the students learned about the 9th Commandment: do not bear false witness against your neighbor. This commandment speaks about the importance of telling the truth when we are bearing witness in a court. Deuteronomy 19:18-19 tells us that if a witness is a false witness and has accused his brother falsely, then they shall do to him as he had meant to do to his brother.
Our God is the God of truth, and we ought to be truthful too, in whatever circumstances, even beyond the court room, in our home, in the classroom, workplaces, etc. Dishonesty means we interfere with the truth. Some ways we can be dishonest: lying, exaggerating, telling half truths, spreading rumor, accusation, slander, gossip.
Lying will lead to injustice, feelings of betrayal, loss of trust, damaged relationships, and even having to tell more lies to cover up one lie. Instead, how we can please God is by telling the truth in love, and by protecting other’s reputation.
There are many examples of dishonesty that we find in the Bible; all of them are displeasing to God, and God deals with each of them in his sovereignty. One such story is the story of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11), where they are being dishonest in their offering that they gave to the early church. God dealt with them harshly and they died on the spot. Ananias and Sapphira wanted to claim more credit by saying that they have given everything when they actually gave only part of what they have from selling their property. This shows how seriously God looks at the sin of dishonesty.
Ayat Hafalan:
Exodus 20:16
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.