The Ninth Commandment of the Law of God

“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.”

By this commandment, the Lord God forbids every form of falsehood, such as: false testimony in court, denunciations, slander, gossip, reviling, and calumny. Calumny is a diabolical act, for the very name “devil” means “slanderer.” Every lie is unworthy of a Christian and incompatible with love and respect for one’s neighbor. The Apostle Paul instructs: “Therefore, putting away lying, ‘Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,’ for we are members of one another.” (Eph. 4:25). Regarding condemnation, the Savior categorically declared: “Judge not, that you be not judged!” (Mt. 7:1). A neighbor is not corrected by condemnation or mockery, but by love, forbearance, and kind advice. One must also remember one’s own weaknesses. In general, it is necessary to restrain one’s tongue and abstain from idle talk. For the word is the greatest gift of the Creator. Animals do not possess this gift. When we speak, we become like the Creator, Whose word immediately becomes deed. Therefore, the gift of speech must be used exclusively for a good purpose and to the glory of God. Regarding idle words, Jesus Christ taught: “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Mt. 12:36–37).