Read Pr. 25:18
I have always thought that to "bear false witness" meant that you were the one who spoke against someone wrongly but there is more to it than that. The word "bear" means to "eye or heed; pay attention; respond; testify". So we are guilty if we listen and pay attention to false news. There are magazines and newspapers who specialize in this and to buy their product and read their material is to "bear false witness". It goes on to give an illustration of what this offense is like. It is like a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow. Mauls crush, swords cut, and sharp arrows pierce. This is what gossip does. It crushes the person's spirit, cuts deep into their soul and pierces their heart. I think it also does this to the one who is bearing the false witness, they just might not feel it at the time. The problem and the promise is that we reap what we sow so it will come back on the one who is guilty. We can bless or we can curse the decision is ours but the benefits are very different.
Lord, let us be a people that bless your people and your creation. Put a guard over our mouths that we might bring you glory.
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