84 – Eighth Commandment
EIGHTH COMMANDMENT
§ 84. The Law condemns every one who violates the truth by maliciously thinking1 or uttering2 what he does not know to be true or knows to be untrue, or pretending to be, to do or to intend what in fact he is not, or does not do or intend;3 by willfully breaking lawful promises,4 deceitfully withholding or concealing the truth,5 or revealing what should remain concealed;6 by slandering a fellow-man,7 or neglecting duly to protect or defend his good name.8
1. The Law condemns every one who violates the truth by maliciously thinking
Zechariah 8:17 And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbor.
Matthew 9:4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?
I Corinthians 13:7 Charity beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
2. or uttering
Exodus 23:1 Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.
Proverbs 12:22 Lying lips are abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are His delight.
Proverbs 19:5 A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.
Ephesians 4:25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor: for we are members one of another.
3. what he does not know to be true or knows to be untrue, or pretending to be, to do or to intend what in fact he is not, or does not do or intend;
Proverbs 29:5 A man that flattereth his neighbor spreadeth a net for his feet.
Psalm 5:6,9 Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the Lord will abhor the bloody and deceitful man. (9) For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.
Matthew 23:14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
Matthew 24:51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Acts 5:2–3 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
4. by willfully breaking lawful promises
Ecclesiastes 5:4 Pay that which thou hast vowed.
5. deceitfully withholding or concealing the truth,
Acts 5:2–3. See above sub 3.
Proverbs 31:8–9 Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
6. or revealing what should remain concealed;
Proverbs 11:13 A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.
Proverbs 20:19 He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
7. by slandering a fellow-man,
James 4:11 Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the Law, and judgeth the Law: but if thou judge the Law, thou art not a doer of the Law, but a judge.
Psalm 50:19–22 Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit. Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother’s son. These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes. Now, consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.
8. or neglecting duly to protect or defend his good name.
Proverbs 31:8–9. See above sub 5.
I Peter 4:8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves; for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.