You shall not steal.
You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
Exodus 20:15&16

Verses about stealing:

• Exodus 22:1-4
• Leviticus 19:11-13a
• Proverbs 6:30&31
• Proverbs 10:2&22
• Proverbs 20:17 & 21:6
• Ephesians 4:28
• Philippians 4:19

Do not give false testimony.

1. In most cases, where is the person who is being talked about when someone is saying false things about them? Why?

   
   

2. When people make negative comments about others, are the comments usually completely false? If not, is exaggerating about someone a way of giving false testimony?

   
   

3. What motivates people to make negative comments about others?

   
   

4. What happens to the person's image when people talk about them behind their backs?

   
   

5. How do people treat you differently after they hear negative things about you?

   
   

1. How is the false testimony in this story different than the kind we just looked at?

   
   

2. What was the motivation behind this false testimony?

   
   

3. What came as a result of this false testimony?

   
   

   Both of these commandments have to do with taking things from others. In fact, seen from one perspective, all of the commandments have to do with stealing. The commandments about God are commandments not to take away from God his singularity, his image, his honor. The commandment about honoring parents is about not stealing the respect parents are supposed to have. Obviously, murder is a way to steal someone else's life, adultery is a way of stealing someone else's mate, and giving false testimony is a way of stealing someone else's reputation. Sometimes people steal so that they can have whatever they steal for themselves. Sometimes, however, people steal just because they don't want someone else to have the good things God has given them. Both kinds of stealing are sin, but which one do you think is worse? Why? Return to High School Page
   Return to Evangel Home Page
   Series written and published to the Web by Dale Sullivan