Toward a Searching and Fearless Moral InventoryHave I Obeyed the Ninth Commandment? |
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The Westminster Larger Catechism (1648) explains our duties under the Ninth Commandment.
First, you must agree that the Catechism has correctly explained the implications of the Commandment. Assuming it has, you must agree with God that you are obligated to carry out those principles in your life.
Second, you must ask yourself if you have violated each aspect of the command. This page is designed to help you pinpoint your offenses.
Third, you must take steps to develop the Character of Christ, and eliminate "character defects" from your life.
Question 143: Which is the ninth commandment?
Answer: The ninth commandment is, Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
Question 144: What are the duties required in the ninth commandment?
Answer: The duties required in the ninth commandment are, the preserving and
promoting of truth between man and man, and the good name of our neighbor, 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 neighbors; 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
talebearers, flatterers, and slanderers; love and care of our own good name, and defending
it when need requires; keeping of lawful promises; studying and practicing of: Whatsoever
things are true, honest, lovely, and of good report.
Question 145: What are the sins forbidden in the ninth commandment?
Answer: The sins forbidden in the ninth commandment are, all prejudicing the
truth, and the good name of our neighbors, as well as our own, especially in public
judicature; giving false evidence, suborning false witnesses, wittingly appearing and
pleading for an evil cause, outfacing 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 calls 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,
vainglorious 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 rumors, receiving and countenancing evil reports, and stopping
our ears against just defense; evil suspicion; envying or grieving at the deserved credit
of any, endeavoring 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 practicing, or not avoiding ourselves, or not hindering: What we
can in others, such things as procure an ill name.
Q. 143. Which is the ninth commandment?
A. The ninth commandment is, Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
Exod. 20:16
Q. 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, Zech. 8:16
| Zechariah 8:16 These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates: |
and the good name of our neighbour, as well as our own; 3 John 12
| 3 John 1:12 Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true. |
appearing and standing for the truth; Prov. 31:8-9
| Proverbs 31:8-9 Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. {9} Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy. |
and from the heart, Ps. 15:2
| Psalms 15:2 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. |
sincerely, 2 Chron. 19:9
| 2 Chronicles 19:9 And he charged them, saying, Thus shall ye do in the fear of the LORD, faithfully, and with a perfect heart. |
freely, 1 Sam. 19:4-5
| 1 Samuel 19:4-5 And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works have been to thee-ward very good: {5} For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the LORD wrought a great salvation for all Israel: thou sawest it, and didst rejoice: wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause? |
clearly, Josh. 7:19
| Joshua 7:19 And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me. |
and fully, 2 Sam. 14:18-20
| 2 Samuel 14:18-20 Then the king answered and said unto the woman, Hide not from me, I pray thee, the thing that I shall ask thee. And the woman said, Let my lord the king now speak. {19} And the king said, Is not the hand of Joab with thee in all this? And the woman answered and said, As thy soul liveth, my lord the king, none can turn to the right hand or to the left from ought that my lord the king hath spoken: for thy servant Joab, he bade me, and he put all these words in the mouth of thine handmaid: {20} To fetch about this form of speech hath thy servant Joab done this thing: and my lord is wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all things that are in the earth. |
speaking the truth, and only the truth, in matters of judgment and justice, Lev. 19:15
| Leviticus 19:15 Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour. |
and in all other things whatsoever; 2 Cor. 1:17-18; Eph. 4:25
| 2 Corinthians 1:17-18 When I therefore was thus minded, did I use lightness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be yea yea, and nay nay? {18} But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay. | |
| Ephesians 4:25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. |
a charitable esteem of our neighbours; Heb. 6:9; 1 Cor. 13:7
| Hebrews 6:9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. | |
| 1 Corinthians 13:7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. |
loving, desiring, and rejoicing in their good name; Rom 1:8; 2 John 4; 3 John 3-4
| Romans 1:8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. | |
| 2 John 1:4 I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father. | |
| 3 John 1:3-4 For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. {4} I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. |
sorrowing for, 2 Cor. 2:4; 2 Cor. 12:21
| 2 Corinthians 2:4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you. | |
| 2 Corinthians 12:21 And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed. |
and covering of their infirmities; Prov. 17:9; 1 Pet. 4:8
| Proverbs 17:9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends. | |
| 1 Peter 4:8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. |
freely acknowledging of their gifts and graces, 1 Cor. 1:4-5, 7; 2 Tim. 1:4-5
| 1 Corinthians 1:4-5,7 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; {5} That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; {7} So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: | |
| 2 Timothy 1:4-5 Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy; {5} When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also. |
defending their innocency; 1 Sam. 22:14
| 1 Samuel 22:14 Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, And who is so faithful among all thy servants as David, which is the king's son in law, and goeth at thy bidding, and is honourable in thine house? |
a ready receiving of a good report, 1 Cor. 13:6-7
| 1 Corinthians 13:6-7 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; {7} Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. |
and unwillingness to admit of an evil report, Ps. 15:3 concerning them;
| Psalms 15:3 He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. |
discouraging tale-bearers, Prov. 25:23
| Proverbs 25:23 The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue. |
flatterers, Prov. 26:24-25
| Proverbs 26:24-25 He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him; {25} When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart. |
and slanderers; Ps. 101:5
| Psalms 101:5 Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer. |
love and care of our own good name, and defending it when need requireth; Prov. 22:1; John 8:49
| Proverbs 22:1 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold. | |
| John 8:49 Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me. |
keeping of lawful promises; Ps. 15:4
| Psalms 15:4 In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. |
studying and practicing of whatsoever things are true, honest, lovely, and of good report. Phil. 4:8
| Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. | Does the media (cinema, recordings) give a true report of the world? Do I perpetuate a lie by watching and listening to them? |
Q. 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, 1 Sam. 17:28; 2 Sam. 16:3; 2
Sam. 1:9, 10, 15-16
| 1 Samuel 17:28 And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle. | |
| 2 Samuel 16:3 And the king said, And where is thy master's son? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem: for he said, To day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father. | |
| 2 Samuel 1:9-10 He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me. {10} So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord. {15} And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died. {16} And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the LORD'S anointed. |
especially in public judicature; Lev. 19:15; Hab. 1:4
| Leviticus 19:15 Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour. | |
| Habakkuk 1:4 Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth. |
giving false evidence, Prov. 19:5; Prov. 6:16, 19
| Proverbs 19:5 A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape. | |
| Proverbs 6:16,19 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: {19} A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. |
suborning false witnesses, Acts 6:13
| Acts 6:13 And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law: |
wittingly appearing and pleading for an evil cause, outfacing and overbearing the truth; Jer. 9:3, 5; Acts 24:2, 5; Ps. 12:3-4; Ps. 52:1-4
| Jeremiah 9:3,5 And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the LORD. {5} And they will deceive every one his neighbour, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies, and weary themselves to commit iniquity. | |
| Acts 24:2,5 And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness, and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy providence, {5} For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes: | |
| Psalms 12:3-4 The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things: {4} Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us? | |
| Psalms 52:1-4 To the chief Musician, Maschil, A Psalm of David, when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, and said unto him, David is come to the house of Ahimelech. Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually. {2} Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully. {3} Thou lovest evil more than good; and lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah. {4} Thou lovest all devouring words, O thou deceitful tongue. |
passing unjust sentence, Prov. 17:15; 1 Kings 21:9-14, 10-11, 13
| Proverbs 17:15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD. | |
| 1 Kings 21:9-14 And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people: {10} And set two men, sons of Belial, before him, to bear witness against him, saying, Thou didst blaspheme God and the king. And then carry him out, and stone him, that he may die. {11} And the men of his city, even the elders and the nobles who were the inhabitants in his city, did as Jezebel had sent unto them, and as it was written in the letters which she had sent unto them. {12} They proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people. {13} And there came in two men, children of Belial, and sat before him: and the men of Belial witnessed against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, Naboth did blaspheme God and the king. Then they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned him with stones, that he died. {14} Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, Naboth is stoned, and is dead. |
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; Isa. 5:23
| Isaiah 5:23 Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him! |
forgery, Ps. 119:69; Luke 19:8; Luke 16:5-7
| Psalms 119:69 The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart. | |
| Luke 19:8 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. | |
| Luke 16:5-7 So he called every one of his lord's debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord? {6} And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty. {7} Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore. |
concealing the truth, undue silence in a just cause, Lev. 5:1; Deut. 13:8; Acts 5:3, 8-9; 2 Tim. 4:6
| Leviticus 5:1 And if a soul sin, and hear the voice of swearing, and is a witness, whether he hath seen or known of it; if he do not utter it, then he shall bear his iniquity. | |
| Deuteronomy 13:8 Thou shalt not consent unto him, nor hearken unto him; neither shall thine eye pity him, neither shalt thou spare, neither shalt thou conceal him: | |
| Acts 5:3,8-9 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? {8} And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. {9} Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. | |
| 2 Timothy 4:6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. |
and holding our peace when iniquity calleth for either a reproof from ourselves, 1 Kings 1:6; Lev. 19:17
| 1 Kings 1:6 And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why hast thou done so? and he also was a very goodly man; and his mother bare him after Absalom. | |
| Leviticus 19:17 Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him. |
or complaint to others; Isa. 59:4
| Isaiah 59:4 None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity. |
speaking the truth unseasonably, Prov. 29:11
| Proverbs 29:11 A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards. |
or maliciously to a wrong end, 1 Sam. 22:9-10; Ps. 52:1-5
| 1 Samuel 22:9-10 Then answered Doeg the Edomite, which was set over the servants of Saul, and said, I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub. {10} And he inquired of the LORD for him, and gave him victuals, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine. | |
| Psalm 52:1-5 To the chief Musician, Maschil, A Psalm of David, when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, and said unto him, David is come to the house of Ahimelech. Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually. {2} Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully. {3} Thou lovest evil more than good; and lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah. {4} Thou lovest all devouring words, O thou deceitful tongue. {5} God shall likewise destroy thee for ever, he shall take thee away, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling place, and root thee out of the land of the living. Selah. |
or perverting it to a wrong meaning, Ps. 56:5; John 2:19; Matt. 26:60-61
| Psalm 56:5 Every day they wrest my words: all their thoughts are against me for evil. | |
| John 2:19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. | |
| Matthew 26:60-61 But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses, {61} And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days. |
or in doubtful and equivocal expressions, to the prejudice of truth or justice; Gen. 3:5; Gen. 26:7, 9
| Genesis 3:5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. | |
| Genesis 26:7,9 And the men of the place asked him of his wife; and he said, She is my sister: for he feared to say, She is my wife; lest, said he, the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah; because she was fair to look upon. {9} And Abimelech called Isaac, and said, Behold, of a surety she is thy wife: and how saidst thou, She is my sister? And Isaac said unto him, Because I said, Lest I die for her. |
speaking untruth, Isa. 59:13
| Isaiah 59:13 In transgressing and lying against the LORD, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood. |
lying, Lev. 19:11; Col. 3:9
| Leviticus 19:11 Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another. | |
| Colossians 3:9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; |
slandering, Ps. 50:20
| Psalms 50:20 Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother's son. |
backbiting, James 4:11; Jer. 38:4
| James 4:11 Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. | |
| Jeremiah 38:4 Therefore the princes said unto the king, We beseech thee, let this man be put to death: for thus he weakeneth the hands of the men of war that remain in this city, and the hands of all the people, in speaking such words unto them: for this man seeketh not the welfare of this people, but the hurt. |
detracting, tale bearing, Lev. 19:19
| Leviticus 19:19 Ye shall keep my statutes. Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind: thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed: neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woollen come upon thee. |
whispering, Rom. 1:29-30
| Romans 1:29-30 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, {30} Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, |
scoffing, Gen. 21:9; Gal. 4:29
| Genesis 21:9 And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking. | |
| Galatians 4:29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. |
reviling, 1 Cor. 6:10
| 1 Corinthians 6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. |
rash, Matt. 7:1
| Matthew 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged. |
harsh, Acts 28:4
| Acts 28:4 And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live. |
and partial censuring; Gen. 38:24; Rom. 2:1
| Genesis 38:24 And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told Judah, saying, Tamar thy daughter in law hath played the harlot; and also, behold, she is with child by whoredom. And Judah said, Bring her forth, and let her be burnt. | |
| Romans 2:1 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. |
misconstructing intentions, words, and actions; Neh. 6:6-8; Rom. 3:8; Ps. 69:10; 1 Sam. 1:13-15; 2 Sam. 10:3
| Nehemiah 6:6-8 Wherein was written, It is reported among the heathen, and Gashmu saith it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel: for which cause thou buildest the wall, that thou mayest be their king, according to these words. {7} And thou hast also appointed prophets to preach of thee at Jerusalem, saying, There is a king in Judah: and now shall it be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together. {8} Then I sent unto him, saying, There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine own heart. | |
| Romans 3:8 And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just. | |
| Psalms 69:10 When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach | |
| 1 Samuel 1:13-15 Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken. {14} And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee. {15} And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD. | |
| 2 Samuel 10:3 And the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their lord, Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? hath not David rather sent his servants unto thee, to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it? |
flattering, Ps. 12:2-3
| Psalms 12:2-3 They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak. {3} The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things: |
vain-glorious boasting; 2 Tim. 3:2
| 2 Timothy 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, |
thinking or speaking too highly or too meanly of ourselves or others; Luke 18:9, 11; Rom. 12:16; 1 Cor. 4:6; Acts 12:22; Exod. 4:10-14
| Luke 18:9,11 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: {11} The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. | |
| Romans 12:16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. | |
| 1 Corinthians 4:6 And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another. | |
| Acts 12:22 And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. | |
| Exodus 4:10-14 And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. {11} And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD? {12} Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say. {13} And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send. {14} And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart. |
denying the gifts and graces of God; Job 27:5, 6; Job 4:6
| Job 27:5-6 God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me. {6} My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live. | |
| Job 4:6 Is not this thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and the uprightness of thy ways? |
aggravating smaller faults; Matt. 7:3-5
| Matthew 7:3-5 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? {4} Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? {5} Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye. |
hiding, excusing, or extenuating of sins, when called to a free confession; Prov. 28:13; Prov. 30:20; Gen. 3:12-13; Jer. 2:35; 2 Kings 5:25; Gen. 4:9
| Proverbs 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. | |
| Proverbs 30:20 Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness. | |
| Genesis 3:12-13 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. {13} And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. | |
| Jeremiah 2:35 Yet thou sayest, Because I am innocent, surely his anger shall turn from me. Behold, I will plead with thee, because thou sayest, I have not sinned. | |
| 2 Kings 5:25 But he went in, and stood before his master. And Elisha said unto him, Whence comest thou, Gehazi? And he said, Thy servant went no whither. | |
| Genesis 4:9 And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper? |
unnecessary discovering of infirmities; Gen. 9:22; Prov. 25:9-10
| Genesis 9:22 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without. | |
| Proverbs 25:9-10 Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another: {10} Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away. |
raising false rumors, Exod. 23:1
| Exodus 23:1 Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness. |
receiving and countenancing evil reports, Prov. 29:12
| Proverbs 29:12 If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked. |
and stopping our ears against just defense; Acts 7:56-57; Job 31:13-14
| Acts 7:56-57 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. {57} Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, | |
| Job 31:13-14 If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they contended with me; {14} What then shall I do when God riseth up? and when he visiteth, what shall I answer him? |
evil suspicion; 1 Cor. 13:5; 1 Tim. 6:4
| 1 Corinthians 13:5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; | |
| 1 Timothy 6:4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, |
envying or grieving at the deserved credit of any, Num. 11:29; Matt. 21:15
| Numbers 11:29 And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the LORD'S people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them! | |
| Matthew 21:15 And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the son of David; they were sore displeased, |
endeavoring or desiring to impair it, Ezra 4:12-13
| Ezra 4:12-13 Be it known unto the king, that the Jews which came up from thee to us are come unto Jerusalem, building the rebellious and the bad city, and have set up the walls thereof, and joined the foundations. {13} Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city be builded, and the walls set up again, then will they not pay toll, tribute, and custom, and so thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings. |
rejoicing in their disgrace and infamy; Jer. 48:27
| Jeremiah 48:27 For was not Israel a derision unto thee? was he found among thieves? for since thou spakest of him, thou skippedst for joy. |
scornful contempt, Ps. 35:15-16, 21; Matt. 27:28-29
| Psalms 35:15-16,21 But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not: {16} With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth. {21} Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, and said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it. | |
| Matthew 27:28-29 And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. {29} And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! |
fond admiration; Jude 16; Acts 12:22
| Jude 1:16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage. | |
| Acts 12:22 And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. |
breach of lawful promises; Rom. 1:31; 2 Tim. 3:3
| Romans 1:31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: | |
| 2 Timothy 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, |
neglecting such things as are of good report, 1 Sam. 2:24
| 1 Samuel 2:24 Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make the Lord's people to transgress. |
and practicing, or not avoiding ourselves, or not hindering what we can in others, such things as procure an ill name. 2 Sam. 13:12-13; Prov. 5:8-9; Prov. 6:33
| 2 Samuel 13:12-13 And she answered him, Nay, my brother, do not force me; for no such thing ought to be done in Israel: do not thou this folly. {13} And I, whither shall I cause my shame to go? and as for thee, thou shalt be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, I pray thee, speak unto the king; for he will not withhold me from thee. | |
| Proverbs 5:8-9 Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house: {9} Lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel: | |
| Proverbs 6:33 A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away. |
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