The commandment means do not lie or defraud anyone — it's not limited to gossip or character assassination but encompasses all falsehood.
Les Feldick explains that bearing false witness is fundamentally about not lying and not defrauding others. He connects it to the root sin of coveting, showing that every violation of the Ten Commandments, including false witness, is triggered by coveting. He also teaches that love fulfills the Law, so operating in love keeps one from bearing false witness.
Exodus 20:16 — This is the exact commandment 'Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.'
The ninth commandment, as recorded in Exodus 20:16, states plainly, 'Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.' This is part of the moral law given to Israel through Moses. The Bible ties this commandment to the broader principle that love is the fulfillment of the Law — Romans 13:8-10 says, 'He that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.' Love does no harm to a neighbor, which includes not lying against them.
Les Feldick teaches that 'Thou shalt not bear false witness' is not just about gossiping or destroying someone's character, but it is fundamentally about not lying. He emphasizes that this commandment, like all the others, is rooted in coveting — you cannot break the ninth commandment without first coveting. He also connects it to the New Testament principle that love fulfills the Law: 'He that loveth another hath fulfilled the Law.' Thus, the real meaning is to live in love and not defraud or take advantage of anyone.
Les Feldick teaches that coveting is at the root of breaking every one of the Ten Commandments. He specifically says, 'You cannot destroy someone's character with false gossip unless you covet.' So, when someone bears false witness against a neighbor, it is ultimately triggered by coveting — wanting something that belongs to another, whether it's reputation, position, or advantage.
Les Feldick clarifies that the commandment against bearing false witness can be better understood as 'do not defraud anyone.' He teaches that this doesn't mean you can't borrow money or engage in normal transactions, but it means you are not to take advantage of someone or deceive them. This aligns with the principle that love fulfills the Law.
Les Feldick is clear: 'We're not free to break the law, but it's just that we're not under the demands of the law.' The commandments remain the guideline for a Christian life. He illustrates this with the example of two kinds of marriages — an arranged marriage under rules versus a love relationship where the law is fulfilled naturally.
What Is Truth? Jesus Christ Explained Verse by Verse
where the intellectual community, the politically correct, they're always making emphasis of, well, what is truth? A lot of universities will maybe have it over the doors of one of their great halls. What is truth? Well, I'll tell you what. I've said it for 20-some years, and I have not changed my mind. The perfect definition of truth is Jesus Christ. He is the truth.
Coveting Triggers False Witness
Les teaches that you cannot destroy someone's character with false gossip unless you first covet, explaining that coveting is the root trigger for breaking the ninth commandment.
The Commandments as Guidelines
Les lists 'Thou shalt not bear false witness' as one of the plain guidelines for Christian living, explaining that believers are not free to break the law even though they are not under its demands.
Do Not Defraud
Les interprets the commandment as 'do not defraud anyone' — not a prohibition on borrowing money, but a call not to take advantage of others, since love fulfills the Law.
The Ten Commandments Explained: Why "Love" Isn't Mentioned
The last five, it's never mentioned. So be aware of that. All right, now verse 2, I am the Lord thy God, who hath brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage, and here comes the direct command then, thou shalt have no other gods before me.
The Ten Commandments Explained: Why "Love" Isn't Mentioned
How many times won't you just see it generation after generation after generation? Well this is exactly what the Scripture is saying here 1,500 years before Christ. This isn't just a new discovery, although again modern day medical people may think it is, that all of a sudden they've realized these things. No, God told us this 1,500 years before Christ.
The Ten Commandments Explained: Why "Love" Isn't Mentioned
Covet. Now, when you really think about it, and that's what I try to get people to do, I mean, when you get up in the morning and you begin your day's work and you've got a little time to do some other thinking, I want you to mull these things over.
False Witness in the Ten Commandments
Les points to the ninth commandment in Exodus 20:16 and connects it to Romans 7, where the apostle Paul was made aware of sin through the commandment 'Thou shalt not covet.'
Exodus 20:16: Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
This is the ninth commandment, the direct subject of the page.
Exodus 20:17: Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.
Les teaches that coveting is the root that triggers breaking all the commandments, including bearing false witness.
Romans 7:7: What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
Paul references the commandment 'Thou shalt not covet' as the one that made him aware of sin, which Les highlights.
Romans 13:8: Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
Les quotes this verse to show that love fulfills the Law, which is the opposite of bearing false witness.
John 1:17: For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
Les refers to this verse to establish Jesus Christ as the epitome of truth, the opposite of false witness.
No. Les Feldick teaches that it means 'do not defraud anyone' and includes destroying someone's character with false gossip. It is fundamentally about not lying and not taking advantage of others.
Because coveting is the root of breaking every one of the commandments. You cannot destroy someone's character with false gossip unless you first covet something — whether it's their reputation, position, or whatever you gain by the lie.
No. Les Feldick is explicit: 'We're not free to break the law, but it's just that we're not under the demands of the law.' The commandments still serve as guidelines for a Christian life.
Watch the Teaching: What Is Truth? Jesus Christ Explained Verse by Verse