Exodus 20:16 You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. I. MISREPRESENTATION. It is an ingenious method to class an opponent with those whom the world has already condemned as heterodox. It is still another to make his truth responsible for all the folly that unwise minds have added to it. II. INSINUATION. A whisper dropped carelessly in some corner among the combustibles, a look, a shrug of the shoulders, a sneer, a laugh may serve the purpose. Rumour with most minds is presumptive evidence, and they will say with a knowing air, "There must be some fire in so much smoke." III. DETRACTION. If we be unable to find evil in the opinions or actions of another, we can attribute his good to doubtful motives. IV. TALEBEARING. Is there, I pray you, a creature more contemptible than this, who fattens on the griefs of others, and passes day and night in such petty larceny? How few dream of their responsibility in this! We know the power of strychnine or arsenic, but not of a word. What undesigned phrases we drop in conversation, and forget as soon as passed, yet they are never forgotten! What insignificant insects may have a fatal sting! (E. A. Washburn, 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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