Text: Exodus 20:16, Matthew 5:33-37

Topic: Why truth is essential to all relationships

Traditions of truth verification originate in the ninth commandment: "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor."

In Jeremiah 32:9-12, Jeremiah exemplifies the traditions of weighing, sealing, witnessing, and safe-keeping.

Illustration: When you said, "Cross my heart and hope to die" as a child, you were making a vow, but these vows aren't effective because the named consequence never follows a betrayal.

Dishonest people can use verification techniques to help them lie.

Illustration: Pathological liars look others straight in the eye and never blink, in an effort to convince people.

The best test of truth is time.

Jesus simplifies the ninth commandment for us.

Jesus says, "Do not swear at all."

Simplifying it further, he then says, "Let what you say be simply 'Yes' or 'No'; anything more than this comes from evil.

Matthew 5:37

Without the ninth commandment, we can't have the media, science, sports, or communication.

This is the media commandment: if the media doesn't report the truth, the audience will lose confidence in their reporting.

This is the science commandment: telling the truth is the cardinal rule in science.

Illustration: Yale once stripped a graduate of his PhD when the school learned of his falsifying his experiments.

Illustration: The University of Washington crest has a quotation in Latin: "Let there be light" (in other words, "Let there be truth").

This is the sports commandment: we must have truthful stopwatches and referees or there is no game.

Illustration: A girl once made a basket in the last seconds of a basketball game, but did not get any points since her foot was beyond the line. Although it was a shame, it was best to stick with the truth for the sake of the integrity of the game.

This is the interpersonal-communication commandment: God's goal for us is to be honest, open and reality-oriented in our relationships.

Evil tries to detach us from ourselves and reality, and tempts us to lie.

Illustration: In C.S. Lewis' Screwtape Letters, the senior devil, Screwtape, writes to his trainee about the devil's strategy to detach humans from God by first detaching them from themselves.

As the ninth commandment instructs, we must be honest with God and face up to our sin.

Illustration: Again in C.S. Lewis' work, Screwtape comments that God really likes us humans and values us as distinct creations. In addition, the devil notes how God asks us to give up our will so that we can be wholly his and more ourselves than ever.

We all need fellowship so that we can have honest relationships and grow to trust people.