Accusation, false

Scripture expressly forbids making false accusations, but God's people have often been subjected to them and many false accusations were made against Jesus Christ.

False accusation forbidden

Exodus 23:7 See also Exodus 23:1; Leviticus 19:16; Luke 3:14

Stay far away from a false accusation. Do not kill the innocent or the just, for I will not acquit the guilty.

Satan associated with false accusation

Zechariah 3:1 Although taken as a proper name in English, “Satan” is in fact simply the Hebrew word meaning “accuser”. See also Job 1:6–12; Revelation 12:10

Then the angel showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, with Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him.

Examples of false accusation

In the OT

Psalm 41:5–6 See also Genesis 39:7–18; 2 Samuel 10:1–3; 1 Kings 21:7–14; Ezra 4:6–16; Nehemiah 6:5–7; Psalm 35:19–20

My enemies say with malice: “When will he die and be forgotten?” My visitor speaks falsehood; he gathers slander in his heart; he goes out and spreads it abroad.

In the experience of Jesus Christ

Matthew 26:59–61 parallel Mark 14:55–59 See also Matthew 9:34, Matthew 12:24 parallels Mark 3:22, Luke 11:15; Luke 23:2

Now the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were seeking false testimony against Jesus in order to put Him to death. But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward and declared, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”

In the experience of the first Christians

Acts 16:19–21 See also Matthew 5:11–12; Acts 6:11–14

When the girl’s owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities in the marketplace. They brought them to the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews and are throwing our city into turmoil by promoting customs that are unlawful for us Romans to adopt or practice.”