Deuteronomy 5:20 Neither shall you bear false witness against your neighbor. I. AS FAR AS WE CAN WE MUST PRESERVE A GOOD OPINION OF OUR NEIGHBOUR IN OUR HEARTS. And therefore these three things fall evidently under the censure of this commandment. 1. A censorious disposition. 2. Rash judging. 3. A willingness to hear of the fault of others. Which three are so connected together that there is no dividing them. II. The other duty required by this commandment is, THAT ACCORDING TO OUR POWER WE DO MAINTAIN HIS CHARACTER IN THE WORLD. And so these three other things fall also under the censure of this commandment. 1. Going about to lessen the real attainments of our neighbour, which is detraction. 2. Laying a charge against him that does not belong to him, which is slander. 3. Discovering his real faults needlessly, which is evil speaking. III. From this account YOU MAY SEE WHAT AN ENEMY YOUR TONGUE IS TO YOUR SOUL, and what a perverse nature there is within you to set on fire your tongue. 1. Above all things in the world pray for a new heart. The chief transgressions of this commandment are within; and you know also it is out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. 2. Enjoin this upon yourself, never to speak of the faults of others unless absolutely obliged to it. (S. Walker, B. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour.WEB: "Neither shall you give false testimony against your neighbor. |
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