1406. The Ninth Commandment

The Ninth Commandment

"Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour" (Exo_20:16).

Our illustration against false witnessing, is the story of Ananias and Sapphira.

This story is related in the 5th chapter of Acts.

Following the Day of Pentecost many of the saints, without compulsion, sold their possessions and parted them to all men, as every man had need. Thus the believers had all things in common.

Among those who brought their possessions was a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira, his wife. These two, however, conceived a thing in their own heart,–to keep back part of the price, yet professing to bring it all and lay it at the Apostles' feet. Peter immediately detected Ananias' deception and the false witness which he bore, and Peter said: "Ananias, why hath satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God."

"Ananias, hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things." Then the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. Scarcely was this done than his wife, not knowing what had happened, came in. Peter asked her if they had sold the land for so much, and she said, "Yea, for so much." Then Peter said unto her, "How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out." Then she fell "down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost; and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband."

As we read these words concerning Ananias and Sapphira, let us beware lest we also, by word or by action, bear false witness. "Sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death."

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR