84. How do we fear and love God in keeping the Eighth Commandment?
We fear and love God by not speaking about others in ways that harm them. Harmful speech includes
A. telling lies about our neighbors in everyday life or in a court of law;
Matthew 26:59-61 Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put Him to death, but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward and said, "This man said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days.'"
Colossians 3:9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices.
Read 1 Kings 21:13, about false testimony about Naboth; in 2 Kings 5:19-27, Gehazi tried to profit from a lie.
B. betraying our neighbors by making public their private faults or secrets;
Proverbs 11:13 Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.
Read 1 Samuel 22:6-19, about how Ahimelech was betrayed, and Judas' betrayal of Jesus in Matthew 26:14-16.
C. slandering our neighbors by rushing to judgment, complaining about them, or spreading rumors.
James 4:11 Do not speak evil against one another, brothers.
Zechariah 8:17 Do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath, for all these things I hate, declares the LORD.
Read 2 Samuel 15:1-6. How did Absalom slander his father?
We fear and love God by speaking constructively about others. This includes
A. defending our neighbors when others speak badly of them;
Proverbs 31:8-9 Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.
Read Luke 7:36-50, where JEsus defends the woman who anointed His feet.
B. drawing attention to our neighbors' good qualities and deeds;
Luke 7:4-5 [The people of Capernaum spoke well of the centurion.] And when they came to Jesus, they pleaded with Him earnestly, saying, "He is worthy to have You do this for him, for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue."
Read 1 Samuel 19:1-7 and notice how Jonathan spoke up for David. In Mark 12:41-44, Jesus praised the widow's sacrifice.
C. seeking to understand our neighbors' actions in the most positive light and explaining them in the kindest possible way.
1 Peter 4:8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.
Ephesians 4:15 Speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into Him who is the head, into Christ.
1 Corinthians 13:7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Read Acts 5:33-39, about Gamaliel defending the apostles and discouraging persecution.
Eventual commentary
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