SermonStudio
Prohibition And Invitations In The Eighth Commandment
Adult study
The Big Ten
Another Look At The Ten Commandments
Martin Luther says that the meaning of the Eighth Commandment is:
We are to fear and love God so that we do not betray, slander, or lie about our neighbor, but defend him, speak well of him, and explain his actions in the kindest way.13
In his interpretation, Luther gives us two sides of the meaning of the Eighth Commandment: 1) a prohibition against betraying, slandering, and lying and 2) the invitation to a high quality of life by putting a charitable interpretation on our neighbor's behavior.
We are to fear and love God so that we do not betray, slander, or lie about our neighbor, but defend him, speak well of him, and explain his actions in the kindest way.13
In his interpretation, Luther gives us two sides of the meaning of the Eighth Commandment: 1) a prohibition against betraying, slandering, and lying and 2) the invitation to a high quality of life by putting a charitable interpretation on our neighbor's behavior.

