Romans 1:29-31 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder… These two words agree that they both wound the fame of our neighbour, and they both do it behind his back or in his absence. But they differ — 1. In that whispering doth it secretly and closely, but backbiting openly. 2. Whispering tendeth to breed strife among our friends, but backbiting to our general disgrace before the world. The one seeketh to deprive us of the goodwill of our friends, the other to destroy our service. They are often conjoined (2 Corinthians 12:20). I. WHAT IS DETRACTION? 1. The nature of it in general. It is an unjust violation of another's reputation. God, that hath bidden me to love my neighbour as myself, doth therein bid me to be tender not only of his person and goods, but of his good name. Therefore certainly this is — (1) A sin against God, who hath forbidden us to bear false witness against our neighbour, and to speak evil of others without a cause (Ephesians 4:31); (2) A wrong to man because it robbeth him of his good name, which is so deservedly esteemed by all that would do anything for God in the world (Proverbs 22:1; Ecclesiastes 7:1). (3) The causes it proceedeth from are — (a) Malice and ill-will, which prompteth us to speak falsely of others, so to make them odious, or do them wrong or hurt. Now, to hate our brother is inconsistent with that charity which the love of Christ should beget in us (1 Peter 4:8; 2 Peter 1:7); (b) Uncharitable credulity, whereby men easily believe a false report, and so convey it to others (Jeremiah 20:10); (c) Rashness and unruliness of tongue (James 1:26). Possibly it may not come from downright malice, but (Proverbs 11:13) whisperers must be talking, and be it true or false, out it comes; (d) Passion for our different interests and opinions. Bitter envying (James 3:14) hath made mad work in the world as to strifes, and confusions, and quarrels, and bloodsheds, and persecutions. But usually it venteth itself in evil-speaking (2 Corinthians 12:20). 2. The kinds of it are two in the text. (1) Whispering, which is privy defamation of our brother. Now this is a great sin — (a) Because it is here reckoned among those which reigned among the heathen, and God hath expressly forbidden to His people (Leviticus 19:16; Jeremiah 11:4). (b) It is against natural equity, because they do that to others which they would not have done to themselves (Matthew 7:2). (c) It is a cause of much mischief in the world, as — Grief to the party wronged (Proverbs 18:8); much debate and strife (Proverbs 26:20; Proverbs 16:28; Proverbs 6:19); sometimes even the destruction of another's life (Ezekiel 22:9; 1 Samuel 22:9). But here ariseth a question, whether all private complaints and informations against others come under the name of whispering? I answer — No, with these cautions — (i) If the party be duly admonished; for, before we go any further, the rule is (Matthew 18:15). (ii) If it be made to such as have power to redress the fault by the most discreet and gentle means (Genesis 37:2). (iii) If the complainer seeketh nothing but the amendment of the party. (iv) If he grieve that he hath cause to complain, and pray for his conversion. 3. Backbiting is a more public speaking evil of our absent brother, to the impairing of his credit. Now, this may be done — (1) With respect to the good things found in him. There are four degrees in this: (a) When we deny them. This is not only to wrong our neighbour, but to rob God of His own praise. (b) When we lessen them. To extenuate and clip another's due praise is envy, but in honour to prefer them above ourselves is charity and humility (Philippians 2:3; Romans 12:10). (c) When we but deprave them by supposing a sinister intention (Job 1:9). (d) When we enviously suppress them. (2) With respect to evil supposed to be committed by them. (a) When we publish their secret slips, which in charity we ought to conceal (Proverbs 11:13). (b) When, in relating any evil action of another, we use harder terms than are required, and make beams of motes, and mountains of mole hills. We should lessen sins all that we can (Acts 3:17). II. THE HEINOUSNESS OF THE SIN. 1. In general, that is evident from what is said already. I shall urge two arguments more. (1) That men shall be called to an account for these sins as well as others (Jude 1:15; 1 Peter 4:4, 5). (2) It is the property of a citizen of Zion not to be given to backbiting (Psalm 15:3). 2. More particularly, it is the more heinous. (1) From the person against whom it is committed. As suppose the godly and irreprovable for the main, who by their life and conversation have the best right to honour and esteem (Psalm 64:3; Numbers 12:8; 1 Timothy 3:7). Against these it is not only unjust, but noxious and hurtful to God's service. (2) From the persons before whom the slander is brought; so that they are deprived not only of private friendships, but the favour and countenance of these under whose protection they have their life and service (Esther 3:8; Psalm 52:1). (3) From the end of it. Some men have no direct intention of mischief, but are given to tattling. It is a great sin in them, and an unprofitable waste of time; but it is a greater in those that make it their business to disgrace others or sow discord. (4) From the effect or great hurt that followeth, be it loss of estate, as in the case of Mephibosheth, or a general trouble and persecution on the people of God. When their good names are buried their persons cannot long subsist afterward with any degree of service.Conclusion: Note — 1. How good natured Christianity is, and befriendeth human societies; it condemneth not only sins against God, but sins against our neighbour (Philippians 4:8). 2. That we should not speak evil of others behind their backs, but tell them their faults plainly in love and wisdom, nor encourage others in this sin (Proverbs 25:23). (T. Manton, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, |
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