Which commandment forbids bearing false testimony against your neighbor?

Which commandment forbids bearing false testimony against your neighbor?

• A. You shall not murder.
• B. You shall not covet...anything that belongs to your neighbor.
• C. You shall not bear false testimony against your neighbor.
• D. You shall not steal.

Answer: (C)

Not telling the truth about someone in a way that could harm them is what this item emphasizes. It forbids bearing false testimony against your neighbor, especially in situations like a court where a person’s guilt or innocence could be decided and a false statement could mislead that process. The neighbor here means any person you interact with, so the standard is honesty in speech and protecting justice for others. When we lie or repeat untrue things about someone, trust breaks and lives can be damaged, which is why truthfulness and integrity in what we say are the core ideas. This guideline isn’t about all wrongs—those other commands address harming life, wrong desires, or taking what isn’t yours—this one focuses specifically on deceit in how we speak about others.

Not telling the truth about someone in a way that could harm them is what this item emphasizes. It forbids bearing false testimony against your neighbor, especially in situations like a court where a person’s guilt or innocence could be decided and a false statement could mislead that process. The neighbor here means any person you interact with, so the standard is honesty in speech and protecting justice for others. When we lie or repeat untrue things about someone, trust breaks and lives can be damaged, which is why truthfulness and integrity in what we say are the core ideas. This guideline isn’t about all wrongs—those other commands address harming life, wrong desires, or taking what isn’t yours—this one focuses specifically on deceit in how we speak about others.