The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 116

Ver. 20.-The ninth commandment. The religion of the tongue. This command gives us a precept touching our words. Inasmuch, however, as it is here given to us in barest, briefest, most elementary form, it woul<l not be well if in the homiletic treat- ment of it we did not place side by side therewith the varied Scriptures which set before us the duty of regulating our speech. We will ask, and endeavour to answer, five questions concerning this commandment. I. WHAT IS HERE PROIIIIlITED? Just as the sixth commandment throws a gllara around human life, the seventh around purity, the eighth around the rights of property and labour, so this ninth throws a shield over every man's reputation. A stern "Thou shalt not injure thy neighbour's fair name" is one of the mandates of Sinai, issued amidst thunder and fire I The immediate reference would seem to be to brarin:; testi- mony in a court of justice. A part of the judicial code of Moses had reference to this (eh. xix. 16-19). Dut the precept goes further than this in its spirit. We read in Exod. xxiii.1, "Thou shalt not raise (or receive) a false report;" literally," Thou shalt not bear it;" i.e. you nrc to have nothing to do, either in making or taking it. Further (Lev. xix. 16), we are not to give way to gossip ancl scandal (see Ps. xv. 3). Nor are we to make any statement that is prejndicial to the intere~ts of another, unless we are sure of its accuracy, and unless also the good of society requires us to ma!rn it. Further (Ps. xxxiv. 13), our lips are to speak no deceit nor guile of any kind, either in what is said or in the manner of saying it. If we needlessly tell of another's wrong act, instead of seeking to cover it, under the appearance of virtue in denouncing it, God may see a spirit of malice or revenge in naming it; and any act of another's mentioned in such a spirit.is sure not to be construed by us in perfect fairness, and therefore it will certainly become, so far as it is unfair, a false report, whatever foundation of fact there m:i.y be in it. 'l'he precept, moreover, forbids sitting in judgment on individuals, so as to denounce them when we are contending against wbaL we consider to be unsound in their faith, or unright in their practice. But further still does the precept reach. It forbids any thoughtless word which might unwillingly injure another (see Matt. xii. 33-37). How true is Heh. iv. 12 I Every uncharitable thought of another, which might prompt an uncharitable word respecting him, is condemned by the holy Law of God! II. "WHAT IS THE POSITIVE DUTY TO BE OBSERVED? We have only to look at gospel law, as brought out by the Apostle Paul in Eph. iv. 25-32, to see this. 1. Truth is ever to mark our speech. The true in thought is to be aimed at, in order that there may be truth, absolute truth, on the tongue. No" pious frauds" are allow- able. 2. Love is to rule. While a supreme regard to truth will guard us from violating it consciously, a due cultivation of the spirit of love will guard us from forming those harsh judgments of others which might lead us to violate truth unconsciously by mis- judging their actions. 3. Where truth and love reign, there will be self-restrnint. A check will be put on unkind feeling of every sort. "Love beareth all tqi.ngs, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things." Note further. In this ninth com- mand the relations between men are supposed to be reciprocal. "Thy neighbour." If any ask, Who is my neighbour? let Christ give the answer," You may make yourself 'lleighbour to any man by cherishing a readiness of dispositicm to do him a kindness" (see Luke x. 29-37). No distinction of race, colour, or clime is to be allowed to stand in the way of.9ur being true neighbours to men, the wide world over. III. DY WHAT RULE, STANDARD, OR MODEL, SHOULD WE BE GUIDED? 1. "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." 'l'hat, applied to this command, would mean, "De as careful of another's reputation as you are of your own." There is another rule. 2. Be imitators of God. "Let all evil-speaking . . . be put away from you ... and he kind to one another . . . even as God in Christ hath forgiven you." The world's 1 ·.1Ic is : exalt yourself o.t the expense of others. Christ's rule is: exalt others at tho sacrifice of yourself. IV, WHAT REASONS SHOULD WEIGH ON US IN LEADING US TO RESTRAIN THE TONGUE IN THE INTERESTS OF OTHERS? 1. The fact uro-ed by Paul, that " we are members one of another." In social life we are dependent o; each other for the enjoyments which sweeten it, the luxuries which enrich it, the comforts which glad<len it, and for the necessaries which make it possible; 11nd, excepting ~o far as. truth go~erns words. and acts, the very props of social life are wanting, and its cohesive force 1s gone. Ii the eye refused to be true to the brain, 01· if the ear, the hand, or the foot rl's<>l .-~d to be at  'llil..: DOOK OF DlmTERONm.tY. (en. v. l--'38,