Seven Things God Finds Abominable: #6 — A false witness that speaketh lies
Welcome back to our ongoing series, “Seven Things God Finds Abominable.” In our last post, we explored Feet That Be Swift in Running to Mischief Now, the Lord turns our attention back to the tongue, but this time with far greater gravity.
“These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.” Proverbs 6:16-19
While “a lying tongue” in verse 17 referred to personal deceit, “a false witness” takes that sin into the public square. It is one thing to lie for gain but another to lie to destroy. This abomination weaponizes words, turning truth itself into a casualty.
In the Bible, bearing witness was sacred. Truth in testimony upheld justice whereas falsehood perverted it. The entire law of Moses depended upon truthful witnesses to establish every matter. Deuteronomy 19:15–19 states:
“One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established. If a false witness rise up against any man to testify against him that which is wrong; Then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before the Lord, before the priests and the judges, which shall be in those days; And the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother; Then shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to have done unto his brother: so shalt thou put the evil away from among you.” Deuteronomy 19:15-19
In other words, a false witness deserved the very punishment he sought for another. To speak lies under oath was not just a social sin but was an assault on justice itself, and an attempt to make God complicit in deceit.
The Bible gives us examples of false witnesses. When Naboth refused to sell his vineyard to King Ahab, Queen Jezebel plotted his death. She sent letters in the king’s name, commanding the elders of Jezreel to proclaim a fast and set Naboth “on high among the people.” Then she wrote:
“Set two men, sons of Belial, before him, to bear witness against him, saying,
Thou didst blaspheme God and the king.” 1 Kings 21:10
Their lies accomplished their purpose and Naboth was stoned to death. However, Heaven recorded the truth. The Lord sent Elijah to Ahab, saying:
“And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the Lord, Hast thou killed, and also taken possession? And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the Lord, In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine.” 1 Kings 21:19
Ahab and Jezebel learned too late that false witness is not forgotten by God. Lies may win a moment, but truth always wins eternity.
At Calvary, this sin reached its most grievous form. Matthew 26:59–60 tells us:
“Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death; But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none.”
Men who claimed to represent God stood ready to lie about the Son of God. Their testimony condemned the Innocent and freed the guilty. Yet even their lies served God’s truth. Through their deceit, Christ fulfilled prophecy and purchased redemption. The false witnesses sealed their own judgment, but the Sufferer they accused rose in triumph.
The accusers of Stephen could not resist the wisdom of his words, so they “suborned men” to lie about him (Acts 6:11–13). I once saw something similar. When people can’t refute truth, they sometimes try to ruin the messenger. It reminded me how quickly a false witness can appear.
Our world rewards the loudest voice, not the truest one. People rush to speak before they verify and to accuse before they understand. Yet truth never needs to hurry for it stands eternal. As believers, our calling is not to echo the noise of accusation but to walk in quiet integrity, speaking only what we know, and refusing to wound others with rumor.
Ephesians 4:25 commands:
“Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.”
To be a Christian is to be a truth-bearer. Every time we twist the truth, we echo Satan’s voice; every time we speak it, we reflect Christ’s. Let us be Christians. Let us be Christ-like Let our words bring healing, not harm; clarity, not confusion; light, not shadow. For the Lord still hates a false witness that speaketh lies but He still welcomes the one who repents and speaks truth in love.