Exodus 20:16 You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. I. This Commandment is A RECOGNITION OF THOSE TRIBUNALS WHICH ARE NECESSARY TO THE PEACE AND TO THE VERY EXISTENCE OF THE STATE. II. In this Commandment there is A DIVINE RECOGNITION OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE MORAL JUDGMENTS WHICH MEN PRONOUNCE ON EACH OTHER: the judgments which individual men form of other men as the result of the testimony to which they have listened, whether it was true or false; the judgments which large classes of men or whole communities form of individuals, and which constitute what we call the opinion of society concerning them. III. MANY WAYS MIGHT BE MENTIONED IN WHICH WE MAY AVOID BEARING FALSE WITNESS AGAINST OUR NEIGHBOUR. 1. We should try to form a true and just judgment of other people before we say anything against them. 2. We have no right to give our mere inferences from what we know about the conduct and principles of others as though they were facts. 3. We have no right to spread an injurious report merely because somebody brought it to us. (R. W. Dale, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.WEB: "You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. |
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