HenryWSC 78

Matthew Henry’s Westminster Shorter Catechism Commentary on Question 78

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Is lying a great sin? Yes: Lie not one to another, seeing ye have put off the old man,
Col. 3:9
. Is it a sin that God hates? Yes: lying lips are abomination to the Lord,
Prov. 12:22
. And is it a sin that all good men hate? Yes: I hate and abhor lying,
Ps. 119:163
. Does it make men like the devil? Yes: for he is a liar, and the father of it,
John 8:44
. And will it bring them to hell? Yes: for all liars shall have their part in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone,
Rev. 21:8
.
Is it lawful to tell a lie to make sport? No: for as a madman who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death, so is he that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?
Prov. 26:18–19
. Is it lawful to tell a lie to excuse a fault? No: for Gehazi for doing so had a leprosy entailed on him and his seed for ever,
2 Kings 5:27
. May we tell a lie with intention to do good? No: We must not do evil, that good may come,
Rom. 3:8
. Will what is got by lying do us any good? No: The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is vanity, tossed to and fro of them that seek death,
Prov. 21:6
. Should we therefore pray against this sin? Yes: Remove from me the way of lying,
Ps. 119:29
.
Is it a sin to belie ourselves? Yes: As there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches,
Prov. 13:7
. May we be careless of our own good name? No: If I should say I know him not, I should be a liar like unto you,
John 8:55
.
Is it a sin to belie our neighbour? Yes: They laid to my charge things that I know not,
Ps. 35:11
. Is it folly? Yes: He that uttereth slander is a fool,
Prov. 10:18
. Is it a sin to speak evil of any? Yes: Put them in mind to speak evil of no man,
Titus 3:1–2
. And to be censorious of our brethren? Yes: Judge not, that ye be not judged,
Matt. 7:1
. Is it a great offence to God to do this? Yes: He that speaks evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaks evil of the law, and judgeth the law,
James 4:11
. Does it make us like the devil? Yes: for he is the accuser of the brethren,
Rev. 12:10
.
Is it a sin to raise a false report? Yes: Thou shalt not raise a false report,
Ex. 23:1
. And a sin to spread it? Yes: Thou shalt not go up and down as a tale-bearer,
Lev. 19:16
. May we proclaim our brothers’ faults? No: for charity rejoiceth not in iniquity,
1 Cor. 13:6
. Is it a sin to speak ill of magistrates? Yes: Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people,
Acts 23:5
. Is it a sin to be abusive to the poor? Yes: for he that mocketh the poor, reproacheth his Maker,
Prov. 17:5
. May we speak ill of those who speak ill of us? No: We must not render railing for railing,
1 Pet. 3:9
.
HenryWSC 78