"Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness Against Thy Neighbour."

(e) Lying Defeated - How? By:-

(1) Learning the truth - Ephesians 4 v. 21 "If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:"

(2) Loving the truth - Ephesians 4 v. 15 "But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:"

(3) Living the truth - Ephesians 4 v. 25 "Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another."

(4) Speaking the truth Consistently, Lovingly, & Tactfully v. 31"Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:"

2. THE PRINCIPLE OF CHARITY - "against thy neighbour" -

Parable of good samaritan - our neighbour's reputation is:-

(a) Richly Prized - Proverbs 22 v. 1 "A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold."

Ecclesiasties 7 v. 1 "A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth."

(b) Readily Provoked -

The man who with the breath lent him by heaven,

Speaks words that soils the whiteness of a life

Is but murder, for death is given

As surely by the tongue as by the knife

(c) Should be Religiously Protected "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour." - Leviticus 19 v. 16 "Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I am the LORD."

Proverbs 18 v. 8 "The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly."

Proverbs 26 v. 20 "Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth." -

slander:-

(1) Pierces - Psalm 55 v. 21 "The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords."

(2) Penetrates - Psalm 120 v. 2 Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue.3 What shall be given unto thee? or what shall be done unto thee, thou false tongue?

4 "Sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of juniper."

(3) Poisons - James 3 v. 8 "But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison." -

Luke 6 v. 31 - 33 "And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same."

3. THE PRINCIPLE OF INTEGRITY - 1 John 3 v. 17 & 18 "But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth."

Matthew 5 v. 43 - 48 "Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."