| Question | What is forbidden in the ninth commandment? |
|---|---|
| Answer | The ninth commandment forbiddeth whatsoever is prejudicial to the truth, or injurious to our own or our neighbour’s good name. 1 |
The Baptist Catechism Set to Music
Benjamin Beddome’s Exposition
Is lying a great sin?
Yes.
Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord,
Proverbs 12:22
Is it a sin that makes us like the devil?
Yes.
For when he speaketh a lie he speaketh of his own,
John 8:44
Is it an unprofitable sin?
Yes.
The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death,
Proverbs 21:6
Is it a sin that will be detected?
Yes.
For a lying tongue is but fora moment,
Proverbs 12:19
And severely punished?
Yes.
For without are dogs, and whoso loveth and maketh a lie,
Revelation 22:15
Should we therefore hate it?
Yes.
I abhor lying,
Psalm 119:163
And pray against it?
Yes.
Remove from me the way of lying,
Psalm 119:29
May we tell lies to make sport?
No.
They make the king glad with their wickedness, and the princes with their lies,
Hosea 7:3
Or to excuse a fault?
No.
As Gehazi, who said, thy servant went no whither,
2 Kings 5:25
Or with an intention to do good?
No.
We must not do evil that good may come,
Romans 3:8
Is detraction and slander a sin?
Yes.
Thou sittest and slanderest thine own mother’s
Psalm 50:20
But may we not return slander for slander?
No.
Render not railing for railing,
1 Peter 3:9
Is flattery also a sin?
Yes.
They speak vanity every one with his neighbour, with flattering lips and a double heart do they speak,
Psalm 12:2
Is self detraction a sin?
Yes.
There is that maketh himself poor and yet hath great riches,
Proverbs 13:7
And self-flattery?
Yes.
There is that maketh himself rich, and yet hath nothing,
Proverbs 13:7
Doth this commandment forbid perjury?
Yes.
I will be a swift witness against false swearers,
Malachi 3:5
And subornation?
Yes.
Thus the Jews set up false witnesses against Stephen,
Acts 6:11, 13
And backbiting and talebearing?
Yes.
Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people,
Leviticus 19:16
And all censorious and uncharitable reflections?
Yes.
For he that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaks evil of the law, and judgeth the law,
James 4:11
The Westminster Larger Catechism
| Question | What are the sins forbidden in the ninth commandment? |
|---|---|
| Answer | The sins forbidden in the ninth commandment are, all prejudicing the truth, and the good name of our neighbors, as well as our own, 1 especially in public judicature; 2 giving false evidence, 3 suborning false witnesses, 4 wittingly appearing and pleading for an evil cause, outfacing and overbearing the truth; 5 passing unjust sentence, 6 calling evil good, and good evil; rewarding the wicked according to the work of the righteous, and the righteous according to the work of the wicked; 7 forgery, 8 concealing the truth, undue silence in a just cause, 9 and holding our peace when iniquity calleth for either a reproof from ourselves, 10 or complaint to others; 11 speaking the truth unseasonably, 12 or maliciously to a wrong end, 13 or perverting it to a wrong meaning, 14 or in doubtful and equivocal expressions, to the prejudice of truth or justice; 15 speaking untruth, 16 lying, 17 slandering, 18 backbiting, 19 detracting, 20 tale bearing, 21 whispering, 22 scoffing, 23 reviling, 24 rash, 25 harsh, 26 and partial censuring; 27 misconstructing intentions, words, and actions; 28 flattering, 29 vainglorious boasting, 30 thinking or speaking too highly or too meanly of ourselves or others; 31 denying the gifts and graces of God; 32 aggravating smaller faults; 33 hiding, excusing, or extenuating of sins, when called to a free confession; 34 unnecessary discovering of infirmities; 35 raising false rumors, 36 receiving and countenancing evil reports, 37 and stopping our ears against just defense; 38 evil suspicion; 39 envying or grieving at the deserved credit of any, 40 endeavoring or desiring to impair it, 41 rejoicing in their disgrace and infamy; 42 scornful contempt, 43 fond admiration; 44 breach of lawful promises; 45 neglecting such things as are of good report, 46 and practicing, or not avoiding ourselves, or not hindering: What we can in others, such things as procure an ill name. |