Princeton Presbyterian Church (EPC) Sermon # 1751
October 11, 2026
Exodus 20.16 Click here for audio recording of worship.
Dr. Ed Pettus
(This is an extended outline, not a verbatim transcript.)
“Ninth Commandment – What is Required”
“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.”
- Truthfulness to Each Other
Today we seek to answer the question, what is required of us in the Ninth Commandment? In the teaching of the church, our confessional statements, we are required by this command to “maintain and promote truthfulness in our dealings with each other” (Larger Catechism, Q. 143). This is a part of loving our neighbor as ourselves, as are the Commandments six through ten. But this Commandment even speaks specifically of neighbor. We are called to treat one another with truthfulness and, as we will see, that involves much more than simply telling the truth. It is what we might call comprehensive truth telling! We begin with the prophet Zechariah 8.16-17, “These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace; 17do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath, for all these things I hate, declares the Lord.” We are to speak truth, no lies on our lips. Those who would make judgments are to do so in truth with a goal of peace. Truth begins in the heart so we are not to devise any evil plans against another. We are to take no false oaths or vows. This is list is a part of what the Lord hates. It is an abomination to God for His people to bear false witness against one another. Paul picks up this command in Ephesians 4.25, “Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.” Truth connects us as well. There is a communal significance to keeping the Ninth Commandment, for we are members together in the body of Christ.
Since this Commandment speaks of neighbor, I think it important that we answer a question once asked in Luke’s gospel. Who is my neighbor? We are into the fourth Commandment on the neighbor side of the Ten, the love your neighbor Commandments. They relate to neighbor love: no murder, no adultery, no stealing, no false witness, and no coveting, but to whom do they apply? Who is our neighbor? I hope we are all familiar with this story. “And behold, a lawyer stood up to put [Jesus] to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” 28And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” 29But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ 36Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.” (Luke 10.25-37)
The story, and the Commandments, are not about determining who our neighbors might be, but to show that we are a neighbor to others. We are a neighbor to all people when we keep the Ten Commandments. We are a neighbor to all when we follow Jesus. We are the neighbor to all when we help those in need as we are able. Who is my neighbor? This is not the question, but to whom shall we be neighborly?
In that understanding we keep the Ninth Commandment by being truthful, speaking well of others, speaking on behalf of others in truth...Psalm 15.2, “He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart.”
- Benevolence to All
The Ninth Commandment requires that we have a charitable regard and benevolent approach to all. In the Larger Catechism the basis for this is in the love of 1 Corinthians 13, “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away” (4-8). There is no doubt that we sometimes struggle to show this kind of love. We are not always patient or kind, not always rejoicing with the truth, and not always hopeful.
One of the ways we can fulfill this mandate is to look out for the good reputation of others. The apostles share their joy in the reputations of others in their letters:
Paul in Romans 1.8, “First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world.”
John in 2 John 4, “I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father.”
Love in the Ninth Commandment also does whatever possible to “put the best light” on the failing of others, from the Old Testament, Proverbs 17.9, “Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.” And from the New Testament, 1 Peter 4.8, “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.”
This Commandment reflects something of a courtroom where witnesses give testimony. Do not bear false witness against neighbor is somewhat tied to no murder. Just as being angry with another who is made in the image of God is a way of breaking the Sixth Commandment because we are angry against someone made in the image of God, so to when we bear false witness against someone made in the image of God we are bearing false witness against God as well. Our witness seeks to show love to others, protecting their reputation, acknowledging their gifts and talents, and defending them when innocent. This is what is required and fulfills the Command to love God and neighbor.
- Discourage False Witness
The Commandment discourages any false witness, and therefore, discourages gossip. Gossip is one of the sins in the church as much as it is in the world. It is difficult to guard our tongues against gossip. Spreading rumors is easy. Seeking the truth takes effort. Proverbs 25.23, “The north wind brings forth rain, and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.” James teaches us how difficult it is to control the tongue. “So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. 7For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so” (James 3.5-10). The Ninth Commandment compels us to control the tongue just as the Bible also calls us to control our body. With the tongue: flattery, slander, gossip, all require us to guard the tongue. Be slow to speak (James 1.19) in order to keep the Commandment.
- Foster a Good Reputation
Along with looking out for the good reputation of others, we are to foster our own good reputation. Proverbs 22.1, “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.” Jesus defended His own reputation showing honor to the Father (John 8.49) and Paul defends his good reputation as a servant of Christ (2 Corinthians 11.18, 23).
Think about the people you know who speak well. I do not mean they can stand before a group and make a fine speech, but I mean those who speak the truth, those who are not afraid to tell the truth in any given situation. It is most likely that those are the people we admire and they have a good reputation in our judgment. Truth tellers are lovers of neighbor and lovers of God. Speech is one of the most active ways we interact with one another. It is most likely that we will avoid murder, adultery, and theft, but bearing false witness is a sin of speech. We talk to people all the time and since this is the first Commandment to use the term neighbor, it is also the first big test of our obedience. We could speak evil many times and never break any of the other neighborly Commandments. We may speak about someone or to someone and break this Commandment showing our lack of love for neighbor.
Two things to think about as we come to the end of this message:
1) Proverbs 10.8, “The wise of heart will receive commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin.” There is great wisdom in receiving Commandments. The Proverb implies that a babbling fool will not be quiet long enough to listen to God’s Commandments. We all know people who are not self-aware enough to know that they talk too much and do not guard the tongue well. People will admit mid-sentence that they know they are talking too much and yet they just keep on talking! Take care that it not lead to ruin and break the Commandment against false witness.
2) Keeping Commandment becomes second nature when we think on the right things. Philippians 4.8, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” If you are coming to see The Chosen episode this evening, you will see two points on which to think –
turn to the teachings of Jesus
turn to prayer.
These, among others, are true and honorable and just and pure. The Bible and prayer are lovely, commendable, excellent and worthy of praise. We are able and willing to keep Commandment when we think on these things. Amen.
