"A false witness who utters lies, and one who spreads strife among brothers"
This is the final piece in the list of six things – yeah seven – that the Lord finds to be an abomination.
The sixth thing that the Lord hates is a false witness who utters lies.
We, as a society, do not tend to see this as a big deal; but God says that it is a big deal. It strikes at the foundation of a free and secure society to have people bear false witness against their neighbors.
Whatever God says is important is different from what your culture says is important. God is right and the culture is wrong. We, as a culture, continue to try and slide away from God's clear instruction about what should be allowed and what should be penalized. Christians must realize that they have a prior commitment to Scripture even over what their birth culture tells them. We need to learn what God says and reconfigure our values and priorities to coincide with His views.
This is the Hebrew word ed, which means witness, evidence. It is preceded by the Hebrew word sheqer, which means deception, disappointment, falsehood. Do not underestimate the significance of God's hatred of liars. You can't have an intimate relationship if it is not built on trust.
Do not follow the easy, selfish method of getting ahead: lying.
The seventh thing that is an abomination to the Lord in human conduct is spreading strife among brothers.
spreads
This is the Hebrew word shalach, which means to send. The translators used the word spreadto cover the idea of sending strife out to others.
strife
This is the Hebrew word medan, which means strife.
Notice that he does say that strife can be spread by some people. There are people who specialize in getting others stirred up rather than getting people to cooperate and get along. Do not become the person who uses their life to get people to hate each other, to divide, to be stirred up against each other.
brothers
This is the Hebrew word ach, which means brother, brethren, countrymen, kinsman. Brothers are those who should get along and not be mixed up in disagreement and strife.
Until tomorrow,
Gil Stieglitz