This Proverb says, “A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who tells lies will not escape.” This brings up an intriguing question? What is bearing false witness, and what is lying? Both are similar in that both are telling untruths.
Being false witness is certainly lying. However are all lies bearing false witness? One of God’s 10 commandments says, “Thou shalt not bear false witness.” Bearing false witness means to lie about what one has or has not witnessed. For example falsely accusing someone of a crime that you claimed to have witnessed but didn’t is bearing false witness. You have not accurately represented what you witnessed. You have borne false witness.
Regarding lying, consider the following example. It is World War II, and you are in a country that has just been overrun by the German Nazis. The Nazis were exterminating Jews and we’re seeking them out to destroy them. You happen to be protecting some Jews from the Nazis by hiding them in your basement.
If the Nazis came by your house and asked you if you were hiding Jews, what would you tell them. Telling them ‘no’ would be a lie. However, telling them the truth would result in the Nazis murdering the Jews you were protecting. Do you think God would condemn you for lying to the Nazis in this regard?
This example begs the question. When is lying wrong? I believe lying is wrong when it is for personal gain. Lying is wrong when it hurts others. Lying is wrong when it characterizes a person. Lying is wrong if it doesn’t glorify God. In the example of protecting the Jews, I don’t believe that lie was wrong. It was selfless, and it did glorify God.
