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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:
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