BCL Devotional: Loving the Truth — Exodus 20:16

August 15, 2026/BCL/
Photo Credit: Aedrian on Unsplash

Photo Credit: Aedrian on Unsplash

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Each BCL Devotional includes a Bible passage, an encouraging quotation, and three practical steps to help believers reflect on, remember, and rejoice in God’s love in Christ.

Bible Passage

“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” (Exodus 20:16)

Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. (Ephesians 4:25)

Quote

Q. What is required in the ninth commandment?

A. I must not give false testimony against anyone, twist no one’s words, not gossip or slander, nor condemn or join in condemning anyone rashly and unheard. Rather, I must avoid all lying and deceit as the devil’s own works, under penalty of God’s heavy wrath. In court and everywhere else, I must love the truth, speak and confess it honestly, and do what I can to defend and promote my neighbour’s honour and reputation. — Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A 112.

Steps to Take

Reflect: In the Ninth Commandment God commands us not to bear false witness against our neighbor. This commandment also includes avoiding all lying and deceit, loving the truth, and upholding our neighbor’s honor and reputation.

Remember: The essence of the Ninth Commandment is loving the truth and respecting our neighbor. It isn’t enough just to avoid lying about our neighbor. God commands us to love the truth and to be honorable in all our words. This includes speaking the truth out of love for God and our neighbor and promoting our neighbor’s well-being. To remain silent when our neighbor is being slandered is a failure to keep the second greatest commandment of loving our neighbor as ourselves. When we tell “white lies” because we think deception is better for another person than the truth, we are not respecting God or our neighbor. When we are tempted to gossip about or slander someone, we need to check our hearts and ask ourselves, “How can I best love my neighbor with the words I speak?”

Rejoice: Truth is an attribute of God, and we are called to reflect the character of our Creator. Christians are to hold God’s truth as a precious treasure and guard it from all assailants. Jesus uses the word truth to describe himself:

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32)

In an age where people spin the truth to gain an advantage over their neighbor, believers need to remember that their lives are in God’s good hands. We don’t need to lie, deceive, or scheme to get what we want. God will give his children all they need, and he is our good and loving heavenly Father. May we love the truth, for in doing so we love our Savior.

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Essential Truths of the Christian Faith by R. C. Sproul