Exodus 20:16

THE NINTH COMMANDMENT, Exodus 20:16.

16. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour The law which guards the property of a man is appropriately followed by one which guards his good name . it concerns the words rather than deeds or acts of men . The most direct and flagrant example is that of one who swears to a known falsehood before a judicial tribunal . This is perjury, and is properly punishable as a great crime . Comp . Deuteronomy 19:16-19. But this law also comprehends such whispering, slandering, backbiting, lying, and evil speaking generally as is contemplated in Leviticus 19:16: “Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people;” also Exodus 20:11 of the same chapter: “Ye shall not lie one to another . ” “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord . ” Proverbs 12:22. It is a high and holy law which requires us “to speak evil of no man,” (Titus 3:2,) and to put away from us “all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, with all malice . ” Ephesians 4:31. Comp . also James 4:11. Only when it is necessary to defend innocence and promote the public good should one bear true testimony against his fellow-man to blight his character and expose his wrong; but never should one, at any place or under any circumstances, utter a false word against him. Jehovah abhors the deceitful man as he does those who are guilty of capital crime. Psalms 5:6.