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Longer Catechism
St Philaret of Moscow, in Blackmore, 1845
Part 3, 11. On the Ninth Commandment
Q. What is forbidden by the ninth commandment?
A. False witness against our neighbour, and all lying.
Q. What is forbidden under the words false witness?
A. 1. False witness in a court of justice; when men bear witness, inform, or complain falsely against any one.
2. False witness out of court, when men slander any one behind his back, or blame him to his face unjustly.
Q. But is it allowable to censure others when they are really to blame?
A. No: the Gospel does not allow us to judge even of the real vices or faults of our neighbours, unless we are called by any special office to do so, for their punishment or amendment.
Judge not, that ye be not judged. Mat. vii. 1.
Q. Are not such lies allowable, as involve no purpose of hurting our neighbour?
A. No: for they are inconsistent with love and respect for our neighbour, and unworthy of a man, much more of a Christian, who has been created for truth and love.
Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Eph. iv. 25.
Q. If we would avoid sins against the ninth commandment, what rule must we follow?
A. We must bridle our tongue. He that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips, that they speak no guile. 1 Pet. iii. 10. If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain. James i. 26.