The Doctrinal Heading for this section of questions (Q63-81) is The Means of Grace: The Commandments: The Second Table. (see Harmony Index)
WSC Q78. What is forbidden in the ninth commandment?
“Don’t confuse me with the facts. My mind is made up.” – That is sometimes said in jest, but like most humor, there is an element of truth to be found. When we make a personal assessment of a situation, we often let our preconceived ideas get in the way of understanding things as they really are.
In Question #78, our fathers used the word “prejudicial” in describing what is forbidden in the ninth commandment. The “Westminster Men” selected their words carefully, and this word aptly describes the all too prevalent attitude of sinful bias and preconceived judgments that are detrimental to the truth and to the good reputations of others. Bias in and of itself is not necessarily sinful. But when it clouds or unduly influences right judgment, then we sinfully fail to be champions of the truth; we fail to serve him who upholds and is truth as an infinite, eternal, and unchangeable attribute.
Again, we must ask our Heavenly Father to make us lovers of truth, rather than those who suppress the truth in unrighteousness (Rom. 1:18)
*************************************************************
Westminster Shorter Catechism Q78
Illustrations by John Whitecross – #1 of 8: (Note: This rather long, but worth the read. jlg) ‘It was but the other night,’ says a godly gentleman, ‘that I wandered across the bleak and barren mountains, at the foot of which stands the little cottage where I was born; and, O delightful thought, born again! Yes, it was at the humble spot that I first tasted the bitter cup of true repentance, and drank of the spring of peace, purity, and joy; the remembrance of which often fills my eyes with tears, and my heart with rapture. Seeing a cottage at a distance, I walked up to it, entered, and told the inmates the cause of my being there. I was most kindly received. Seven children were seated around the homely board; yet, sadness seemed to pervade the whole circle. When I asked the cause, the mother informed me that one of the children had been telling a falsehood; upon this a little girl was instantly covered with blushes, and a tear started from her eye. “Robert,” said the father, “bring the Bible, and show your sister who it is she has offended.” The little boy, younger than herself, read the ninth commandment, and the first eleven verses of the fifth chapter of the Acts. This being done, every member of the family brought a proof from Scripture of the sin and danger of lying. The father, then, with much affection, showed them that this was as offensive to God now, as it was when he struck Ananias and Sapphira dead; and that it was of the Lord’s mercies we were not consumed. He then sung the 51st psalm, read a portion of the Word of God, frequently making pious and solemn observations as he went along, and afterwards prayed with his children most devoutly. On rising from prayer the offending girl wept bitterly. She approached her father with pensive looks, begged him to forgive the offence, and withdrew, that she might pray alone to God for His forgiveness. I was of course highly gratified. I returned home under the deep impression of the awfulness of the sin of lying, and could not help wishing that all parents would correct their children in a similar way, whenever they offended in a similar manner.’
John Whitecross – 1828
********************
WSC Q78. What is forbidden in the ninth commandment?
The ninth commandment forbiddeth whatsoever is prejudicial to truth, or injurious to our own, or our neighbour’s, good name[a].
[a] Lev. 19:16; Ps. 15:3; Prov. 6:16-19; Luke 3:14
Question #78 asks what the ninth commandment forbids and answers that the ninth commandment forbids anything that gets in the way of the truth or injures anyone’s reputation.
Comments and considerations:
The previous question spoke to the ninth commandment’s requirement to maintain and promote truth. Here we see what is forbidden. The ninth commandment is rooted in bearing witness to truth. We are to give due consideration to whatever body of evidence is present in support of the truth; we must not prejudge a situation. As James puts it, “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath” (James 1:19). In our modern society, men and women do just the opposite! Prov. 15:28 states rightly, “The heart of the righteous studies how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil.” But righteousness is certainly not the norm in our daily discourse in truth-bearing. This catechism answer cites Prov. 6:16-19, which we looked at in the previous study also; the Lord hates the sinful use of the tongue to lie and to destroy reputations; such speech reveals bad character and ungodly judgment.
The word prejudicial means more than simply pre-judging. The word carries a distinctive definition, a stigma or stain. The dictionaries cast it in a negative light as “an unfavorable opinion or feeling formed beforehand or without knowledge, thought, or reason.” Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines prejudicial as “hurtful; mischievous; injurious; disadvantageous; detrimental; tending to obstruct or impair justice and good judgment.” It would seem that there is nothing good that comes from being prejudicial; and thus, being prejudicial to truth is a double negative. Our God is “a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth” (WSC Q4). As his images-bearers, we are to be lovers of the truth. See how he commands in Leviticus, “You shall not go about as a talebearer among your people; nor shall you take a stand against the life of your neighbor: I am the LORD” (Lev. 19:16). Also Luke records, “Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, ‘And what shall we do?’ So he said to them, ‘Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely’” (Luke 3:14).
As always, there is much to ponder here. Much evil flows from an uncontrolled tongue, from thoughtless and unreasoning prejudice. “In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise” (Prov. 10:19). There are many more wise proverbs and other Scripture references that instruct us about our speech. Lord, give us a teachable and sanctified heart in keeping the ninth commandment with joy and love for you and our neighbor!
Training Hearts and Teaching Minds Questions:
1) Read Eph. 14:21-25. God only speaks what is true. God created us to be righteous and holy. He created us to speak and to love the truth as he does. Considering that:
a) What was Adam’s first really big mistake when he encountered Satan’s temptation to sin? (Starr Meade refers to this as actual sin itself.)
b) As a result, all of mankind is born with what attitude regarding truth?
c) How does God purpose to change and redirect our heart attitude regarding truth?
2) An attribute of God is truth. As God’s children by faith and obedience, what should be our attitude concerning truth? Read Eph. 5:8-11?
3) In our love and desire for truth, where should our actions and attitudes for the truth begin? Read Matt. 7:3-5 and Luke 18:9-14.
Harmony of the Standards: WSC Q78and WLC 145
WSC Q78. What is forbidden in the ninth commandment?
A. The ninth commandment forbiddeth whatsoever is prejudicial to truth, or injurious to our own, or our neighbour’s, good name[a].
[a] Lev. 19:16; Ps. 15:3; Prov. 6:16-19; Luke 3:14
WLC Q145. What are the sins forbidden in the ninth commandment?
A. The sins forbidden in the ninth commandment are, all prejudicing the truth, and the good name of our neighbours, as well as our own[a], especially in public judicature[b]; giving false evidence[c], suborning false witnesses[d], wittingly appearing and pleading for an evil cause, outfacing and overbearing the truth[e]; passing unjust sentence[f], 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[g]; forgery[h], concealing the truth, undue silence in a just cause[i], and holding our peace when iniquity calleth for either a reproof from ourselves[j], or complaint to others[k]; speaking the truth unseasonably[l], or maliciously to a wrong end[m], or perverting it to a wrong meaning[n], or in doubtful and equivocal expressions, to the prejudice of truth or justice[o]; speaking untruth[p], lying[q], slandering[r], backbiting[s], detracting[t], tale bearing[u], whispering[v], scoffing[w], reviling[x], rash[y], harsh[z], and partial censuring[aa]; misconstruing intentions, words, and actions[bb]; flattering[cc], vain-glorious boasting[dd]; thinking or speaking too highly or too meanly of ourselves or others[ee]; denying the gifts and graces of God[ff]; aggravating smaller faults[gg]; hiding, excusing, or extenuating of sins, when called to a free confession[hh]; unnecessary discovering of infirmities[ii]; raising false rumors[jj], receiving and countenancing evil reports[kk], and stopping our ears against just defense[ll]; evil suspicion[mm]; envying or grieving at the deserved credit of any[nn], endeavoring or desiring to impair it[oo], rejoicing in their disgrace and infamy[pp]; scornful contempt[qq], fond admiration[rr]; breach of lawful promises[ss]; neglecting such things as are of good report[tt], and practicing, or not avoiding ourselves, or not hindering what we can in others, such things as procure an ill name[uu].
[a] 1Sam. 17:28; 2Sam. 16:3; 1:9-10, 15-16
[b] Lev. 19:15; Hab. 1:4
[c] Prov. 19:5; 6:16, 19
[d] Acts 6:13
[e] Jer. 9:3, 5; Acts 24:2, 5; Ps. 12:3-4; 52:1-4
[f] Prov. 17:15; 1Kng. 21:9-14
[g] Isa. 5:23
[h] Ps. 119:69; Luke 19:8; 16:5-7
[i] Lev. 5:1; Deut. 13:8; Acts 5:3, 8-9; 2Tim. 4-6
[j] 1Kng. 1:6; Lev. 19:17
[k] Isa. 59:4
[l] Prov. 29:11
[m] 1Sam. 22:9-10; Ps. 52:1-5
[n] Ps. 56:5; John 2:19; Mat. 26:60-61
[o] Gen. 3:5; 26:7, 9
[p] Isa. 59:13
[q] Lev. 19:11; Col. 3:9
[r] Ps. 50:20
[s] Ps. 15:3
[t] Jam. 4:11; Jer. 38:4
[u] Lev. 19:16
[v] Rom. 1:29-30
[w] Gen. 21:9; Gal. 4:29
[x] 1Cor. 6:10
[y] Mat. 7:1
[z] Acts 28:4
[aa] Gen. 38:24; Rom. 2:1
[bb] Neh. 6:6-8; Rom. 3:8; Ps. 69:10; 1Sam. 1:13-15; 2Sam. 10:3
[cc] Ps. 12:2-3
[dd] 2Tim. 3:2
[ee] Luke 18:9, 11; Rom. 12:16; 1Cor. 4:6; Acts 12:22; Exod. 4:10-14
[ff] Job 27:5-6; 4:6
[gg] Mat. 7:3-5
[hh] Prov. 28:13; 30:20; Gen. 3:12-13; Jer. 2:35; 2Kng. 5:25; Gen. 4:9
[ii] Gen. 9:22; Prov. 25:9-10
[jj] Exod. 23:1
[kk] Prov. 29:12
[ll] Acts 7:56-57; Job 31:13-14
[mm] 1Cor. 13:5; 1Tim. 6:4
[nn] Num. 11:29; Mat. 21:15
[oo] Ezra 4:12-13
[pp] Jer. 48:27
[qq] Ps. 35:15-16, 21; Mat. 27:28-29
[rr] Jude 16; Acts 12:22
[ss] Rom. 1:31; 2Tim. 3:3
[tt] 1Sam. 2:24
[uu] 2Sam. 13:12-13; Prov. 5:8-9; 6:33
Question(s) for further study:
The Larger Catechisms expands extensively upon the Shorter, our fathers providing how many sins forbidden the ninth commandment? Does this not give cause to pause in considering the breadth and depth of James’ sober instruction “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath” (James 1:19), especially in view of the rancor so prevalent in our current society and cultural?
