Command 8 Do Not Bear False Witness
St John Climacus in Ladder of Divine Ascent on Slander, Talkativeness, and Lying, Steps 10, 11 and 12
Many people think that one of the Ten Commandments prohibits us from lying, but that is a shallow understanding of the commandment. Actually, the Ten Commandments urges us not to bear false witness against our neighbor. Not only are we forbidden to slander our neighbor, but we are also urged to guard his reputation. We slander our neighbor even when we tell the truth in a hurtful manner. […]