Lord’s Day 43
Q112. What is the aim of the ninth commandment?
That I never give false testimony against anyone, twist no one's words, not gossip or slander, nor join in condemning anyone without a hearing or without just cause. Rather, in court and everywhere else, I should avoid lying and deceit of every kind; these are devices the devil himself uses, and they would call down on me God's intense anger. I should love the truth, speak it candidly, and openly acknowledge it. And I should do what I can to guard and advance my neighbor's good name.
Scripture Proofs — King James Version
Psalm 15
“[A Psalm of David.] LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. sweareth to hurt, and changeth not. putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these shall never be moved.”
Proverbs 19:5, 9
“A false witness shall not be unpunished, and speaketh lies shall not escape. A false witness shall not be unpunished, and speaketh lies shall perish.”
Proverbs 21:28
“A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh constantly.”
Leviticus 19:11–12
“Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another. And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I the LORD.”
Proverbs 12:22
“Lying lips abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly his delight.”
Proverbs 13:5
“A righteous hateth lying: but a wicked is loathsome, and cometh to shame.”
John 8:44
“Ye are of father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.”
Revelation 21:8
“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
1 Corinthians 13:6
“Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;”
Ephesians 4:25
“Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.”
1 Peter 3:8–9
“Finally, all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, pitiful, courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.”
1 Peter 4:8
“And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.”
Modernized Commentary — Zacharias Ursinus (1616)
God establishes in this commandment both the preservation of chastity and the sanctity of marriage, and in doing so He authorizes marriage itself. Whenever God forbids something, He simultaneously commands and endorses its opposite. Here, God forbids adultery, which is a direct violation of marital faithfulness. By singling out adultery as the most shocking and degrading of all sins against chastity, He also prohibits and condemns every form of wandering and undisciplined desire, whether found in married or unmarried persons, along with all other sins contrary to chastity, including their causes, occasions, effects, and everything connected to them. On the other side, He commands all the virtues that support and sustain chastity. The reasons for this are as follows:
1. When one thing is specified, everything closely related to it is understood to be included as well. Therefore, when adultery is prohibited as the most extreme and degrading form of lust, all other forms of lust are to be understood as equally forbidden.
2. Where the cause is condemned, the effect is condemned with it; and where the effect is condemned, so is the cause. This means that everything leading up to adultery, as well as everything flowing from it, is forbidden and condemned here.