Westminster Larger Catechism (Q 143-145)

Dear Church Family,

This past Sunday, we did not have Sunday school; however, two weeks ago we continued our Sunday school lessons in the Westminster Larger Catechism (WLC) in questions 143-145 (dealing with the ninth commandment). Here is a brief review.

WLC 143  Which is the ninth commandment?
A. The ninth commandment is, Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

There are three questions in the WLC devoted to the ninth commandment (WLC 143-145).

WLC 144  What are the duties required in the ninth commandment?
A. The duties required in the ninth commandment are, the preserving and promoting of truth between man and man, and the good name of our neighbour, as well as our own; appearing and standing for the truth; and from the heart, sincerely, freely, clearly, and fully, speaking the truth, and only the truth, in matters of judgment and justice, and in all other things whatsoever; a charitable esteem of our neighbours; loving, desiring, and rejoicing in their good name; sorrowing for, and covering of their infirmities; freely acknowledging of their gifts and graces, defending their innocency; a ready receiving of a good report, and unwillingness to admit of an evil report, concerning them; discouraging tale-bearers, flatterers, and slanderers; love and care of our own good name, and defending it when need requireth; keeping of lawful promises; studying and practising of whatsoever things are true, honest, lovely, and of good report.

The duties required in the ninth commandment may be summarized under nine headings:

(1) Preserving and promoting truth (Zechariah 8:16-17)

(2) Standing for the truth (Proverbs 31:1-9)

(3) Speaking the truth (Leviticus 19:15-18)

(4) Charitably esteeming our neighbor’s good name(3 John 1:3-4)

(5) Defending and covering our neighbor’s good name (Proverbs 17:9; 1 Peter 4:8)

(6) Acknowledging our neighbor’s gifts and graces (1 Corinthians 1:4-8)

(7) Receiving a good report regarding our neighbor and discouraging tale-bearing and slander (1 Corinthians 13:4-7; Psalm 101:5-7)

(8) Defending our own good name (Proverbs 22:1)

(9) Keeping, studying, and practicing truth (Philippians 4:8)

WLC 145  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, especially in public judicature; giving false evidence, suborning false witnesses, wittingly appearing and pleading for an evil cause, out-facing and overbearing the truth; passing unjust sentence, 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; forgery, concealing the truth, undue silence in a just cause, and holding our peace when iniquity calleth for either a reproof from ourselves, or complaint to others; speaking the truth unseasonably, or maliciously to a wrong end, or perverting it to a wrong meaning, or in doubtful and equivocal expressions, to the prejudice of truth or justice; speaking untruth, lying, slandering, backbiting, detracting, tale-bearing, whispering, scoffing, reviling, rash, harsh, and partial censuring; misconstructing intentions, words, and actions; flattering, vain-glorious boasting, thinking or speaking too highly or too meanly of ourselves or others; denying the gifts and graces of God; aggravating smaller faults; hiding, excusing, or extenuating of sins, when called to a free confession; unnecessary discovering of infirmities; raising false rumours, receiving and countenancing evil reports, and stopping our ears against just defence; evil suspicion; envying or grieving at the deserved credit of any, endeavouring or desiring to impair it, rejoicing in their disgrace and infamy; scornful contempt, fond admiration; breach of lawful promises; neglecting such things as are of good report, and practising, or not avoiding ourselves, or not hindering what we can in others, such things as procure an ill name.

The sins forbidden in the ninth commandment may be summarized under eleven headings:

(1) Prejudicing the truth and good name of our neighbor and ourselves (Luke 3:14)

(2) Giving false evidence (Jeremiah 9:3-6)

(3) Passing unjust sentence (Proverbs 17:15)

(4) Concealing the truth or undue silence in speaking the truth (Leviticus 5:1)

(5) Speaking the truth unseasonably, toward a wrong end, or perverting its meaning (equivocation) (Proverbs 29:11; Genesis 3:5; 26:7-9)

(6) Lying, tale-bearing, judging others, etc. (Romans 2:1; James 4:11)

(7) Not thinking too highly or too meanly of ourselves and others (Romans 12:16; Exodus 4:10-14)

(8) Aggravating smaller faults in others (Matthew 7:3-5)

(9) Unnecessarily speaking publicly about others (“speaking out of turn”) (Proverbs 25:9)

(10) Receiving false reports and not receiving just defense (Proverbs 29:12)

(11) All desiring to gain through falsehood, contemptuous speech, or flattery (1 Timothy 6:3-5; Jude 1:16)

In our Sunday school discussion on the 9^th commandment, we talked about the WLC warns us about two opposite dangers regarding the ninth commandment. On the one hand, we must be on guard against the sin of not speaking out when we ought to. WLC 145 calls this “undue silence in a just cause, and holding our peace when iniquity calleth for either a reproof from ourselves, or complaint to others.” There are times when it would be a sin not to speak out – to confront or inform a particular authority about something.

On the other hand, we must be on guard against the sin of speaking out of turn, of tale-bearing. WLC 145 calls this “speaking the truth unseasonably, or maliciously to a wrong end, or perverting it to a wrong meaning” or “unnecessary discovering of infirmities.” There are times when it is sin to speak to unduly uncover the faults of others or expose things that are private, even if they are true. Knowing when to speak and when not to speak is the greater part of wisdom and discernment. In the class, we discussed how understanding one’s proximity or position of authority is key to learning discernment in specific instances.

Conclusion

As we read and study the required duties and forbidden sins of the ten commandments, we all are certainly convicted of the innumerable ways in which we do not conform to God’s law and the innumerable ways in which we transgress God’s law every day in thought, word, and deed. And, as we are convicted of our sin, we are also reminded of the two special uses of God’s law for the regenerate which we learned in WLC 97.

First, we grow in our assurance of salvation through faith in the Person and work of Christ. The law of God shows us how much we are bound to Christ for His fulfilling the law and enduring the curse of the law in our stead, and for our good. Second, we learn better how to love the Lord and to love our neighbor. The law of God provokes us to thankful obedience, to endeavor to live as becomes the followers of Christ.

Join us on Sunday mornings at 9:15 am as we learn how we may offer up our thankful obedience to our Savior in all that we think, say, and do.

The Lord be with you!
Pastor Peter M. Dietsch