SABBATH BIBLE STUDY
8-29
(2017)
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Compiled by JS Lowther
servant@renewedcovenantministry.com
renewedcovenantministry.com
Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness
Against Thy Neighbour.
Exodus 20:16
and
Neither Shalt Thou Bear False Witness
Against Thy Neighbour.
Deuteronomy 5:20
In the English Bible of our KJV both Exo_20:16 and Deu_5:20, seem to be identical with the exception of the first 3 words of the forbidance. Yet in the Hebrew, there is one more noticeable difference than the arrangement of the negative command, and that is the word translated ‘False’.
In the prior and related compilation study of this same series on the Common Law of GOD, pt 2. the 3rd Commandment regarding taking ‘YHWH’s Name in Vain’ has covered these words to be discussed and how they are related as part and parcel to the understanding of this 9th Commandment, it is evident that without having a firm grasp on the falsity and vanity of the violation of the 3rd Commandment, the actual and literal understanding of the violation against the 9th Commandment contained in sinful treatment of one’s neighbor in somewhat incomprehensible. So it is that some information contained in the message relayed from the 3rd Commandment will be repeated in this compilation as well, yet for a more comprehensive understanding of this Law of God particularly, I would ask that one first listen to the 2nd part of this series which regards the 3rd Commandments. (The Common Law pt.2 LINK)
Before getting in to the 2 Hebrew words of focus and more importantly their meaning and then effect upon the Common-Wealth in their violation and in their keeping; one word, which is actually a prefix on the Hebrew word ‘neighbor’, is the word ‘against’, bear a false witness ‘against thy neighbor’. Some have supposed this Commandment to only disallow falsification of witness in the negative affect, against a neighbor, that is to damn thy neighbor, to bring a false witness against ones neighbor, in a court room setting, as in to bring a charge against him, yet this application is contrary to biblical context, as to be provided. The Hebrew word for ‘against’, as translated in the KJV is simply the prefix of the letter ‘B’ to the word neighbor, ‘B’ also is translated and means ‘to, unto, near, by, beside, before’ , the prefix represents the Idea of closeness, it as per holistic scriptural context is not limiting the 9th Commandment to a negative witness by falsehood in a court setting or in a setting of accusation of judgment, rather it is the general bearing of a falsehood ‘to, unto or by’ ones neighbor, the Idea of bringing falsehood to him in any way…un-discript. As well the very word witness implies Truth, as a thing certainly known.
An Illustration in Allegory
When Breading False with Witness,
Witness is always Forced!
The Common-Wealth of Israel is to guard against Falsehood in it’s Common Law, which therefore imposes it’s self upon the citizenry and society as a thing common within the action’s between neighbor to neighbor, the Idea of excepted falsity amid neighbors or friends in general conversation, in simple and mindless lying I wish to dispelled by an illustration to show how falsity is a repugnant standard by which to live, as it is a standard of destruction that will hereby allow vanity to rule the Nation from it’s Justice system down, then from it’s children upward in it’s natural order; Falsehood and Witness are two opposing creatures that have the ability to mate,albeit only in the captivity of ones mind, yet they shall bring forth fruit in the world.
After the vain Idol of falsehood is bowed to, by the committing of adultery by False with Witness , the half bred of in-absolute and meaningless conversation shall be begat for 3 to 4 generations, insomuch as this iniquity will pervade to the utmost: into the law and the covenant of the very Common-Wealth it was codified to preserve: In a society created to be seated upon God’s Word these mongrels will be paraded as legitimate, the bastard will thereby fulfill it’s own destiny by replacing the true, perfect and purified Law of God with it’s own dynastic equivalent in destructive force in opposition to the Law which sought to give life. The wage of Sin shall be payed, and the unfortunate truth is that it is only those who will not kissed that Idol or bowed to it’s likeness that will realize it’s father is Falsehood and that Witness had been taken by force, Justice has been perverted!
This is the state we look at in this situation, this is the importance of the establishment of the Common-Wealth of Israel to be seated on the Law of God which persists by the Holy Spirit of Truth and Wisdom.
The Two
Forms of Realistic Falsehood
VAIN & SIQ
Consider:
In the commandments:
In Exodus the Hebrew word שׁקר׃ / SiQuR H8267 is translated false
לא / no תענה /shalt thou bear ברעך / against thy neighbor. עד /witness שׁקר׃H8267 false
In Deuteronomy the Hebrew word is שׁוא׃ / SUA H7723 is translated false
ולא / Neither תענהH6030 shalt thou bear ברעך /against thy neighbor. עד / witness שׁוא׃H7723 false
While both words are acceptable translations to the word false in English, the reason the language varies is because we are meant to learn the compound or dual spirit of these letters, as YHWH had both words used it is so that those who are called by His Name may ask Him what it is we should not do, that we may please him by our lives and our society.
As in the discussion of any law, the construct of the wording is important as to it’s intent, an intent that Israel is intended to understand.
Biblical Context
The only verses in the Pentateuch Law where the Hebrew word שׁוא / SUA (H7723 ) translated in Deu_5:20 as ‘False’ is found is in the following verses beside: Exo_20:7; Deu_5:11 3rd Commandment,
As well we have context and case, to help in:
Exo_23:1 Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.
Again the word SUA from Exodus 20:7, the 3rd Commandment is found translated ‘False’, while the context seems to be that of the 9th Commandment dealing with a the ‘false report’ of a ‘false witness’.
Venturing out side of the Pentateuch for context consider the substantiation of this word meaning ‘vain or empty’
Job 15:31 Let not him that is deceived trust in vanity: for vanity shall be his recompence.
Psa 12:1-2 Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.
They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.
God’s Word in opposition to the context:
Psa 12:6 The words of YHWH are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
The form of false witness being referenced in Deuteronomy 5:20, as indicated by the word SUA is not identical to the form represented in Exodus 20:17, as indicated by the word SiQuR.
SUA refers to the type of falsehood which is vain, empty, mindless, ignorant, aimless: An example at law of this understanding is sited by Noah Webster as ‘ignoramus’: An ignorant person; a vain pretender to knowledge. , suitingly it could be described as ‘lying just to lie’, truly vain words.
While when dealing with the word found in Exodus: SiQuR and it’s related words refer to the same falsity of the witness, that is in it’s quality as being untrue, yet it indicates false intent, filled with falsehood for a reason, mindfully false, knowledgeably incorrect, aimed at injustice
Hebrew root SiQ is found a number of times in the Law, also dealing with these ‘ false matters ‘
Exo_23:7 Keep thee far from a false matter…
(that is literally: ‘ Of words that are false (SiQuR) be far from’)
Of testifying falsely
Bearing Falsity
Deu_19:18 And the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother;
Deu 19:19 Then shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to have done unto his brother: so shalt thou put the evil away from among you.
Above the word SiQuR is used both times for the word false, and as well the same word translated in the Commandment as ‘bear’, is here translated ‘testified’.
A good example of the context of both the 3rd and 9th commandment may be seen in
Lev_19:11 Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie(SiQuR-H8266) one to another.
Lev_19:12 And ye shall not swear by my name falsely,(SiQuR- H8267), neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.
Lev 19:13 Thou shalt not defraud (O-SiQH6231) thy neighbour, neither rob him: the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning.
This small but weighty substantiated arrangement of evidence from scripture shows the meaning of both aspects of the 9th Commandment and it’s use of the both the Hebrew word SUA referencing ‘Vain matters’ and that of SiQeR matters (pun intended), that is falsity with intent. Remember both aspects of this Commandment reference willful sin, that is to do so knowingly, even the falsehood which speaks to the idea of ignorance, the sinner bears a willfully: ignorant, vain, empty, careless, mindless ‘witness’ or ‘matter’, in ‘words’ : written or spoken. While the more sick idea to our morality is the idea of matters which we know to be false and perhaps have premeditated the effect of it’s witness, matters or words.
THE
CHRISTIAN WITNESS
Can Not Be
FALSE OR VAIN
In other words, when those who are Called by the LORD YHWH’s Name, those who claim the blood of the covenant to be written upon them, by the precious name of Jesu(s) Christ, that is as a Christian, when they speak to a matter is should neither be vain or false, the words which we speak as part of the common-wealth of Israel that is as joint heirs with Christ of His Kingdom, should be true words, pure words, words and witnesses and testimonies which have been tried and found to have substance: This would indicate particularly in matters of trial or judgment before a governing authority ordained by YHWH God, yet not limited to such, as the Commandment is not only focusing upon a witness in a court but in the witness of ones mouth, hand and actions as offered to ones neighbor or brother of the Common-Wealth of Israel, that is of his own Nation. There is not one persuasive shred of evidence that witness to the fact or to suggests that it is exceptionable practice of behavior under this 9th Common Law that would allow for fellow Citizen-brothers to practice general lying or vain speech one with the other; in other words the whole command is an admonition towards thoughtful and true dealings with in the common-wealth, brother to brother, neighbor to neighbor from general conversation unto judgment for sin. And as a people called by God’s Name, it behooves us to “ Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. And their word will eat as doth a canker… 2Ti_2:15-17 “
Not only when we study the scriptures to give an answer for our Faith, are we to shun the profane and vain babblings, we are to as well have our conversation honest among the Gentiles ( 1Pe_2:12), to be men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom (Act_6:3), Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. (2Co_8:21) as our calling by His Name is to walk by Faith, thus every dealing we as members of the Common-Wealth of Israel and as joint heirs with Christ as Christians should convey our honest action which are dictated by our honest Faith, our truthful Faith which leads the brothers of Christ to be a thoughtfully considerate race begotten of the father, that is not a vain, ignorant, mindless, and empty witness of our faith, our hope with in us, by stupidly speaking unsubstantiated matters that we do not have understand on, or witnessing to a thing that by our ignorance on the matter will misrepresent the witness of our faith. As well, in the other form, the SiQR is to bear a falsehood in our witness, that is to turn our hearts to be he that worketh deceit, he that telleth lies, knowing that those who do such shall not dwell in the house of YHWH or tarry in his sight. as says Psa_101:7, to not meddle with falsehood as Pro_17:4 A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.
It behooves us as those who earnestly desire not to take the Name of our GOD in vain to become the people of His calling who bear no false witness unto our neighbor.
Yet for the Godly we we are told:
Psa_119:104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.
It is of necessity that those who are called by the Name of YHWH and those who call upon His Name be honest, truthful, wise men and women of an understanding heart and spirit, as far as our cognation allow us to be by our emotional and mental nature.
CHRIST ON AVOIDING EVIL
It is not until after the a fore mentioned aspect of the 3rd and 9th Commandment is brought into focus that it is even appropriate to discuss the subject of: Swearing, Oaths, Vowes, and Judgment, this is because honest and true men are in no need of swearing such an Oath as they in their honest conversation have no need of such, opperating upon the principles of
Num_30:2 If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.
which is well substantiated by our Lord Christ in his teaching in
Mat_5:37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.
As Christians we are pressed to have simple communication, and direct, for there is no place to swear in any way less than to swear by the name of YHWH when swearing is requiered.
Mat 5:33 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:
Mat 5:34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne:
Mat 5:35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.
Mat 5:36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.
The forgone mention of swearing not at all is specific to the idea of swearing ‘not at all’ by any other thing than upon the name of YHWH as the Law only establishes:
Deu_6:13 Thou shalt fear YHWH thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name
Once Christians are honest
they can start to consider
Judicial Proceedings
As the verses of the Pentateuch and the case examples are reflected upon from Exodus 23, Deuteronomy 19 and Leviticus 19, specific instances of law are seen to directly reference the swearing of brother to brother or neighbor to neighbor, the object of an Oath as taken in the Name of YHWH, the LORD, is evident, as well the swearing of an Oath is part of Judiciary proceedings under certain circumstances. The swearing of an Oath, is a very serious matter, as stated by our Christ, when swearing is required is is due to some form of evil. The swearing in a judicial proceeding is to invoke honesty beyond the standard, it is used as a converse measure to hold a Brother-Citizen to account for the truth or falsity of his testimony, so that the actual incrimination may come from the swearing falsely or lying under Oath, which today is called Perjury. In this instance the man who asserts to know a thing must swear as to His knowledge of the matter as will he who is to defend from the accusation, true or false. The Use of the swearing of an Oath is among the highest forms of Evidence one may produce in a Judiciary setting, as it is first hand witness coupled with the witness of God, by evoking His Name into the matter beyond a common standard it places a multiplied level of guilt upon the one who uses the Name vainly, the act calls ones soul into account beyond the duration of life; the only evidence which is higher is the like in opposition of 2 or 3 witnesses and / or factually substantiated Evidence introduced into the matter contrary to the single witness and his oath.
A Case Example:
Exo_22:7 If a man shall deliver unto his neighbour money or stuff to keep, and it be stolen out of the man’s house; if the thief be found, let him pay double.
Exo 22:8 If the thief be not found, then the master of the house shall be brought unto the judges, to see whether he have put his hand unto his neighbour’s goods.
Exo 22:9 For all manner of trespass, whether it be for ox, for ass, for sheep, for raiment, or for any manner of lost thing, which another challengeth to be his, the cause of both parties shall come before the judges; and whom the judges shall condemn, he shall pay double unto his neighbour.
Exo 22:10 If a man deliver unto his neighbour an ass, or an ox, or a sheep, or any beast, to keep; and it die, or be hurt, or driven away, no man seeing it:
Exo_22:11 Then shall an oath of the LORD be between them both, that he hath not put his hand unto his neighbour’s goods; and the owner of it shall accept thereof, and he shall not make it good.
When either form of falsehood prior discussed, either vainly-ignorant or intentionally-premeditated, the matter must be delineated by a Judicious Elder wise and understanding, and known among the tribe, and in such a case the determined Judgment preordained is:
Deu_19:16 If a false witness rise up against any man to testify against him that which is wrong;
Deu 19:17 Then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before the LORD, before the priests and the judges, which shall be in those days;
Deu 19:18 And the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother;
Deu_19:19 Then shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to have done unto his brother: so shalt thou put the evil away from among you.
Restitution it is always the preferred Judgment to cause Brothers to be reconciled by restitution going forward, in the case of payment, for in the case of one who owes another, there is no damaged party more justified to have restitution than thy who have been wronged. In the event that one has in some form or another found an occasion to repent of a falsehood, the following is prescribed:
Lev_6:2 If a soul sin, and commit a trespass against the LORD, and lie unto his neighbour in that which was delivered him to keep, or in fellowship, or in a thing taken away by violence, or hath deceived his neighbour;
Lev 6:3 Or have found that which was lost, and lieth concerning it, and sweareth falsely; in any of all these that a man doeth, sinning therein:
Lev 6:4 Then it shall be, because he hath sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took violently away, or the thing which he hath deceitfully gotten, or that which was delivered him to keep, or the lost thing which he found,
Lev_6:5 Or all that about which he hath sworn falsely; he shall even restore it in the principal, and shall add the fifth part more thereto, and give it unto him to whom it appertaineth, in the day of his trespass offering.
In such a case we see the place of repaying 1/5th of that which was the principal beyond the matter, and beyond this YHWH required an unblemished Ram payed to the priest hood or perhaps it’s estimated value?
In an Ideal Christian society established in brotherhood and good faith this incident would be resolved civilly, and between the two men of what ever the matter was, by simply taking one and the other at His honest word and knowing that neither would defraud, steal or trespass against the other willfully, yet this is not the nature of Men.
Thus when such a controversy arises the decision is ultimate to determine the truth of the matter, and to determine if either Citizen of the Common-Wealth is acting in an un-brotherly way, and to restore such a one by restitution.
The citizen members of the Ecclesia should not be found unworthy to judge the smallest matters…things that pertain to this life?
As the Apostle admonishes: If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church/ecclasia. I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren? 1Co_6:1-6
In such a case, Paul’s admonition is for brothers to appeal one to the other first and then to turn to a judge of the Ecclesia, providing the reprimand:
1Co 6:1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?..But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.
1Co 6:7 Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?
1Co 6:8 Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.
1Co 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?
This of course is the case when members of the Ecclesial are living under the principalities and powers of the darkness, and not under a righteous Common-Wealth, and that when the Judge which wields the power of punishment is unGodly.
A Single Swearing of Oaths or Vows
That is the Idea of one who swears to do a thing for another before Almighty God.
Multiple examples of men swearing one to the other to preform an action is regarded out side of the perjury prior discussed, and this due to the circumstances and place of who is involved, when for instance an oath is sworn between Abraham and Eliazar as to get a wife of Abraham’s kindred for Isaac to wed, or between Isaac and Amimelech a Oath of peace is made, and beyond the swearing of these Oaths, they show the invocation of God into a matter to establish it beyond the normal for Divine accountability, it as well is an invocation for YHWH’s help in the matter: this too may undoubtedly be the bearing of a false witness in the event of it’s willful disregard or thoughtlessness.
Swearing a Oath to God is a vow:
Also is the matter of a vow, which by biblical definition seems to only indicate an swearing of an Oath or promise to God Himself as to do a thing for Him or to Him, to this Solomon offers excelant advice:
Ecc 5:4 When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.
Ecc 5:5 Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.
Ecc 5:6 Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?
Ecc 5:7 For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God.
It is a powerful thing to vow a vow to YHWH, as the scriptures evidently bear witness.
The Swearing of an Oath by YHWH
is
Called a Covenant
Deu_7:6 For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.
Deu 7:7 The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people:
Deu 7:8 But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
Deu 7:9 Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;
Deu 7:10 And repayeth them that hate him to their face, to destroy them: he will not be slack to him that hateth him, he will repay him to his face.
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