ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

Sapate Ma’asi 26, 2023

שקר False Witness

Fakamo‘oni loi

EXODUS 20:16

"YOU SHALL NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS AGAINST YOUR NEIGHBOR."

‘EKISOTO 20:16

‘Oua na‘a ke tu‘u ko e fakamo‘oni loi ki ho kaungā‘api.

In Israel, this law prohibited playing fast and loose with the truth in judicial proceedings. To "bear" is to anah ("answer") and 'ed shaqer is a lying witness. We might paraphrase it: When you testify before the judges concerning your neighbor, don't be a lying witness. Proverbs describes two types of witnesses: "A faithful witness does not lie, but a 'ed shaqer breathes out lies" (14:5). This exhalation of evil is echoed in the psalms, where false witnesses "breathe out violence" (27:12). Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words break hearts, souls, reputations, livelihoods. No one can tame the tongue, James reminds us, for "it is a restless evil, full of deadly poison" (3:8). The devil's first move was to speak.

When the Truth is embodied in Jesus, lies wage war. His archnemesis is "the father of lies" (John 8:44). "Many bore false witness against him" after the Messiah's arrest, though they couldn't even keep their lies straight (Mark 14:55-59). They breathed out lies, they exhaled violence, until finally the crucified Christ of Truth "breathed his last" (Luke 23:46). But that was only the beginning. Standing alive again, outside his tomb, is "Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth" (Rev. 1:5).

"Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long" (Ps. 25:5).