Bridges on Proverbs 19:5
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 19:5
 
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5.  A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape. {unpunished: Heb. held innocent}
 
If “a true witness delivereth souls” (Chapter 14:25), a false witness destroyeth them. Fearful guilt and responsibility! reaching, without the atoning sacrifice throughout eternity. Can we wonder that the detection should bring him under certain condemnation? (Deuteronomy 19:16-21.) It is an offense against both tables of the law. The perjurer takes “God's name in vain.” The false witness is a direct transgression against the law of our neighbor. This wickedness does not however come to this height at once. But the habit of speaking lies, the allowance of untruth under the pretense of a good end (Romans 3:8), or only in play, grows to this aggravation.†
In this view a strict attention to truth forms a primary point in a Christian education. The boundary line must never be trifled with. Not even a child can pass it with impunity. It will soon lose its respect, if it be not reverenced at any sacrifice, and under all circumstances. A child must never be suffered to play with a falsehood. Ever press upon him that anything less than truth is a lie. Even if no one is deceived by it, a habit is fostered, of which we cannot tell to what it may grow. “He that is unfaithful in that which is least, is unfaithful also in much.” (Luke 16:10.) The indulgence of a lie soon banishes all fear of an oath. The careless liar, if occasion needs, scruples not to become a false witness. But neither in the higher or lower indulgence will falsehood be forgotten. It may escape detection from man. But it lies open and unveiled before the eye of God. It shall not be unpunished; it shall not escape there. The liar may perhaps have thought or intended no harm. But no palliation is admitted at the bar of God. “All liars shall have their part in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone.” (Revelation 21:8.)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proverbs 14:25
25 ¶ A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies.
 
 
Deuteronomy 19:16-21
16 If a false witness rise up against any man to testify against him that which is wrong; {that...: or, falling away} 17 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; 18 And the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother; 19 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. 20 And those which remain shall hear, and fear, and shall henceforth commit no more any such evil among you. 21 And thine eye shall not pity; but life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.
 
 
Romans 3:8
8 And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.
 
 
Footnote:
Jeremiah 9:3-5. There is much instruction in the wise reply of Solon on first seeing the rude theatricals of Thespis. Asking him, how he dared to tell so many lies before the people, and receiving for answer, that he only did it in play — ‘Yes’ — said the legislator, striking his staff with force into the ground, — ‘But if we begin with telling lies in play, we shall end with telling them in earnest.’
 
 
Jeremiah 9:3-5
3 And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the LORD. 4 Take ye heed every one of his neighbour, and trust ye not in any brother: for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbour will walk with slanders. {neighbour: or, friend} 5 And they will deceive every one his neighbour, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies, and weary themselves to commit iniquity. {deceive: or, mock}
 
 
Luke 16:10
10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
 
 
Revelation 21:8
8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.