THOU SHALT NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS AGAINST THY NEIGHBOR

HOW SACRED IS TRUTH? 

Scholars suggest this is not a direct prohibition in general, but dealing with a specific type of lying. Perjury was a crime as far back as Hammurabi, long before Moses and the Mosaic Law and was part of the Israelite Law as well. The ninth commandment does not mean this is the only kind of untruthfulness. Rather, it is the beginning of concrete instruction and takes note of the importance of the Word--of truth. Neither lie one to another, Lev. 19:11.

To lie is to destroy all basis for communication, to make a mockery of human relations, to reduce all dealings to the jungle level. A false witness can destroy the reputation, the happiness, the freedom, the life of another. Perjury is simply lying at its worst. Jesus also quoted the Ninth Commandment in his answer to the rich young ruler's quest for eternal life (LUKE 18:20). John the Revelator saw that all liars were to be cast into the lake of fire forever (Rev. 21:8). 

The "Word" is of enough importance that Jesus based his ministry on the truth that He himself (the Logos of John 1) is The Word, The Word of Truth is not the word about Jesus, the Word of Truth is Jesus Himself. This has huge implications in a day of propaganda, of "managed news," of clever double-talk and fine print, of the "white lie" and the constant  deceit of polite society. There is a real need for reaffirmation and emphasis of the Ninth Commandment (THE WESLEYAN BIBLE COMMENTARY), p234 

If Jesus is The Word, that Word begins with God Himself, so Jesus declared multiple times--the First Commandment being to love God, supremely--in the superlative. One cannot love God supremely without loving his neighbor as himself, as Jesus declared on the mountain, and else where. To fail to love one's neighbor as one's self is to fall short in our love of God, or so John wrote.  

So, I conclude as I began--HOW SACRED IS TRUTH?  

It is a question we must answer for ourselves--every one  of us and it may well determine our eternal destiny. From Warner's World, I am walkingwithwarner.blogspot.com