The 8th Commandment

Jesus is the way, truth and the life

James 3:2–12 RSV2CE

2 For we all make many mistakes, and if any one makes no mistakes in what he says he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also. 3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses that they may obey us, we guide their whole bodies. 4 Look at the ships also; though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So the tongue is a little member and boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is an unrighteous world among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the cycle of nature, and set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue—a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brethren, this ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening fresh water and brackish? 12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, yield olives, or a grapevine figs? No more can salt water yield fresh.

Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. Because he is truth itself, he detests lying and hypocrisy. Jesus dealt gently with sinners; but the lying hypocritical Pharisees he sternly denounced time and time again. Christ expects us to love the truth as he loves it.

The eighth commandment reminds us that, as members of Christ, we must refrain from lying, deceit and hypocrisy. Such things come from the devil, they have no place in the family of God.

As members of Christ we must also be ready to protect the good names of others. We must imitate the example which Jesus gave us at the Last Supper, when, with the utmost delicacy, he let Judas know that he was aware of his betrayal but nevertheless did not name him as the traitor before the other apostles.

What is the Eighth Commandment?