This post is Day 12 in a series of studies about “Commandments”. I strongly suggest you begin with the introduction to this study, please click here to read it.

Feel free to comment below with your own thoughts about each verse and how you will be acting on each thought. Also, if you haven’t yet signed up to receive the notifications of new studies, you can do that today. (The form is at the bottom of the page).

Commandments – Day 12

Ever since the beginning of time satan has been tempting humans to not be perfectly honest. Truth is an important subject. It is mentioned throughout the Bible. The book of proverbs also has much to say about truth, and being honest about ourselves as well as others we talk about.

Exodus 20:16

You shall not give false testimony against your neighbour.

The Thought

Most of us would think today that this should not be necessary as a commandment. And yet each of us with a family has had to teach our children to be honest about everything they say and do. Looking back, if we are honest with ourselves, we have to admit that we have been tempted to not tell the whole truth at some point in our lives, about ourselves and about others. In this commandment God was wanting His people to be honest about others. Remember when Jesus was asked Who is my neighbour? His response was to tell the story of “the good Samaritan” (Luke 10:25-37).

Ever since the beginning of time satan has been tempting humans to not be perfectly honest. He still whispers to some of us Did God really say… (Genesis 3:1).

Truth is an important subject. It is mentioned throughout the Bible. We did a whole study on it a few months ago, reminding ourselves that Jesus told us that He is Truth personified (John 14:6).

Jesus also told us You will know the truth and the truth will set you free (John 8:32).

The book of proverbs also has much to say about truth, and being honest about ourselves as well as about others we talk about. Proverbs 26:28 is a good example. A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin.

Action

Challenge yourself today to be perfectly honest in everything you think and say about others. How well do you like your neighbours? Remember that St. Paul wrote to the Galatian church telling them that the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: Love your neighbour as yourself (Galatians 5:14).

Read that chapter today for other good advice that Paul gave to his readers. Or read the “Good Samaritan” story in Luke 10:25-37.

For a full list of online studies available on this site, please click here.

If there is a subject you would like to see on this site, please use the comment section below or drop us an email (there’s a link at the very top of the page). We can’t promise to cover them all, and our studies are usually prepared a month or two in advance, so please be patient.

For a full list of physical resources available through this site, please click here.