A FALSE WITNESS
By Mark Grant
In Mark the fourteenth chapter we read, “55Now
the chief priests and all the council sought testimony against Jesus to put Him
to death, but found none. 56For many bore false witness against Him,
but their testimonies did not agree.
57Then some rose up and bore false witness against
Him, saying, 58“We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made
with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.’”
59But not even then did their testimony agree.
60And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked
Jesus, saying, “Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against
You?” 61But He kept silent and answered nothing” (Mark 14:55-60).
On the night that Jesus was betrayed by Judas
Iscariot with a kiss in the garden of Gethsemane, and then taken before the
Sanhedrin to be put on trial. The chief priests, the elders, and the whole
council began seeking a legal execution, but had to put together some kind of
case that would stand up against Christ. In a wild frenzied endeavor they tried
to bring witnesses against Christ to provide details needed to sustain a capital
charge against the Lord. However, the witnesses they had, could not even agree
over what Jesus taught concerning raising the temple. The witnesses that had
come forward had turned out to be false because their testimonies were so absurd
and unconvincing as to be unusable. After searching all night this was all the
Sanhedrin had, and no one knew any better than Caiaphas that it was not enough
to serve their purpose. That is why Jesus chose not to even respond for it
wasn’t necessary since all could see that these witnesses were false.
Over two thousand years have passed since the
trial of Jesus. To look back and reflect on it all, at least two observations
are obvious: First, the Sanhedrin charges were essentially without any proof.
While any man could claim to be the Messiah, it was only Jesus who had actually
proven to be legitimate. As a consequence, Jesus had become a threat to the
Jewish leaders. In trying to resolve the matter, the accusations that Caiaphas
eventually made became so twisted and misrepresented, that they only succeeded
in condemning the court. Even though Caiaphas and the Jewish leaders were
claiming to be standing for doctrinal truth, Pilot readily recognized that the
reason they wanted to condemn Jesus was that they were envious of Him (Matt.
27:18). Because of the highest courts own bitterness and hatred, the entire
Hebrew nation became guilty of the blood of Jesus (Matt. 27:25). Second, God has
always taught in His word that it is a sin to publicly accuse people falsely
without sufficient evidence (Exodus 20:16). In the Sanhedrin’s undertaking, they
never succeeded in proving Jesus of any wrong doing that was worthy of death.
Pilot himself stated publicly that Jesus was an innocent and a just person
(Matt. 27:24). In their attempt to soil the reputation of Jesus, the Sanhedrin’s
charges were nothing more than a wild, reckless, and irresponsible disregard for
true justice. The Sanhedrin had single-handedly succeeded in arousing the Jewish
people to a state of hate and abhorrence for Jesus Christ. In the end, the
highest and most sacred court of justice had become guilty of murder.
How do you suppose God views these matters of
falsely accusing along with causing harm to others? In Deuteronomy the ninth
teeth chapter we read, “15One witness shall not rise against a
man concerning any iniquity or any sin that he commits; by the mouth of two or
three witnesses the matter shall be established. 16If a false witness
rises against any man to testify against him of wrongdoing, 17then
both men in the controversy shall stand before the LORD, before the priests and
the judges who serve in those days. 18And the judges shall make
careful inquiry, and indeed, if the witness is a false witness, who has
testified falsely against his brother, 19then you shall do to him as
he thought to have done to his brother; so you shall put away the evil from
among you. 20And those who remain shall hear and fear, and hereafter
they shall not again commit such evil among you” (Deut. 19:15-19).
Obviously, the main purpose God gave this law was to prevent one from slandering
or falsely accusing another brother. God revealed the fact that a single witness
was insufficient to convict a person of sin. Two or three witnesses were
required to confirm the facts of the accusations. A scriptural witness was an
independent witness and not one who had been told what to say by the main
accuser, nor had the story related to him. Rather, each of the witnesses had to
be independent, firsthand observers of what was said and had to see what had
actually happened. God wanted a thorough investigation and not just hearsay
before any judgment was to be pronounced against a brother. If an accusing
brother’s charges were found to be false, the false witness was to receive the
same punishment that he tried to inflict on his brother.
It is God who teaches us from the Old Testament
that if any brother accuses another brother, then he must verify and
substantiate his claims or suffer severe consequences. As a result, far less
gossip and slander would be generated or allowed. If a brother had to prove a
clear-cut, solid charge against another brother, or else be punished himself, he
then would be more likely to keep his suspicions to himself until he could prove
his testimonial conclusively. Is this not the will of God as well today? Was it
not Jesus who taught us by the golden rule (to love your neighbor as yourself)
to have respect for a person’s reputation and forbid damaging the character of
another person by making statements which are not true, thus causing harm to
that person? “11Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He
who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and
judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a
judge. 12There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy.
Who are you to judge another?” (James 4:11-12). Yes, all of God’s people
should have enthusiasm for devotion to doctrinal purity, but it must be tempered
with a love for truth, justice, and fellowman (Mark 12:30-31). Love for God and
love of neighbor are inseparable. The one is not possible apart from the other.
That is why Christians should be honest in their private dealings as well as in
their public statements in the body of Christ. In either situation, it is
“testifying falsely” when we leave something out of a story, tell a half-truth,
twist the facts, or invent a falsehood. Jesus warns that such deception is what
defiles a person (Matt. 15:18-20). Yet too often we live under the illusion that
others are little affected by our negative verbal behavior. Make no mistake
about it, words that slander, condemn, or demean are tools of Satan. It is Satan
who is called the “accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our
God day and night…” (Rev. 12:10). You might also be surprised to know
that the Greek word for the “devil” is “diabolos” which means, “an
accuser, a slanderer.”
Unfortunately, some members of the church seem to
come out of the watery grave of baptism in the “attack mode.” When a brother has
a tendency to run roughshod over others, under the pious guise of (standing up
for truth), and could care less how much his accusations wound, cut, or injure
others, then the evidence suggests his honesty is doubtful and impure. “A
man who bears false witness against his neighbor Is like a club, a sword, and
sharp arrow” (Prov. 25:18). When a brother seems disinterested in
acquiring all the facts or making certain that he has not taken a slanted,
inaccurate perspective, then he is going to bring shame and consequences upon
himself. “A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who speaks lies
will not escape” (Prov. 19:5). One who gives false testimony or engages
in other forms of dishonesty is sooner or later going to be caught in his own
web of lies and will ultimately damage himself. Some seem however, to be more
interested in simply “striking while the iron is hot.” Again Solomon wrote, “He
who is slow to wrath has great understanding, But he who is impulsive exalts
folly” (Prov. 14:29). Here we learn that the person who controls his
emotions has great understanding. On the other hand, the person who is impulsive
promotes disaster and will only look foolish in the end.
When a brother seems to think that as long as he
is upholding Bible doctrine, then he can be as brutal, unscrupulous, and
careless as he chooses, then he does not love God. The apostle John wrote, “20If
someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does
not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?
21And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must
love his brother also” (John 4:20-21). Every Christian who has ever
obeyed the gospel has always claimed how much he truly loves God. The real test
that proves this claim is seen in how a brother treats and acts towards his own
brethren who are in his presence. Anyone who loves God the Father will obviously
show love toward God’s children. To fail this test of love proves that one’s
claim to love God is nothing more than a lie. John finally argues that if one
fails this test of loving his visible brother, it has become obvious that he
does not truly love God, whom he cannot see. Does anyone honestly believe that
when there is an obvious lack of love displayed toward fellow believers that
this is going to be hidden from view? “10In this the children
of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice
righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. 11For
this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one
another…” (1 John 3:10-11).
Jesus does not want his children to believe or
engage in exaggerated charges against brethren, but wants every fact confirmed
(Matt. 18:16; 2 Cor. 13:1). Christians are not to even hear or consider
accusations made against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses
(1 Tim. 5:19). This explains why it is particularly important to God that fellow
Christians not be prematurely accused or condemned. So instead of passing along
some wild exaggerated stories, why not follow God’s will and head off the very
thing that occurs so frequently among us all? Not to believe in allegations that
may have been made for the wrong reasons, such as, personality clashes,
distrust, or evil suspicions. Nor allow ourselves to swept into an emotional
state of rage to where we falsely accuse our brethren and destroy our
relationship, unity, and fellowship. The cause of Christ is mired and hindered
by such erratic, reckless displays of zeal. In fact, such methods aid Satan’s
attack on the church. “13For you, brothers, were called to
freedom. Only don’t turn your freedom into an opportunity to gratify your flesh,
but through love serve one another. 14For the whole Law is summarized
in a single statement: “You must love your neighbor as yourself.” 15But
if you bite and devour one another, be careful that you aren’t destroyed by each
other” (Gal. 5:13-15; NIV).
God challenges all Christians to produce a
genuine love for his fellowman and especially to the household of faith (Gal.
6:10). If we would practice this kind of love, then we could truly work together
in humility by earnestly contending for the faith with no animosity being
displayed (Jude 3). We could stand side by side fighting together for the
Gospel, instead of fighting each other (Phil. 1:27). We would be able to pursue
peace with all brethren and not just the ones who have the same personal
opinions as us we do (Rom. 14:19). Even when dealing with those who are in
opposition to us, the Lord’s bondservant should exercise meekness and a gentle
spirit, giving each other every benefit of the doubt, with a purpose of
instructing, so that people will come to know the truth and turn from the error
of their ways (2 Tim. 2:24-26). We should patiently hope, think, and believe the
best about one another (1 Cor. 13:4-7). To sum it all up, a right relationship
with God leads to right relationships with fellow believers (Rom. 13:8-10).
Such a Christ like attitude being displayed would
put an end to the “shoot first, ask questions later” disposition which some seem
to be obsessed with. We would avoid angry tirades such as outbursts of wrath,
vengeance, or verbal abuse and respond in a more sensible, rational, mature
behavior. James wisely advises us to “…let every man be swift to hear,
slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20for the wrath of man does not produce
the righteousness of God” (James 1:19-20). Let us rise above our
pettiness, our quick tempers, and our burning desires for control. These only
cause us to prematurely accuse our brothers in Christ and leave only a trail of
dissension and turmoil. During Jesus earthly ministry, His strongest admonitions
and severest condemnations were leveled against those who were guilty of this
accusing mentality (Matt.23: 1-39). Why should anyone think that those who
manifest this same attitude toward Christians today are going to receive any
different verdict when they stand before Christ in judgment? (Heb. 13:8)
In these troublesome times that the church is
facing, let us strive toward godliness, but not to forget to add, “brotherly
kindness, and to brotherly kindness love” (2 Pet. 1:7). What we need in
the church today is a clear understanding that obedience to the truth produces
sincere love for God’s people, not a scornful, belligerent, quarrelsome attitude
displayed toward brethren with false accusations as a result. What we need is a
strong dose of Peter’s inspired instruction: “Now that you have made your
souls pure by obeying the truth, you can have true love for your Christian
brothers and sisters. So love each other deeply with all your heart” (1
Pet. 1:22; NCV).