“Do not give false evidence against your neighbor.”
Don’t you just love a little gossip?
Of course not! You’re an upstanding member of this community we call the Bride and there is just no room for petty gossip in our lives.
But what if we reframe the question a bit: Don’t you need more “insight” so you know how to pray for someone in the most complete way possible?
I mean, it helps you really focus your prayers, right? And targeted prayers will allow you to really get in there and make a difference in this person’s life. You most certainly won’t judge the person for which you’re praying. If anything, you’ll extend pity instead.
But is there a difference?
Let’s pause here because you’re probably thinking we’re way off topic. This command is talking about a court of law and lying under oath, correct?
Yes. But that’s only a special case. It doesn’t cover the broader issue in full.
So what exactly is this commandment addressing?
It’s about attacking someone’s character.
A servant knows that someone else’s life has tremendous value to their Master. Falsely accusing them could cause unjust punishment to come upon them and their lives would be impacted negatively.
Now, it does not matter whether I think they are a good person, an evil person or someplace in between. I trust that the Master will judge that since He has far more information than I do. Our job as a servant is to protect and value the reputation of others, not judge them. There is no slander and no gossip.
And what of the pity?
That’s a judgment on their value. We see them as having lesser value or as “missing it” all the while assuming we know better. It isn’t pity people need, it’s compassion.
The fascinating thing about compassion is that you don’t need any information at all to pray. Your prayers turn from speaking your opinion on the matter to you listening for truth about them so you can see them as Abba does. You will then see that they have value, and you should now do everything within your ability to make sure they know it. Isn’t this what the Messiah did?
He didn’t judge, even though His judgment would be true. Instead, he extended compassion for those that are lost and did whatever He could to show them their true value. And He did it Masterfully.
Now you go and do it servantfully.