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Today we continued study of the Statutes relating to the 6th Commandment, "Thou shalt not kill".
We continued our study of Statutes 456-468. Today we looked at Statutes relating to shedding innocent blood and breaking generational curses. We also examined the concept of Gossip, what it is and what it isn't, Scripturally.
A “talebearer” is a gossiper—one who bears
(carries, as in a courier) tales or stories meant to harm someone’s reputation.
Personal information, secrets, and even outright fabrications (lies) may be
involved. Throughout the Book of Proverbs, Yahweh repeatedly spoke of
talebearing or gossiping in a negative light:
·
Proverbs 11:13 - “A talebearer
revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.”
·
Proverbs 18:8 - “The words of a
talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the
belly.”
·
Proverbs 20:19 - “He that goeth
about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that
flattereth with his lips.”
·
Proverbs 26:20 - “Where no wood is,
there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.”
·
Proverbs 26:22 - “The words of a
talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the
belly.”
A cross-reference to Leviticus 19:16 is Exodus 20:16, the
Ninth Commandment: “Thou shalt not bear false witness
against thy neighbour” (see also Deuteronomy 5:20).
While this can be broadly interpreted as “do not lie,” a
more specific application is “do not lie during court
proceedings.” One example of this sin is how two false
witnesses—whom idolatrous Queen Jezebel conscripted—lied about Naboth for the
express purpose of condemning him to death so King Ahab could take possession
of Naboth’s coveted vineyard (1 Kings 21:1-29).
The worst case, however, involved two false witnesses
fabricating testimony during Yahshua’s trial to justify putting Him to death
(Matthew 26:57-68; Mark 14:53-65; cf. Luke 23:1-5; John 18:28-32).
Let us go back to Leviticus 19:16: “Thou
shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou
stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I Am Yahweh.”
The “blood” of the
neighbor being shed is certainly literal, but we can also see a figurative
aspect too. “Character assassination” is not the actual taking of a physical
life, but rather the destruction of one’s reputation. Likewise, false testimony
in court may not lead to the death of the defendant, but he or she may lose his
societal status because of slander. If someone was guilty, any witnesses to the
crime were to come into the courtroom to speak the truth, the whole truth, and
nothing but the truth. Speaking the truth, for the purpose of correction
and/or righteous Judgment is godly.
However, if all the witnesses had to contribute to the
case was hearsay, gossip, rumors; they were to keep their mouths shut and their
bodies out of the court proceedings! Otherwise, the Law of Moses would be
broken—and, in the case of capital punishment, an innocent life lost. Here,
guiltless blood would literally be shed. At the very least, someone’s good name
would be tarnished.
According to Scripture, gossip is the sin of speaking
lies and evil of God’s people, when they are innocent. It is also evil - and a
form of gossip – to broadcast a fellow believer’s failings, for which they have
repented! When a sin has been repented of, in the Eyes of Yahweh, it is over.
As Heaven amply demonstrated in the case of David (after Bathsheba), God’s
anointed people may continue in their Heaven-appointed positions, even after a
terrible fall into sin, so long as they truly repent. Yahweh punishes,
appropriately. But the gossip and judgmental rebellion of Absalom and
Ahithophel (Bathsheba’s grandfather), were not righteous, nor sanctioned of
Heaven.
When a matter is confessed and repented of, it is to be cast
away and never thrown up in the believer’s face again. Only Satan, the accuser
of the brethren, continues to dredge up past failings that are covered under
Messiah’s Blood. Dredging up someone’s repentance-covered past is as much a
form of gossip as is an outright slanderous lie.
But, speaking the sins of the unrepentant wicked is not
gossip. This is something which is repeatedly done in Scripture… consider the following short video synopsis
of some of what the Bible says of the most wicked people in the Bible: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooewnwyplXo
Telling the Truth for the purpose of warning the Body of
Christ, and/or calling the wicked to repentance is not gossip, and is not
Torah-breaking. In fact, it is a vital part of resisting evil. For evil
prospers when good men are silent, just as this Statute also teaches.
Romans 12:21 tells us clearly: “Do not
be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” We must speak about evil in
order to act against it – and also, to protect others in the Body of Messiah
against it.
Ephesians 5:11 “Take no part in the worthless
pleasures of evil and darkness, but instead, rebuke and expose them.”
The completed worksheets are available to read-print at the following link:
Upcoming Class Schedule:
Monday, December 9 - Torah Class will meet, as scheduled, live on Zoom.
Wednesday, December 11 - Torah Class will meet, as scheduled, live on Zoom.
Monday, December 16 - Torah Class will meet, as scheduled, live on Zoom.
Wednesday, December 18 - Torah Class will meet, as scheduled, live on Zoom.
WINTER BREAK, December 22 - January 5 - There will be no classes during these two weeks, as follows:
- December 23 - No Classes
- December 25 - No Classes
- December 30 - No Classes
- January 1 - No Classes
Monday, January 6 - Torah Class will resume and will meet, as scheduled, live on Zoom.
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