Date: Thu, 27 Apr 1995 10:38:30 +0100
Reply-To: t.benschop@pobox.ruu.nl
Sender: Christian explanation of the Scriptures to Israel
From: Teus Benschop
Subject: Catechism, 14
Q: Which is the ninth commandment?
A: The ninth commandment is, "Thou shalt not bear false witness against
thy neighbour".
This involves, in plain language, you shall not lie.
In the previous commandments, the Lord has cared for the life, the
chastity and the outward goods of the man. But now--because "a good name
is rather to be chosen than great riches," (Proverbs 22:1) and also
"better than precious ointment, (Ecclesiastes 7:1)--He cares for our good
name, that it may be preserved. And, having forbidden in the previous
commandments, that we stick out our hands to harm our neighbour in his
life or goods, and that we not defile the people with uncleanness, He now
forbids, that we not defile our neighbour with the tongue. That thing,
which, though little, is like a fire, yes, a world of iniquity, an unruly
evil, full of deadly poison, James 3:6,8. As in all commandments, some
things are forbidden, and some are required.
Q: What is required in the ninth commandment?
A: The ninth commandment requireth the maintaining and promoting of truth
between man and man, and of our own and our neighbour's good name,
especially in witness-bearing.
What does this commandment require? First, the maintaining of truth in
the world. We have to speak the truth and to suppress lies. We have to be
true, and upright, and to suppress the hypocrisy. "Speak ye every man the
truth to his neighbour." (Zechariah 8:16) Besides maintaining the truth,
we also must promote it. This is more difficult. Where the truth lies
under, we must help it, and bring it to the light. When we see some
falsehood, and it is in our power to correct it, and we do nothing
against it, we sin. Not through our deeds, but through our negligence. We
ought to promote truth. This requires work, not sloth.
Besides maintaining truth, and promoting it, we also must maintain and
promote the good name of ourselves and the other people. We may not bear
false witness against ourselves. That means, we may not give offense. We
also must avoid the appearance of evil. When we do something that is good
in itself, but that can give offense to others, we must refrain from
that, lest we bear false witness against ourselves. "Demetrius hath good
report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record;
and ye know that our record is true." (3 John 1:12) Likewise is it
forbidden to gossip about others, and to listen to such gossips. And,
because we must also promote the good name of others, when we come in
company with others, and some are speaking evil of people, we must
suppress it, saying that they sin against the ninth commandment. When we
let it go, we sin, for we did not promote the good name of our neighbour.
Especially in witness-bearing, we ought to speak the truth. In the
court of justice, especially there, lies are forbidden. Wherefore often
the witness must swear, that he speaks the truth. "A faithful witness
will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies." (Proverbs 14:5)
Q: What is forbidden in the ninth commandment?
A: The ninth commandment forbiddeth whatsoever is prejudicial to truth,
or injurious to our own or our neighbour's good name.
It is forbidden to use deceit with our tongues; to have the poison of
asps under our lips; to have our mouth full of cursing and bitterness; to
be unfaithful in our speaking; to flatter with our tongue; to be full of
hypocrisy; to be a liar; to speak out proud things; to rule the world by
a deceiving tongue; to make our tongue a sharp sword, or like spears and
arrows, shooting on the people; to prepare lies at night, and to speak
them our by day; to walk with slanders; to speak falsely of peace where
is not; to make our tongue like a fire, putting all around us in flames;
to have sharpened our tongues like a serpent; to have our mouth full of
deceit, fraud, mischief and vanity; to love cursing and gossiping. These
things, and much more, like our depraved nature can bring forth, are
forbidden.
Taking up reproach against our neighbour is forbidden. We, too often,
listen to such things. We like it to read scandalous things in the
newspapers, magazines, and where not. These things conflict with
sincerity, and ought not to be so, reader.
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Chr-Exp, a Christian explanation of the Tanach and the New Testament
Editor: Teus Benschop - t.benschop@pobox.ruu.nl
No copyrights on this publication
Institution Practical Bible-education, the Netherlands
End of Catechism, 14
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file: /pub./resources/text/ipb-e/cate: cat-014.txt
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