Back to the Basics: A Heart That Speaks Truth

Exodus 20:16

We often think of sin in terms of actions or things we do. However, God’s wisdom calls us to examine our words, as they carry significant power. Words shape our relationships, our reputations, and even our destiny. The commandment, “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor,” is not only about avoiding courtroom lies; it calls us to become people whose hearts overflow with truth and love. The core argument is this: God cares deeply about our words, and speaking truth goes far beyond avoiding falsehood—it reflects His character in us.

Building on this foundation, in its original context, this commandment referred to giving false testimony in a legal setting, where a lie can destroy someone’s life, strip them of justice, ruin their reputation, and lead to punishment or death. However, God is declaring truth matters because people matter. From a Christian perspective, we have seen that every person bears the image of God. Therefore, to lie about someone is to dishonor God’s image of them.

Moving beyond the original context, this commandment does not stay confined to legal testimony. Scripture expands on it. Proverbs 6:16-19 reads, “There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.” Two out of the seven things that are abominations to God talk about lying. If we look at Colossians 3:9, we see it says, “Do not lie to one another.” Ephesians 4:25 says, “Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor.” Ultimately, we see in Revelation 21:8 where liars end up.

We must further deepen our understanding; truth is not just about avoiding lies, but it is about having a truthful heart. Sin is not just a behavior; it is a condition of the heart. You may ask, “Why do people bear false witness?” It could be due to fear, pride, jealousy, a desire to control, or self-protection. Jesus gets to the heart of the issue in Matthew 12:34 when he said, “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”

God can purify our hearts from inward sins. He does not just want us to stop lying, but to be transformed so that truth becomes second nature.

Today, lying can be as deadly as it was when this commandment was written. The most obvious form is an outright lie: speaking something you know is untrue, often with the intent to hurt. I can testify to this, having had my reputation ruined in my family by someone who knowingly lied about me.

Additionally, another form of lying is the half-truth, telling part of a story that is misleading. When you leave out details in a story, you are painting that person you’re telling the story about in a way that is not truthful. A fun story I like to tell friends and family is a time I told my wife I loved her, and she said, “Oh ….” I make it sound like she wasn’t ready for me to say I love you, but I do leave out the rest of the story where I’m jumping out and scaring her. For the record, I do tell the rest of the story about 30 seconds after I tell the rest.

Also, gossip or sharing information that harms others is a form of modern lying. We may be sharing factual information, but we’re doing so to tear it down or destroy it. This is among the most difficult forms, and the Bible tells us how to address it when we see someone doing wrong: first, go to them privately. If that fails, bring two or three with you to establish the truth. If that still doesn’t work, then go before the Church. We don’t just blab it around; we seek to restore, not destroy.

Silence when truth is needed is also a modern-day lie, especially when someone refuses to defend others. In my case, a family member knew the truth but did not speak up, deepening the damage to my reputation.

Moreover, the final form of modern-day lying is that of exaggeration or stretching the truth for personal gain. This one might not be as dangerous as straight-out lying, but it can be just as deadly. When we exaggerate details to make ourselves look better, God will bring it to light, and we will be humbled. Jesus even said in Matthew 23:12, “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” If we are exaggerating details to make God look better, it is just as wrong because God does not need us to exaggerate to show his awesomeness; just telling the truth about what he did is enough to share that.

False witness in the church is often subtle but very damaging. Lies can break trust and cause emotional wounds. In my life, a family member’s lie damaged many relationships, leaving emotional scars that persist, even as I seek God’s help.

A false witness can destroy communities. A church or family cannot thrive without trust. Please bear with me as I continue to share how my relationship with my family is broken because of a lying tongue, and I do not trust certain family members because of this. When We Sow Discord through lying, it will destroy everything.

It is essential to note that, ultimately, a false witness is not against people, but it grieves God as well. The Bible is quite clear that God is the God of truth. Numbers 23:19 states that God does not lie. John 14:6 states that Jesus is the truth. To lie is an act contrary to God himself. That’s why we saw earlier in the book of Proverbs that God hates lying.

We must speak the truth in love. Ephesians 4:15 instructs, “speak the truth in love...” Truth without love is harsh; love without truth is compromise. Ask the Holy Spirit: Is it true? Is it loving? Is it necessary? Sometimes, you may simply need to remain silent while God works.

The ultimate example, Christ Jesus Himself, is an example of speaking the truth. In Revelation 3:14, He is called “the faithful and true witness”. He never misrepresented others, twisted the truth, or spoke falsely. When he was falsely accused, he remained truthful.

There are practical steps you can take to live a truthful, God-centered life. First, examine your heart, ask God to reveal hidden dishonesty. Second, confess quickly; when you speak falsely, make it right immediately. Third, guard your tongue and be slow to speak, as James 1:19 says. Fourth, refuse to gossip. If it harms someone, do not repeat it. Finally, always speak life, use words to build, not destroy.

Even if we have failed, there is always good news if we have failed this commandment. Christ Jesus died for liars. He redeems our speech. He transforms our hearts. Through His grace, we are forgiven, renewed, and empowered to live in truth.

Exodus 20:16 is not only about avoiding lies; it calls us to let our speech reflect God's truth and character. We must speak truthfully, love with a pure motive, and act with integrity. Show the world you tell the truth, defend others, and speak words that give life.

I want to close by challenging you to consider the main argument: Are your words building others up or tearing them down? Are you truly living as a person whose speech reflects the truth and character of God, even when it is difficult? Is your heart aligned with God’s truth?