1. Right, Wrong, or Irrelevant
Right, Wrong, or Irrelevant? A Survey of Biblical Christian Morality TO TELL THE TRUTH
Exodus 20:16 Pew Bible p. 74

3. Frequency of Lying Teacher: Did you read the assignment?
Officer: Do you know why I pulled you over?
Dentist: Have you been flossing regularly?
Software: I have read and agree to the terms of service.

4. The Ninth Commandment Exodus 20:16
You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. NIV
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. KJV

5. Basic Meaning To give “testimony” implies a courtroom setting.
Prohibits lying under oath in a court of law; “perjury”
“Neighbor” here means anyone you come in contact with.

6. Extended Meaning The 9th Commandment has broader implications.
The intent is to prohibit lying of all sorts.
To lie is to make an untrue statement with intent to deceive.

7. Swearing something is true Concealing or withholding truth
Kinds of Lying
Perjury
Slander
Fibs
Swearing something is true
Concealing or withholding truth
Half truths

8. Affirmed throughout the Bible
The Law—Exod. 20:16, Deut. 5:20, Lev. 6:3
Wisdom Literature—Psalm 5:6,9; 34:13; 59:12; Prov. 19:5

9. Psalm 23:12-13
Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies.

10. Affirmed throughout the Bible
The Law—Exod. 20:16, Deut. 5:20, Lev. 6:3
Wisdom Literature—Psalm 5:6,9; 34:13; 59:12; Prov. 19:5
Prophets—Is. 59:4,13; Jer. 9:3,5; Mic. 6:12

11. Affirmed throughout the Bible
Jesus—Matt. 5:33-37, 15:19, 19:18
Acts 5:1-11
New Testament Letters—Col. 3:8-9, 1 Tim. 1:10, Rev. 21:8; especially slander Rom. 1:30, 2 Cor. 12:20, Eph. 4:31, 1 Pet. 2:1

12. Colossians 3:8-9a
But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other…

13. Why Do People Lie? Embarrassment Fear of injury, loss, punishment
To cover up something they have done wrong

14. Why Do People Lie? To avoid hurting others’ feelings
To protect someone they care about
To get something they want which they feel they cannot get honestly or easily
To hurt others

15. Why Lying Is Wrong
Lying perverts justice. Lying destroys trust. Lying results in hurt and damage. Lying is self-destructive.

16. Why You Should Tell the Truth and Not Lie
To be like God, and not like Satan
God cannot lie. Num. 23:19, 1 Sam. 15:29, Tit. 1:2, 1 John 1:5

17. God tells the truth, even if everyone else is a liar.
Romans 3:4 CEV
God tells the truth, even if everyone else is a liar.

18. Why You Should Tell the Truth and Not Lie
To be like God, and not like Satan
God cannot lie Num. 23:19, 1 Sam. 15:29, Tit. 1:2, 1 John 1:5
Truth liberates; lying enslaves.

19. You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
John 8:32
You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

21. Ephesians 4:15
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.

22. Speak the Truth in Love
There are times when the truth is better left unsaid.

23. Proverbs 17:9
He who conceals a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates intimate friends.

24. Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all transgressions.
Proverbs 10:12
Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all transgressions.

25. Speak the Truth in Love
There are times when the truth is better left unsaid.
Tell the truth when it builds up or edifies others.

26. Ephesians 4:29
Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.

27. Speak the Truth in Love
Sometimes speaking the truth in love means speaking up, even when others may not want to hear it.

29. Proverbs 27:5-6
Better is open rebuke Than love that is concealed. Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy

30. Speak the Truth in Love
Sometimes speaking the truth in love means speaking up, even when others may not want to hear it.
The goal is to speak the truth, but to do so in love.

31. Proverbs 25:11
Like apples of gold in settings of silver Is a word spoken in right circumstances.

32. Christ calls His followers to speak the truth in love.
Truths to Take Home
Christ calls His followers to speak the truth in love.

33. Challenge
Make it your goal to learn how to speak truth in love in every circumstance.