“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.” (Exodus 20:16)
In 1 Kings 21 we find the disturbing account of Naboth and his vineyard. Naboth refused to sell his vineyard to King Ahab because God had given it to his forefathers when the land of Canaan was divided. Ahab’s wife Jezebel devised a plan to get the property, a plan that included breaking several commandments. Jezebel found two men who were willing to make false accusations against Naboth, resulting in his unjust death sentence and stoning. God did not ignore this sin, and both Ahab and Jezebel were punished.
God forbids cheating, lying and bearing false witness. We may not tell untruths or spread gossip, slandering others. If you accuse someone unjustly, or say something to smear their name, making yourself look better, you are breaking this commandment. God demands that we always speak the truth, but we need to do that with discretion. Wisdom is required and we must be sensitive. It requires practice to speak the truth in the right way. Jesus is our perfect example. He is Truth personified. Throughout His life on earth He always spoke honestly and opposed lies. If we follow His example, we will be blessed. Obey the commandment, be honest when you speak, and protect your neighbour’s reputation. In this way you will be furthering a righteous society.