Lying and Deceit: What Does the Bible Teach?

A Mans son’s company gave him two free tickets to a Cubs game, so he and I went. A professional photographer asked if we would like to have our picture taken for free. When we agreed, he gave us a card telling us how to access our picture online. But the site required us to pay $20 to get any useable picture. He "took the picture" for free, but he knew people would think they would get a picture for free. He deceived us.

lists seven things that are an abomination to God, and two of them involve lying: "a lying tongue," and "a false witness that tells lies." God hates a lying tongue!Definitions of lying and deceit

Proverbs 6:16–19 KJV 1900

These six things doth the Lord hate: Yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, Feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, And he that soweth discord among brethren.

- No lie is of the truth.

1 John 2:21 KJV 1900

I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

"Lie" - "...a false statement made with deliberate intent to deceive..." - Random House College Dictionary.

"Deceit" - "act or practice ... intended to ... mislead by a false appearance or statement" - Random House College Dictionary.

The difference is that a lie is generally spoken; but deceit includes anything, whether words or deeds, that are intended to lead people to believe what is not true.

Lying generally involves deliberate falsehood, told with the intent of misleading or causing someone to believe error.

Note - Conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.

Isaiah 59:13 KJV 1900

In transgressing and lying against the Lord, And departing away from our God, Speaking oppression and revolt, Conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.

- Ananias and Sapphira sold property and gave part of the price to the church, but they told others that they gave the whole price. Peter asked, "How is it you have conceived this thing in your heart." They had lied to God.We will notice several verses later that show that lies come from the heart. []

Acts 5:1–9 KJV 1900

But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.

Acts 5:1–9 KJV 1900

But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.

If someone asks me the ages of my grandchildren, if I tell what I believe is the truth, but it turns out to be a mistake, I have not lied.

But if I know the truth and knowingly tell what is wrong, I have lied.

In this lesson, we want to study the twin problems of lying and deceit.

What are some ways people may be guilty of lying and deceit?

Why do people practice them?

What are the consequences?

As we study we need to each ask ourselves whether we have been guilty.

Consider the Bible teaching about lying and deceit:

He may consider it a "big black lie" (one with serious consequences) or a "little white lie" (one he thinks will not have serious consequences), but he knows it he has told a lie. Many passages rebuke the general concept of lying.

- God hates a lying tongue and a false witness who speaks lies.

Proverbs 6:16–19 KJV 1900

These six things doth the Lord hate: Yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, Feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, And he that soweth discord among brethren.

- You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

Exodus 20:16 KJV 1900

Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

- Putting away lying, let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor.

Ephesians 4:25 KJV 1900

Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

- Liars are listed among other sins that are contrary to sound doctrine.These are direct prohibitions against lying.

1 Timothy 1:10 KJV 1900

For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;

Most people know that lying is morally wrong. Interestingly, people who often tell lies to others (like politicians) will often become very upset when other people lie to them and are often the quickest to accuse others of lying!

Other kinds of lies and deceit may be less obvious: people may not consider these acts to be lies or deceptions when they do it.

Yet they often recognize such acts to be lying when other people do it to them!

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Matthew 15:19 KJV 1900

For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

Leviticus 19:11 KJV 1900

Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another.

Leviticus 19:12 KJV 1900

And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the Lord.

Colossians 3:9 KJV 1900

Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

Psalm 7:14 KJV 1900

Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, And hath conceived mischief, And brought forth falsehood.

Psalm 32:2 KJV 1900

Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no guile.

Psalm 58:3 KJV 1900

The wicked are estranged from the womb: They go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.

Psalm 59:12 KJV 1900

For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips Let them even be taken in their pride: And for cursing and lying which they speak.

Proverbs 4:24 KJV 1900

Put away from thee a froward mouth, And perverse lips put far from thee.

Proverbs 24:28 KJV 1900

Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; And deceive not with thy lips.

Isaiah 59:3 KJV 1900

For your hands are defiled with blood, And your fingers with iniquity; Your lips have spoken lies, Your tongue hath muttered perverseness.

Isaiah 59:13 KJV 1900

In transgressing and lying against the Lord, And departing away from our God, Speaking oppression and revolt, Conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.

Hosea 4:2 KJV 1900

By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, And blood toucheth blood.

Micah 6:12 KJV 1900

For the rich men thereof are full of violence, And the inhabitants thereof have spoken lies, And their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.

Nahum 3:1 KJV 1900

Woe to the bloody city! It is all full of lies and robbery; The prey departeth not;

Romans 13:9 KJV 1900

For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

1 Peter 2:1 KJV 1900

Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,

1 Peter 3:10 KJV 1900

For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:

John 1:47 KJV 1900

Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!

, - Many stories about Jacob involve deceit. He bargained with his uncle Laban to serve seven years for Rachel. Laban agreed, but at the wedding he gave Jacob Leah instead. Jacob said Laban beguiled or deceived him.

Genesis 29:18 KJV 1900

And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.

Genesis 29:25 KJV 1900

And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?

, - Pharaoh deceived Moses by promising to let Israel go if the plagues were removed. When that was done, he did not keep his promise.

Exodus 8:28 KJV 1900

And Pharaoh said, I will let you go, that ye may sacrifice to the Lord your God in the wilderness; only ye shall not go very far away: intreat for me.

Exodus 8:29 KJV 1900

And Moses said, Behold, I go out from thee, and I will intreat the Lord that the swarms of flies may depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people, to morrow: but let not Pharaoh deal deceitfully any more in not letting the people go to sacrifice to the Lord.

- God is not a man, that He should lie ... Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? The implication is that, if God did not keep His promises, He would be guilty of lying.

Numbers 23:19 KJV 1900

God is not a man, that he should lie; Neither the son of man, that he should repent: Hath he said, and shall he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

As humans, there may be circumstances beyond our control when we simply cannot keep a promise we really intended to keep. But when we knowingly make a promise we never intend to keep, or when we could keep it but we deliberately choose not to, that is deceit. How many of us are guilty?[; ; ; ; ; ; ,]

Jeremiah 5:2 KJV 1900

And though they say, The Lord liveth; surely they swear falsely.

Exodus 21:8 KJV 1900

If she please not her master, who hath betrothed her to himself, then shall he let her be redeemed: to sell her unto a strange nation he shall have no power, seeing he hath dealt deceitfully with her.

Psalm 24:4 KJV 1900

He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; Who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, Nor sworn deceitfully.

Malachi 1:14 KJV 1900

But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, And voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing: For I am a great King, saith the Lord of hosts, And my name is dreadful among the heathen.

Matthew 21:30 KJV 1900

And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.

Acts 24:25 KJV 1900

And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.

Genesis 3:4 KJV 1900

And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:

Genesis 3:5 KJV 1900

For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

This may seem kind, but it is a form of deliberately deceiving others.

- They delight in lies; they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. When we don't mean the nice things we say, we are lying.

Psalm 62:4 KJV 1900

They only consult to cast him down from his excellency: They delight in lies: They bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah.

, - Nevertheless they flattered Him with their mouth, and they lied to Him with their tongue. Here the people flattered God by professing that they would serve Him but did not really mean it in their hearts. This is both a form of flattery and failure to keep promises. The passage says they lied.

Psalm 78:36 KJV 1900

Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, And they lied unto him with their tongues.

Psalm 78:37 KJV 1900

For their heart was not right with him, Neither were they stedfast in his covenant.

- False teachers often walk according to their lusts, speaking smooth words, flattering people to gain advantage. This is deception because they say nice things about others, professing to care about them, but really they just seek their own advantage (money, a following, etc.).

Jude 16 KJV 1900

These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.

This may remind us of politicians trying to get votes. They pretend to think highly of you, but they really want something from you.Sometimes we really hold an unfavorable view of someone, but we don't want to insult them, so it is easy to say what we don't mean. Perhaps it isn't even proper for us to be thinking those negative thoughts about others. But if our thoughts are valid, then we need to either speak the truth or find something we can honestly say or just change the subject.

But lying should not be an option.

Are we guilty?

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Romans 16:17 KJV 1900

Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

Romans 16:18 KJV 1900

For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

Proverbs 26:24 KJV 1900

He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, And layeth up deceit within him;

Proverbs 26:25 KJV 1900

When he speaketh fair, believe him not: For there are seven abominations in his heart.

Proverbs 26:28 KJV 1900

A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; And a flattering mouth worketh ruin.

Proverbs 27:6 KJV 1900

Faithful are the wounds of a friend; But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

Jeremiah 9:8 KJV 1900

Their tongue is as an arrow shot out; it speaketh deceit: One speaketh peaceably to his neighbour with his mouth, But in heart he layeth his wait.

Psalm 12:2 KJV 1900

They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: With flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.

- Satan told Eve she would not die if she ate of the forbidden fruit. Yet God had said she would die (2:17). After Eve sinned, she said the serpent had beguiled her (3:13).

Genesis 3:4 KJV 1900

And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:

[; ] - Prophets prophesied lies in God's name. He had not sent them, commanded them, nor spoken to them, but they prophesied a false vision and the deceit of their heart.

1 Timothy 2:14 KJV 1900

And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.

2 Corinthians 11:3 KJV 1900

But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

Jeremiah 14:14 KJV 1900

Then the Lord said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.

- "False apostles" are called "deceitful workers," because they pretend to be servants of Christ, angels of light, and ministers of righteousness. Many teachers present themselves as men of God teaching His word, yet they teach things they cannot find in the Bible.

2 Corinthians 11:13–15 KJV 1900

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

, - Elymas the sorcerer tried to prevent Sergius Paulus from accepting the gospel. Paul accused him of being full of deceit and fraud.Note that false teaching is sinful for a number of reasons.

Acts 13:6 KJV 1900

And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-jesus:

Acts 13:10 KJV 1900

And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?

But one reason is that it always involves deceit. Many religious leaders are deceitful because they claim a teaching is from God when they know they don't have the proof. But sometimes a teacher is sincerely in error - he really believes he is teaching truth; in that case, he has been deceived by someone else.

All false teaching is ultimately a lie in that it all originates with Satan, who knows it is a lie. So false teaching is wrong for many reasons.

But one reason is that it always involves deceit. Let us make sure we are not guilty![Note especially ,,; ,; ; .

Ezekiel 13:6–9 KJV 1900

They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The Lord saith: and the Lord hath not sent them: and they have made others to hope that they would confirm the word. Have ye not seen a vain vision, and have ye not spoken a lying divination, whereas ye say, The Lord saith it; albeit I have not spoken? Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Because ye have spoken vanity, and seen lies, therefore, behold, I am against you, saith the Lord God. And mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies: they shall not be in the assembly of my people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither shall they enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the Lord God.

Ezekiel 13:19 KJV 1900

And will ye pollute me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to slay the souls that should not die, and to save the souls alive that should not live, by your lying to my people that hear your lies?

Ezekiel 13:22 KJV 1900

Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life:

1 Thessalonians 2:3 KJV 1900

For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:

1 Thessalonians 2:4 KJV 1900

But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.

1 Timothy 4:2 KJV 1900

Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

Revelation 12:9 KJV 1900

And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

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2 Corinthians 4:2 KJV 1900

But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

Revelation 2:2 KJV 1900

I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:

Revelation 3:14 KJV 1900

And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

Revelation 20:3 KJV 1900

And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

Revelation 20:10 KJV 1900

And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

Isaiah 30:10 KJV 1900

Which say to the seers, See not; And to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, Speak unto us smooth things, Prophesy deceits:

Isaiah 9:15 KJV 1900

The ancient and honourable, he is the head; And the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail.

Romans 16:18 KJV 1900

For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

Jeremiah 48:10 KJV 1900

Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully, And cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood.

Jeremiah 5:31 KJV 1900

The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?

Jeremiah 6:13 KJV 1900

For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely.

Jeremiah 20:6 KJV 1900

And thou, Pashur, and all that dwell in thine house shall go into captivity: and thou shalt come to Babylon, and there thou shalt die, and shalt be buried there, thou, and all thy friends, to whom thou hast prophesied lies.

Jeremiah 23:14 KJV 1900

I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: They commit adultery, and walk in lies: They strengthen also the hands of evildoers, That none doth return from his wickedness: They are all of them unto me as Sodom, And the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah.

Jeremiah 23:25 KJV 1900

I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed.

Jeremiah 23:26 KJV 1900

How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart;

Jeremiah 23:32 KJV 1900

Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the Lord, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the Lord.

Jeremiah 27:10 KJV 1900

For they prophesy a lie unto you, to remove you far from your land; and that I should drive you out, and ye should perish.

Jeremiah 27:14–16 KJV 1900

Therefore hearken not unto the words of the prophets that speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon: for they prophesy a lie unto you. For I have not sent them, saith the Lord, yet they prophesy a lie in my name; that I might drive you out, and that ye might perish, ye, and the prophets that prophesy unto you. Also I spake to the priests and to all this people, saying, Thus saith the Lord; Hearken not to the words of your prophets that prophesy unto you, saying, Behold, the vessels of the Lord’s house shall now shortly be brought again from Babylon: for they prophesy a lie unto you.

Jeremiah 29:8 KJV 1900

For thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed.

Jeremiah 29:21–31 KJV 1900

Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, of Ahab the son of Kolaiah, and of Zedekiah the son of Maaseiah, which prophesy a lie unto you in my name; Behold, I will deliver them into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon; and he shall slay them before your eyes; And of them shall be taken up a curse by all the captivity of Judah which are in Babylon, saying, The Lord make thee like Zedekiah and like Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire; Because they have committed villany in Israel, and have committed adultery with their neighbours’ wives, and have spoken lying words in my name, which I have not commanded them; even I know, and am a witness, saith the Lord. Thus shalt thou also speak to Shemaiah the Nehelamite, saying, Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, Because thou hast sent letters in thy name unto all the people that are at Jerusalem, and to Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest, and to all the priests, saying, The Lord hath made thee priest in the stead of Jehoiada the priest, that ye should be officers in the house of the Lord, for every man that is mad, and maketh himself a prophet, that thou shouldest put him in prison, and in the stocks. Now therefore why hast thou not reproved Jeremiah of Anathoth, which maketh himself a prophet to you? For therefore he sent unto us in Babylon, saying, This captivity is long: build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them. And Zephaniah the priest read this letter in the ears of Jeremiah the prophet. Then came the word of the Lord unto Jeremiah, saying, Send to all them of the captivity, saying, Thus saith the Lord concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite; Because that Shemaiah hath prophesied unto you, and I sent him not, and he caused you to trust in a lie:

1 John 4:1 KJV 1900

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Titus 1:10 KJV 1900

For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:

Ezekiel 21:29 KJV 1900

Whiles they see vanity unto thee, whiles they divine a lie unto thee, to bring thee upon the necks of them that are slain, of the wicked, whose day is come, when their iniquity shall have an end.

Ezekiel 22:28 KJV 1900

And her prophets have daubed them with untempered morter, seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord God, when the Lord hath not spoken.

Daniel 2:9 KJV 1900

But if ye will not make known unto me the dream, there is but one decree for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can shew me the interpretation thereof.

Zechariah 10:2 KJV 1900

For the idols have spoken vanity, And the diviners have seen a lie, And have told false dreams; They comfort in vain: Therefore they went their way as a flock, They were troubled, because there was no shepherd.

Zechariah 13:3 KJV 1900

And it shall come to pass, that when any shall yet prophesy, Then his father and his mother that begat him shall say unto him, Thou shalt not live; For thou speakest lies in the name of the Lord: And his father and his mother that begat him shall thrust him through when he prophesieth.

Matthew 24:24 KJV 1900

For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

Romans 1:25 KJV 1900

Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

2 Thessalonians 2:9–11 KJV 1900

Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

1 Kings 22:22 KJV 1900

And the Lord said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so.

1 Kings 22:23 KJV 1900

Now therefore, behold, the Lord hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the Lord hath spoken evil concerning thee.

2 John 7 KJV 1900

For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

Deuteronomy 11:16 KJV 1900

Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them;

Ephesians 4:14 KJV 1900

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

Colossians 2:4 KJV 1900

And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.

Colossians 2:8 KJV 1900

Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

- Those who depart from the truth speak lies in hypocrisy. Note that their hypocrisy is associated with lying.

1 Timothy 4:2 KJV 1900

Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

- Lay aside guile (deceit), hypocrisy, and evil speaking. Again, hypocrisy is associated with deceit. Hypocrisy is deceit because the hypocrite puts on a false front. He pretends to be better than he is.

1 Peter 2:1 KJV 1900

Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,

- When one pretends to offer a sacrifice to God but refuses to give what He knows God wants, he is a deceiver accursed of God.Many people, even in the church, profess to serve God faithfully.

Malachi 1:14 KJV 1900

But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, And voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing: For I am a great King, saith the Lord of hosts, And my name is dreadful among the heathen.

But are we really doing what we know we should, or are we just deceiving others and maybe ourselves? Are we giving what we know God wants, or is it just a pretense? [; ; ; ; ; ]

Psalm 78:35–37 KJV 1900

And they remembered that God was their rock, And the high God their redeemer. Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, And they lied unto him with their tongues. For their heart was not right with him, Neither were they stedfast in his covenant.

Galatians 2:14 KJV 1900

But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?

Acts 5:1–9 KJV 1900

But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.

Jeremiah 7:4–11 KJV 1900

Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord, are these. For if ye throughly amend your ways and your doings; if ye throughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbour; If ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed not innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other gods to your hurt: Then will I cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, for ever and ever. Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit. Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not; And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations? Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the Lord.

Jeremiah 3:10 KJV 1900

And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the Lord.

Acts 5:5 KJV 1900

And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.

Bible examples , - Joseph's brothers sold him to the Midianites, dipped his coat in blood, brought it to Jacob and said, "We found this coat. Does it look like your son's or not?" This was technically true, but they omitted pertinent facts so they could lead Jacob to believe a wild animal had killed Joseph.

Genesis 37:28 KJV 1900

Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.

Genesis 37:31–33 KJV 1900

And they took Joseph’s coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood; And they sent the coat of many colours, and they brought it to their father; and said, This have we found: know now whether it be thy son’s coat or no. And he knew it, and said, It is my son’s coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces.

, - When confronted by Moses regarding the golden calf, Aaron said he threw in the gold and out came the calf. But he neglected to say that he had fashioned the calf with an engraving tool!

Exodus 32:4 KJV 1900

And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

Exodus 32:24 KJV 1900

And I said unto them, Whosoever hath any gold, let them break it off. So they gave it me: then I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf.

,; - One of the accusations made against Jesus at His trials was that he claimed He would destroy the temple and built it again in three days. But those who said this were "false witnesses."

Matthew 26:60 KJV 1900

But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses,

Matthew 26:61 KJV 1900

And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.

Matthew 27:40 KJV 1900

And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.

It was technically true that Jesus had said He would build the temple in three days. But He was referring to His body, meaning that He would rise from the dead three days after they killed Him ().

John 2:19–21 KJV 1900

Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body.

This is the method the photographer at the Cubs game was using.Modern entertainment is often filled with this.

Even Disney movies, "I Love Lucy," "Andy Griffith," and other supposedly good programs often justify deceit.

A popular song entitled "Sad Movies Always Make Me Cry" tells of a girl who goes home crying because she saw her boyfriend at a movie with another girl. When her mother asks her what's wrong, she says "to keep from telling her a lie, I just said, 'Sad movies always make me cry.'"

It was technically true, but deceitful.

Most false teaching involves half-truths.

What the teacher says may be technically true, but he leaves out essential facts or twists the truth to lead people to believe something different from what God intended.

Some things are confidential or there may be no good reason why some particular person should be told what we know. Keeping a matter secret or confidential is not necessarily wrong. But if you are keeping a matter to yourself, don't lead others to think things that are untrue or that you have told them the whole matter when you have not.

I suspect that every accountable person has violated these principles, most of us many times. But have we repented of it, or do we continue to justify such practices?[; ; ,; ,,]

Proverbs 30:8 KJV 1900

Remove far from me vanity and lies: Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with food convenient for me:

Acts 23:27 KJV 1900

This man was taken of the Jews, and should have been killed of them: then came I with an army, and rescued him, having understood that he was a Roman.

Genesis 3:4 KJV 1900

And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:

Genesis 3:5 KJV 1900

For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

Ezra 4:1 KJV 1900

Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the Lord God of Israel;

Ezra 4:2 KJV 1900

Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye do; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esar-haddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither.

Ezra 4:11–16 KJV 1900

This is the copy of the letter that they sent unto him, even unto Artaxerxes the king; Thy servants the men on this side the river, and at such a time. Be it known unto the king, that the Jews which came up from thee to us are come unto Jerusalem, building the rebellious and the bad city, and have set up the walls thereof, and joined the foundations. Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city be builded, and the walls set up again, then will they not pay toll, tribute, and custom, and so thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings. Now because we have maintenance from the king’s palace, and it was not meet for us to see the king’s dishonour, therefore have we sent and certified the king; That search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers: so shalt thou find in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful unto kings and provinces, and that they have moved sedition within the same of old time: for which cause was this city destroyed. We certify the king that, if this city be builded again, and the walls thereof set up, by this means thou shalt have no portion on this side the river.

- Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. People often think they are so smart that they fool themselves into believing error.A man in the movie "Princess Bride" thought he could out-smart anyone. He tried to fool another man to get him to drink poison, but then ended up drinking it himself. That is the way people are who think they are so smart but end up fooling themselves.

1 Corinthians 3:18 KJV 1900

Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.

- If anyone thinks himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Sometimes people do not want to admit what they are really like, so they deceive themselves into thinking they are better than they are.

Galatians 6:3 KJV 1900

For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.

, - But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one's religion is useless. People deceive themselves, because they are in many ways religious. So they think they are acceptable, but God is still not pleased because of sins in other areas of their lives.

James 1:22 KJV 1900

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

James 1:26 KJV 1900

If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.

- If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

1 John 1:8 KJV 1900

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

, - Some will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. Note that these people end up believing error, because they do not like the truth.

2 Timothy 4:3 KJV 1900

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

2 Timothy 4:4 KJV 1900

And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

They prefer teachers who "tickle their ears" - tell them what they want to hear. So they may end up believing they are acceptable to God, but they deceived themselves.

They claim they have been convinced by scientific evidence, but that is not really why they believe as they do. They just don't want to face the truth, so they defend evolution or other error till they convince themselves it is true.The same often happens with people who have family members or loved ones who go into error - perhaps an unscriptural divorce or false religious practice. They cannot bring themselves to believe their loved ones are lost, so they seek for a justification till they finally convince themselves.One of the few things I remember from my college psychology course was an experiment in which people were asked to do a boring job (turn pegs on a board), and they said it was boring. Then they were paid to convince other people it was a good job. When asked again later, they said it was a good job. For the sake of money they had misled other people so long that they ended up believing their own lie.I'm convinced this happens with many false teachers. They may doubt what they teach, but they know they are expected to teach it and people want to hear it, so they teach it.

After a while they become convinced it is true.Self-deception is sad in any area of life, but it is especially sad that the area of life in which most people deceive themselves is religion.God hates tongues that speak lies.

What about you and me? Are we guilty of lying?

The truth is that we have all been guilty at one time or another. Have we been forgiven?

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Romans 1:19–25 KJV 1900

Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

Isaiah 30:9–11 KJV 1900

That this is a rebellious people, lying children, Children that will not hear the law of the Lord: Which say to the seers, See not; And to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, Speak unto us smooth things, Prophesy deceits: Get you out of the way, Turn aside out of the path, Cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.

2 Thessalonians 2:9–12 KJV 1900

Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Jeremiah 5:31 KJV 1900

The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?

John 8:31–55 KJV 1900

Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham. But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil? Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me. And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth. Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death. Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death. Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself? Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God: Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying.

2 Timothy 4:4 KJV 1900

And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

- Jesus said regarding Satan: "there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it." Satan influences men to lie.

John 8:44 KJV 1900

Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

- Ananias and Sapphira lied about their gift to the church. Peter asked, "Why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit...?" - Jesus names things that come from the heart and defile a man, including false witness. When we tell lies then we have followed the influence of Satan, but the ultimate problem is in our hearts. If we are going to change, we have to start by changing our attitudes. What specific problems lead us to tell lies?[; ]

Acts 5:1–9 KJV 1900

But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.

Matthew 15:18–20 KJV 1900

But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.

Isaiah 59:13 KJV 1900

In transgressing and lying against the Lord, And departing away from our God, Speaking oppression and revolt, Conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.

Jeremiah 17:9 KJV 1900

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

- Jacob said his uncle Laban had deceived him and changed his wages ten times. He would agree to pay a certain wage, but the result would work out to Jacob's advantage, so he would change and try to pay something else instead. Jacob said this was deceitful.

Genesis 31:7 KJV 1900

And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me.

- Ahab, King of Israel, wanted to buy a vineyard, but the owner Naboth would not sell. Ahab's wife Jezebel proclaimed a feast in Naboth's honor (vv 9,10), then had two men testify he had blasphemed, so he was stoned to death.

1 Kings 21:1–16 KJV 1900

And it came to pass after these things, that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel, hard by the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. And Ahab spake unto Naboth, saying, Give me thy vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it is near unto my house: and I will give thee for it a better vineyard than it; or, if it seem good to thee, I will give thee the worth of it in money. And Naboth said to Ahab, The Lord forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee. And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him: for he had said, I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers. And he laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread. But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said unto him, Why is thy spirit so sad, that thou eatest no bread? And he said unto her, Because I spake unto Naboth the Jezreelite, and said unto him, Give me thy vineyard for money; or else, if it please thee, I will give thee another vineyard for it: and he answered, I will not give thee my vineyard. And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel? arise, and eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite. So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles that were in his city, dwelling with Naboth. And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people: And set two men, sons of Belial, before him, to bear witness against him, saying, Thou didst blaspheme God and the king. And then carry him out, and stone him, that he may die. And the men of his city, even the elders and the nobles who were the inhabitants in his city, did as Jezebel had sent unto them, and as it was written in the letters which she had sent unto them. They proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people. And there came in two men, children of Belial, and sat before him: and the men of Belial witnessed against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, Naboth did blaspheme God and the king. Then they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned him with stones, that he died. Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, Naboth is stoned, and is dead. And it came to pass, when Jezebel heard that Naboth was stoned, and was dead, that Jezebel said to Ahab, Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give thee for money: for Naboth is not alive, but dead. And it came to pass, when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, that Ahab rose up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it.

; - A false balance and deceitful weights are an abomination to God. These are ways to cheat people in business dealings by lying and deceit.

Proverbs 11:1 KJV 1900

A false balance is abomination to the Lord: But a just weight is his delight.

Micah 6:11 KJV 1900

Shall I count them pure with the wicked balances, And with the bag of deceitful weights?

Often businesses tell lies to convince people to buy their products. Some companies require employees to lie. Years ago a clerk told me that, at her store, clerks were expected to overcharge customers enough to pay their own salary.I like to shop at OfficeMax, but I don't like some of their ads. They have a rewards program that offers items, like a case of paper for $40 with $30 rewards. Ads say, "It's like getting it for $10." But it isn't! To use the $30 reward, you have to buy something else for $30 or more. So it isn't like getting something worth $40 for $10. It's getting things worth $70 for $40!

That is deceitful.Politicians make false promises or lie about their past in order to get elected. Personal gain is also what motivates many false teachers.

- A poor man is better than a liar. God says if you can't get rich honestly, change your job or stay poor.

Proverbs 19:22 KJV 1900

The desire of a man is his kindness: And a poor man is better than a liar.

How honest are we in our business dealings?[; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ]

Leviticus 6:2–5 KJV 1900

If a soul sin, and commit a trespass against the Lord, and lie unto his neighbour in that which was delivered him to keep, or in fellowship, or in a thing taken away by violence, or hath deceived his neighbour; Or have found that which was lost, and lieth concerning it, and sweareth falsely; in any of all these that a man doeth, sinning therein: Then it shall be, because he hath sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took violently away, or the thing which he hath deceitfully gotten, or that which was delivered him to keep, or the lost thing which he found, Or all that about which he hath sworn falsely; he shall even restore it in the principal, and shall add the fifth part more thereto, and give it unto him to whom it appertaineth, in the day of his trespass offering.

Leviticus 19:11 KJV 1900

Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another.

Amos 8:5 KJV 1900

Saying, When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? And the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, Making the ephah small, and the shekel great, And falsifying the balances by deceit?

Proverbs 21:6 KJV 1900

The getting of treasures by a lying tongue Is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death.

Proverbs 20:23 KJV 1900

Divers weights are an abomination unto the Lord; And a false balance is not good.

Exodus 18:21 KJV 1900

Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:

Romans 1:19–25 KJV 1900

Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

Isaiah 32:7 KJV 1900

The instruments also of the churl are evil: He deviseth wicked devices To destroy the poor with lying words, Even when the needy speaketh right.

Joshua 7:11 KJV 1900

Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff.

Jeremiah 5:27 KJV 1900

As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich.

Malachi 1:14 KJV 1900

But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, And voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing: For I am a great King, saith the Lord of hosts, And my name is dreadful among the heathen.

, - This is what led Jacob's sons to deceive him to think a wild animal killed Joseph. They had sold him as a slave and did not want their father to find out.

Genesis 37:28 KJV 1900

Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.

Genesis 37:31–33 KJV 1900

And they took Joseph’s coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood; And they sent the coat of many colours, and they brought it to their father; and said, This have we found: know now whether it be thy son’s coat or no. And he knew it, and said, It is my son’s coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces.

- When Elisha healed Naaman of leprosy, he refused to take a gift from him. Elisha's servant Gehazi pursued Naaman and asked for money and garments. When Elisha asked about it, Gehazi said he had not gone anywhere. He lied to cover up.

2 Kings 5:25 KJV 1900

But he went in, and stood before his master. And Elisha said unto him, Whence comest thou, Gehazi? And he said, Thy servant went no whither.

A classic example of our time has been Pres. Clinton and the Lewinsky affair. But many other politicians and other famous people have lied to cover up their sins. Politicians are often known to practice many forms of evil, but lying under oath is about the only one that seems to upset many people.Nearly every criminal lies to deny guilt. Illegal aliens often lie about their citizenship status in order to get a job or a driver's license.And most of us have lied to cover our sins."

The devil has many tools, but a lie is the handle that fits them all." Almost any sin you can name will lead to lying to cover it up: adultery, murder, stealing, etc. Have you and I been guilty? Have we repented of the sins of the past?

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2 Samuel 11:6–13 KJV 1900

And David sent to Joab, saying, Send me Uriah the Hittite. And Joab sent Uriah to David. And when Uriah was come unto him, David demanded of him how Joab did, and how the people did, and how the war prospered. And David said to Uriah, Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet. And Uriah departed out of the king’s house, and there followed him a mess of meat from the king. But Uriah slept at the door of the king’s house with all the servants of his lord, and went not down to his house. And when they had told David, saying, Uriah went not down unto his house, David said unto Uriah, Camest thou not from thy journey? why then didst thou not go down unto thine house? And Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing. And David said to Uriah, Tarry here to day also, and to morrow I will let thee depart. So Uriah abode in Jerusalem that day, and the morrow. And when David had called him, he did eat and drink before him; and he made him drunk: and at even he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but went not down to his house.

Isaiah 28:15–17 KJV 1900

Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, And with hell are we at agreement; When the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: For we have made lies our refuge, And under falsehood have we hid ourselves: Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, A tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: He that believeth shall not make haste. Judgment also will I lay to the line, And righteousness to the plummet: And the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, And the waters shall overflow the hiding place.

Proverbs 26:24–28 KJV 1900

He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, And layeth up deceit within him; When he speaketh fair, believe him not: For there are seven abominations in his heart. Whose hatred is covered by deceit, His wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation. Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: And he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him. A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; And a flattering mouth worketh ruin.

Proverbs 12:19 KJV 1900

The lip of truth shall be established for ever: But a lying tongue is but for a moment.

Proverbs 12:20 KJV 1900

Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: But to the counsellers of peace is joy.

Genesis 18:15 KJV 1900

Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.

Joshua 7:11 KJV 1900

Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff.

- For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips, Let them even be taken in their pride, And for the cursing and lying which they speak. Note that pride has led these people to lie.

Psalm 59:12 KJV 1900

For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips Let them even be taken in their pride: And for cursing and lying which they speak.

- The lie Ananias and Sapphira told was evidently motivated by pride. Other people were giving sacrificial gifts to the church, and they wanted people to think they had made a greater sacrifice than what they had.

Acts 5:1–9 KJV 1900

But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.

,, - The Pharisees were hypocrites because they pretended to be religiously devout in order to get the favor of people.

Matthew 6:2 KJV 1900

Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

Matthew 6:5 KJV 1900

And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

Matthew 6:16 KJV 1900

Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

Some lie about how much education or what work experience they have in order to get a job.

Many false teachers misrepresent their doctrine or their personal lives. If they told people the truth they couldn't get a following, so they must be hypocrites and deceive others. We hear of many who try to hide their immorality so people would think more highly of them.

Has pride led you deceive or mislead other people in order to impress them?

[; ,; ; with 27:18; ; ; ; ]

Matthew 23:5 KJV 1900

But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,

Acts 20:29 KJV 1900

For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

Acts 20:30 KJV 1900

Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

Matthew 7:15 KJV 1900

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Matthew 26:59 KJV 1900

Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;

Psalm 119:69 KJV 1900

The proud have forged a lie against me: But I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart.

Galatians 6:3 KJV 1900

For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.

Isaiah 44:20 KJV 1900

He feedeth on ashes: A deceived heart hath turned him aside, That he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?

Hosea 10:13 KJV 1900

Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; Ye have eaten the fruit of lies: Because thou didst trust in thy way, In the multitude of thy mighty men.

Some people tell lies just to avoid causing problems for others or even just to avoid hurting their feelings.

- When Abraham moved to a foreign land he told his wife Sarah to tell people that she was his sister, otherwise someone might kill him to take her as a wife. (note vv 18-20,24,35) - Isaac sent Esau to hunt and fix venison, then he would bless him. Rebekah loved Jacob more than she did Isaac and wanted Jacob to receive the blessing. So she fixed venison from a goat, put skins on Jacob's hands and neck, put Esau's clothes on him, and sent him in to get the blessing. So because she supposedly loved him, she led Jacob to take the blessing with guile (deceit). [Cf. v12]

Genesis 12:11–13 KJV 1900

And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon: Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive. Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.

Genesis 27 KJV 1900

And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Behold, here am I. And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death: Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison; And make me savoury meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die. And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it. And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying, Bring me venison, and make me savoury meat, that I may eat, and bless thee before the Lord before my death. Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command thee. Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good kids of the goats; and I will make them savoury meat for thy father, such as he loveth: And thou shalt bring it to thy father, that he may eat, and that he may bless thee before his death. And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man: My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing. And his mother said unto him, Upon me be thy curse, my son: only obey my voice, and go fetch me them. And he went, and fetched, and brought them to his mother: and his mother made savoury meat, such as his father loved. And Rebekah took goodly raiment of her eldest son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob her younger son: And she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck: And she gave the savoury meat and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob. And he came unto his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I; who art thou, my son? And Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau thy firstborn; I have done according as thou badest me: arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me. And Isaac said unto his son, How is it that thou hast found it so quickly, my son? And he said, Because the Lord thy God brought it to me. And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or not. And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau. And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau’s hands: so he blessed him. And he said, Art thou my very son Esau? And he said, I am. And he said, Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son’s venison, that my soul may bless thee. And he brought it near to him, and he did eat: and he brought him wine, and he drank. And his father Isaac said unto him, Come near now, and kiss me, my son. And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the Lord hath blessed: Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, And the fatness of the earth, And plenty of corn and wine: Let people serve thee, And nations bow down to thee: Be lord over thy brethren, And let thy mother’s sons bow down to thee: Cursed be every one that curseth thee, And blessed be he that blesseth thee. And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was yet scarce gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting. And he also had made savoury meat, and brought it unto his father, and said unto his father, Let my father arise, and eat of his son’s venison, that thy soul may bless me. And Isaac his father said unto him, Who art thou? And he said, I am thy son, thy firstborn Esau. And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who? where is he that hath taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed. And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father. And he said, Thy brother came with subtilty, and hath taken away thy blessing. And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me? And Isaac answered and said unto Esau, Behold, I have made him thy lord, and all his brethren have I given to him for servants; and with corn and wine have I sustained him: and what shall I do now unto thee, my son? And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept. And Isaac his father answered and said unto him, Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, And of the dew of heaven from above; And by thy sword shalt thou live, And shalt serve thy brother; And it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, That thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck. And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob. And these words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebekah: and she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said unto him, Behold, thy brother Esau, as touching thee, doth comfort himself, purposing to kill thee. Now therefore, my son, obey my voice; and arise, flee thou to Laban my brother to Haran; And tarry with him a few days, until thy brother’s fury turn away; Until thy brother’s anger turn away from thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to him: then I will send, and fetch thee from thence: why should I be deprived also of you both in one day? And Rebekah said to Isaac, I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth: if Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as these which are of the daughters of the land, what good shall my life do me?

This kind of lie is often justified on popular TV shows and movies. You don't tell the truth if it hurts someone's feelings or gets them in trouble.Young people often think that loyalty means they should lie to protect their friends. My aunt once was upset with my cousin and me because we had told her different stories about what we had done. He said if he knew what I was going to say he would have said the same thing. She asked if he would lie to her just to cover up and he said he would.Family members likewise often lie to cover for one another. They may fuss and feud among themselves, but they will cover for one another even lying if necessary.These are perverted concepts of love. Jesus said that love should lead us to obey God's commands; it is not an excuse to disobey them (; ).

John 14:16 KJV 1900

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

1 John 5:3 KJV 1900

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

, - People could not trust anyone else because everyone would deceive his neighbor. They would not speak the truth; they taught their tongue to speak lies.

Jeremiah 9:4 KJV 1900

Take ye heed every one of his neighbour, And trust ye not in any brother: For every brother will utterly supplant, And every neighbour will walk with slanders.

Jeremiah 9:5 KJV 1900

And they will deceive every one his neighbour, And will not speak the truth: They have taught their tongue to speak lies, And weary themselves to commit iniquity.

- The deceitful tongue loves evil more than good, and lying rather than speaking righteousness. Some people just seem to get pleasure out of misleading others. They are not just kidding others. They just enjoy seeing if they can deceive people.

Psalm 52:2–4 KJV 1900

Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; Like a sharp rasor, working deceitfully. Thou lovest evil more than good; And lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah. Thou lovest all devouring words, O thou deceitful tongue.

[]Lying is basically an attitude problem. People lie because they do not love truth and love God as they should. The only solution is to change the heart and love God enough to obey Him.Are you and I guilty? Have we repented and been forgiven of our sins?

Psalm 50:19 KJV 1900

Thou givest thy mouth to evil, And thy tongue frameth deceit.

- Jacob deceived Isaac to get the blessing that Isaac intended to give to Esau. Esau was so hurt and angry when he learned what Jacob had done that he threatened to kill Jacob (vv 34-38). As a result, Jacob had to flee from home and Jacob and Esau were alienated for years afterward. [27:41; 28:2]

Genesis 27 KJV 1900

And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Behold, here am I. And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death: Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison; And make me savoury meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die. And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it. And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying, Bring me venison, and make me savoury meat, that I may eat, and bless thee before the Lord before my death. Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command thee. Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good kids of the goats; and I will make them savoury meat for thy father, such as he loveth: And thou shalt bring it to thy father, that he may eat, and that he may bless thee before his death. And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man: My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing. And his mother said unto him, Upon me be thy curse, my son: only obey my voice, and go fetch me them. And he went, and fetched, and brought them to his mother: and his mother made savoury meat, such as his father loved. And Rebekah took goodly raiment of her eldest son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob her younger son: And she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck: And she gave the savoury meat and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob. And he came unto his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I; who art thou, my son? And Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau thy firstborn; I have done according as thou badest me: arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me. And Isaac said unto his son, How is it that thou hast found it so quickly, my son? And he said, Because the Lord thy God brought it to me. And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or not. And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau. And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau’s hands: so he blessed him. And he said, Art thou my very son Esau? And he said, I am. And he said, Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son’s venison, that my soul may bless thee. And he brought it near to him, and he did eat: and he brought him wine, and he drank. And his father Isaac said unto him, Come near now, and kiss me, my son. And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the Lord hath blessed: Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, And the fatness of the earth, And plenty of corn and wine: Let people serve thee, And nations bow down to thee: Be lord over thy brethren, And let thy mother’s sons bow down to thee: Cursed be every one that curseth thee, And blessed be he that blesseth thee. And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was yet scarce gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting. And he also had made savoury meat, and brought it unto his father, and said unto his father, Let my father arise, and eat of his son’s venison, that thy soul may bless me. And Isaac his father said unto him, Who art thou? And he said, I am thy son, thy firstborn Esau. And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who? where is he that hath taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed. And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father. And he said, Thy brother came with subtilty, and hath taken away thy blessing. And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me? And Isaac answered and said unto Esau, Behold, I have made him thy lord, and all his brethren have I given to him for servants; and with corn and wine have I sustained him: and what shall I do now unto thee, my son? And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept. And Isaac his father answered and said unto him, Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, And of the dew of heaven from above; And by thy sword shalt thou live, And shalt serve thy brother; And it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, That thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck. And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob. And these words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebekah: and she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said unto him, Behold, thy brother Esau, as touching thee, doth comfort himself, purposing to kill thee. Now therefore, my son, obey my voice; and arise, flee thou to Laban my brother to Haran; And tarry with him a few days, until thy brother’s fury turn away; Until thy brother’s anger turn away from thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to him: then I will send, and fetch thee from thence: why should I be deprived also of you both in one day? And Rebekah said to Isaac, I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth: if Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as these which are of the daughters of the land, what good shall my life do me?

- After promising to give Rachel as a wife to Jacob, Laban instead gave him Leah. As a result Jacob worked seven years for a woman he did not want to marry. Later, Jacob became so alienated that he left his father-in-law, because Laban kept deceiving him (chap. 31). Eventually both sisters married Jacob, resulting in strife and alienation the rest of their lives.

Genesis 29 KJV 1900

Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east. And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks: and a great stone was upon the well’s mouth. And thither were all the flocks gathered: and they rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again upon the well’s mouth in his place. And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they said, Of Haran are we. And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know him. And he said unto them, Is he well? And they said, He is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep. And he said, Lo, it is yet high day, neither is it time that the cattle should be gathered together: water ye the sheep, and go and feed them. And they said, We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together, and till they roll the stone from the well’s mouth; then we water the sheep. And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep: for she kept them. And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother. And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept. And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s brother, and that he was Rebekah’s son: and she ran and told her father. And it came to pass, when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister’s son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. And he told Laban all these things. And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month. And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be? And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured. And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter. And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me. And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her. And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her. And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast. And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her. And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid. And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me? And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years. And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also. And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid. And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years. And when the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren. And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the Lord hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me. And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the Lord hath heard that I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon. And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi. And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the Lord: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.

- When his sons deceived him, Jacob grieved and mourned for many years believing his son Joseph really had died. Later his sons were sorry for the grief they caused. Many of us know families in which people have been alienated from one another because of lies. One of the main lessons to be learned from Jacob's family is the severe problems that deceit can cause. If you want a good family life, one thing you need to develop in a relationship in which every family member can trust everyone else to be honest.

Genesis 37:33–35 KJV 1900

And he knew it, and said, It is my son’s coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces. And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days. And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him.

Lying and deceit often destroy people's reputations or alienate people, not just in families, but also on the job, at school, and in the church. When people find out others have lied to them or about them, they are often hurt and angry

. - They have spoken against me with a lying tongue. Often lies and slander are used to destroy the credibility and reputation of an innocent or godly person.

Psalm 109:2 KJV 1900

For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me: They have spoken against me with a lying tongue.

- Jesus warned that people would revile and persecute His disciples, and say all kinds of evil against them falsely. False accusations and lies are a standard means of persecution, intended to intimidate the righteous to compromise the truth or to discredit their influence.

Matthew 5:11 KJV 1900

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

- A man who bears false witness is like a club, a sword, and a sharp arrow. The man who said, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me," obviously was never the victim of the campaign of a slanderer. Trust me, it can be quite painful and leave wounds in your emotions and marks on your reputation for years.We need to be sure that we do not harm others with lies.

Proverbs 25:18 KJV 1900

A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour Is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.

We need to practice sincere honesty with our family, friends, and in the church.[; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ,; ]

1 Kings 21 KJV 1900

And it came to pass after these things, that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel, hard by the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. And Ahab spake unto Naboth, saying, Give me thy vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it is near unto my house: and I will give thee for it a better vineyard than it; or, if it seem good to thee, I will give thee the worth of it in money. And Naboth said to Ahab, The Lord forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee. And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him: for he had said, I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers. And he laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread. But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said unto him, Why is thy spirit so sad, that thou eatest no bread? And he said unto her, Because I spake unto Naboth the Jezreelite, and said unto him, Give me thy vineyard for money; or else, if it please thee, I will give thee another vineyard for it: and he answered, I will not give thee my vineyard. And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel? arise, and eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite. So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles that were in his city, dwelling with Naboth. And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people: And set two men, sons of Belial, before him, to bear witness against him, saying, Thou didst blaspheme God and the king. And then carry him out, and stone him, that he may die. And the men of his city, even the elders and the nobles who were the inhabitants in his city, did as Jezebel had sent unto them, and as it was written in the letters which she had sent unto them. They proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people. And there came in two men, children of Belial, and sat before him: and the men of Belial witnessed against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, Naboth did blaspheme God and the king. Then they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned him with stones, that he died. Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, Naboth is stoned, and is dead. And it came to pass, when Jezebel heard that Naboth was stoned, and was dead, that Jezebel said to Ahab, Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give thee for money: for Naboth is not alive, but dead. And it came to pass, when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, that Ahab rose up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it. And the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, which is in Samaria: behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, whither he is gone down to possess it. And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the Lord, Hast thou killed, and also taken possession? And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the Lord, In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine. And Ahab said to Elijah, Hast thou found me, O mine enemy? And he answered, I have found thee: because thou hast sold thyself to work evil in the sight of the Lord. Behold, I will bring evil upon thee, and will take away thy posterity, and will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel, And will make thine house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, for the provocation wherewith thou hast provoked me to anger, and made Israel to sin. And of Jezebel also spake the Lord, saying, The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel. Him that dieth of Ahab in the city the dogs shall eat; and him that dieth in the field shall the fowls of the air eat. But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the Lord, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up. And he did very abominably in following idols, according to all things as did the Amorites, whom the Lord cast out before the children of Israel. And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly. And the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before me? because he humbleth himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days: but in his son’s days will I bring the evil upon his house.

Exodus 20:16 KJV 1900

Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

Leviticus 6:2–5 KJV 1900

If a soul sin, and commit a trespass against the Lord, and lie unto his neighbour in that which was delivered him to keep, or in fellowship, or in a thing taken away by violence, or hath deceived his neighbour; Or have found that which was lost, and lieth concerning it, and sweareth falsely; in any of all these that a man doeth, sinning therein: Then it shall be, because he hath sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took violently away, or the thing which he hath deceitfully gotten, or that which was delivered him to keep, or the lost thing which he found, Or all that about which he hath sworn falsely; he shall even restore it in the principal, and shall add the fifth part more thereto, and give it unto him to whom it appertaineth, in the day of his trespass offering.

Deuteronomy 19:18 KJV 1900

And the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother;

Psalm 31:18 KJV 1900

Let the lying lips be put to silence; Which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.

Psalm 35:20 KJV 1900

For they speak not peace: But they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land.

Psalm 62:4 KJV 1900

They only consult to cast him down from his excellency: They delight in lies: They bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah.

Psalm 119:69 KJV 1900

The proud have forged a lie against me: But I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart.

Matthew 26:59 KJV 1900

Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;

Proverbs 26:18 KJV 1900

As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,

Proverbs 26:19 KJV 1900

So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, And saith, Am not I in sport?

Jeremiah 9:8 KJV 1900

Their tongue is as an arrow shot out; it speaketh deceit: One speaketh peaceably to his neighbour with his mouth, But in heart he layeth his wait.

- If a ruler pays attention to lies, all his servants become wicked. Lying tends to feed on itself. The more some people tell lies, the more other people become involved, especially when people in influential positions tell lies.Children often learn to practice lying from their parents. Jacob learned it from his mother, and his sons learned it from Jacob and from his mother and his uncle. A son observed his father cheat on his income tax. The father sent the son to tell a salesman he was not home. An uncle bribed a police officer to avoid a ticket. Later the son was expelled from a military academy for cheating. The father said, "I just don't understand it! Where did you learn to act like that?" Is your example teaching your children to be liars? If so, you can expect them to lie to you!

Proverbs 29:12 KJV 1900

If a ruler hearken to lies, All his servants are wicked.

- The very first sin occurred because the serpent "deceived" Eve. - The prophets taught lies and led the people to err and be destroyed. - The lies of false teachers not only strengthen the hands of the wicked, they also make the righteous sad.

Genesis 3:13 KJV 1900

And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

Isaiah 9:14–16 KJV 1900

Therefore the Lord will cut off from Israel head and tail, Branch and rush, in one day. The ancient and honourable, he is the head; And the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail. For the leaders of this people cause them to err; And they that are led of them are destroyed.

Ezekiel 13:22 KJV 1900

Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life:

[,]Many have been led to sin by the influence of people who lie and deceive. People who go into error are still responsible, because they should check out what is taught. But the false teacher is also responsible for the fact his lies led people into sin. Meanwhile, some continue to do right, but they are saddened by seeing others led into sin and by hearing teaching that says they are the ones who are wrong.What about you and me? Have we led other people to sin by telling things that are untrue?

Jeremiah 23:14 KJV 1900

I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: They commit adultery, and walk in lies: They strengthen also the hands of evildoers, That none doth return from his wickedness: They are all of them unto me as Sodom, And the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah.

Jeremiah 23:32 KJV 1900

Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the Lord, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the Lord.

[; ; ,; ; ; ; Zech, 10:2; ; ]

Matthew 24:24 KJV 1900

For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

1 Kings 13:8–18 KJV 1900

And the man of God said unto the king, If thou wilt give me half thine house, I will not go in with thee, neither will I eat bread nor drink water in this place: For so was it charged me by the word of the Lord, saying, Eat no bread, nor drink water, nor turn again by the same way that thou camest. So he went another way, and returned not by the way that he came to Beth-el. Now there dwelt an old prophet in Beth-el; and his sons came and told him all the works that the man of God had done that day in Beth-el: the words which he had spoken unto the king, them they told also to their father. And their father said unto them, What way went he? For his sons had seen what way the man of God went, which came from Judah. And he said unto his sons, Saddle me the ass. So they saddled him the ass: and he rode thereon, And went after the man of God, and found him sitting under an oak: and he said unto him, Art thou the man of God that camest from Judah? And he said, I am. Then he said unto him, Come home with me, and eat bread. And he said, I may not return with thee, nor go in with thee: neither will I eat bread nor drink water with thee in this place: For it was said to me by the word of the Lord, Thou shalt eat no bread nor drink water there, nor turn again to go by the way that thou camest. He said unto him, I am a prophet also as thou art; and an angel spake unto me by the word of the Lord, saying, Bring him back with thee into thine house, that he may eat bread and drink water. But he lied unto him.

2 Thessalonians 2:9 KJV 1900

Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

2 Thessalonians 2:10 KJV 1900

And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

Deuteronomy 11:16 KJV 1900

Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them;

Jeremiah 27:14–16 KJV 1900

Therefore hearken not unto the words of the prophets that speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon: for they prophesy a lie unto you. For I have not sent them, saith the Lord, yet they prophesy a lie in my name; that I might drive you out, and that ye might perish, ye, and the prophets that prophesy unto you. Also I spake to the priests and to all this people, saying, Thus saith the Lord; Hearken not to the words of your prophets that prophesy unto you, saying, Behold, the vessels of the Lord’s house shall now shortly be brought again from Babylon: for they prophesy a lie unto you.

Amos 2:4 KJV 1900

Thus saith the Lord; For three transgressions of Judah, And for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; Because they have despised the law of the Lord, And have not kept his commandments, And their lies caused them to err, After the which their fathers have walked:

Acts 13:6–10 KJV 1900

And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-jesus: Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God. But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?

1 Timothy 4:2 KJV 1900

Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

- Those who love God do not respect those who turn aside to lies. People want friends they can trust and rely on. If you want good people to respect and trust you, don't lie.

Psalm 40:4 KJV 1900

Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust, And respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.

- He who works deceit shall not dwell within my house; He who tells lies shall not continue in my presence. Good people cannot afford to continue to associate with liars, and surely cannot tolerate it in their own homes.

Psalm 101:7 KJV 1900

He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: He that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight.

, - People could not trust even their own brother because they would lie and deceive. A liar is not trustworthy. You never know when he's lying.Young people need to learn this lesson early. If you lie to your parents about where you go or what you do, it ruins your relationship. Some complain, "Why don't you trust me?" "I only told one lie." That's all it takes to destroy trust. After that they never know when we are lying.Have you ruined other people's trust in you by telling lies?

Jeremiah 9:4 KJV 1900

Take ye heed every one of his neighbour, And trust ye not in any brother: For every brother will utterly supplant, And every neighbour will walk with slanders.

Jeremiah 9:5 KJV 1900

And they will deceive every one his neighbour, And will not speak the truth: They have taught their tongue to speak lies, And weary themselves to commit iniquity.

; - Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who deal truthfully are His delight. Remember that lying is twice in the list of things that God hates.

Proverbs 12:22 KJV 1900

Lying lips are abomination to the Lord: But they that deal truly are his delight.

Proverbs 6:16–19 KJV 1900

These six things doth the Lord hate: Yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, Feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, And he that soweth discord among brethren.

- God will destroy those who speak falsehood. He abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man. God is true and cannot lie ().

Psalm 5:6 KJV 1900

Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: The Lord will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.

Titus 1:2 KJV 1900

In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

When we lie, He cannot fellowship us. We separate ourselves from Him.

- All liars will have part in the second death, the lake of fire.

Revelation 21:8 KJV 1900

But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

; , - He who makes lies will in no wise enter into the holy city. But everyone who loves and makes a lie will be outside the city.Lying is the common cold of spiritual diseases. It is probably the most common sin committed by men, including Christians. As a result, many people consider it minor. They speak of "little white lies." But no lie is little or white. Unlike colds, lies are deadly: spiritually deadly. They will eternally damn those who do not repent.If we want spiritual fellowship with God, we must love truth, speak truth, and remove lying and deceit from our lives.

Revelation 21:27 KJV 1900

And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Revelation 22:14 KJV 1900

Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

Revelation 22:15 KJV 1900

For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

[; ,; ,; ; ; ; ; ; ]

Isaiah 59:1–4 KJV 1900

Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; Neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, And your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood, And your fingers with iniquity; Your lips have spoken lies, Your tongue hath muttered perverseness. None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: They trust in vanity, and speak lies; They conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.

Romans 1:29 KJV 1900

Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

Romans 1:32 KJV 1900

Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Proverbs 19:5 KJV 1900

A false witness shall not be unpunished, And he that speaketh lies shall not escape.

Proverbs 19:9 KJV 1900

A false witness shall not be unpunished, And he that speaketh lies shall perish.

Proverbs 21:28 KJV 1900

A false witness shall perish: But the man that heareth speaketh constantly.

Psalm 5:6 KJV 1900

Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: The Lord will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.

Psalm 55:23 KJV 1900

But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: Bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; But I will trust in thee.

Zechariah 8:17 KJV 1900

And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the Lord.

Zechariah 5:4 KJV 1900

I will bring it forth, saith the Lord of hosts, And it shall enter into the house of the thief, And into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name: And it shall remain in the midst of his house, And shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof.

Ezekiel 13:6–9 KJV 1900

They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The Lord saith: and the Lord hath not sent them: and they have made others to hope that they would confirm the word. Have ye not seen a vain vision, and have ye not spoken a lying divination, whereas ye say, The Lord saith it; albeit I have not spoken? Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Because ye have spoken vanity, and seen lies, therefore, behold, I am against you, saith the Lord God. And mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies: they shall not be in the assembly of my people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither shall they enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the Lord God.

Psalm 58:3 KJV 1900

The wicked are estranged from the womb: They go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.

[God cannot lie - ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ]

1 Peter 2:22 KJV 1900

Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

John 14:6 KJV 1900

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 1:14 KJV 1900

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

John 16:13 KJV 1900

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

Romans 3:4 KJV 1900

God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

Numbers 23:19 KJV 1900

God is not a man, that he should lie; Neither the son of man, that he should repent: Hath he said, and shall he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

1 Samuel 15:29 KJV 1900

And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.

John 17:17 KJV 1900

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

Hebrews 6:18 KJV 1900

That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

Isaiah 53:9 KJV 1900

And he made his grave with the wicked, And with the rich in his death; Because he had done no violence, Neither was any deceit in his mouth.

, - Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way. All Your precepts concerning all things I consider to be right; I hate every false way. - I hate and abhor lying, But I love Your law. - Love does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth.You and I must develop a strong commitment about lying. Don't just mildly dislike lies, but actively hate the practice. If we continually remind ourselves of the terrible consequences of lying, this should motivate us to avoid lying and to oppose it in others.

Psalm 119:104 KJV 1900

Through thy precepts I get understanding: Therefore I hate every false way.

Psalm 119:128 KJV 1900

Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; And I hate every false way.

Psalm 119:163 KJV 1900

I hate and abhor lying: But thy law do I love.

1 Corinthians 13:6 KJV 1900

Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

, - For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. We speak according to what is in our hearts, so we need to harbor only truth in our hearts.

Matthew 12:34 KJV 1900

O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

Matthew 12:35 KJV 1900

A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

- Finally, brethren, whatever things are true ... meditate on these things. - The one who abides in God's tabernacle is he who speaks the truth in his heart. In order to speak truth with our mouths, we must speak truth in our hearts.

Philippians 4:8 KJV 1900

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Psalm 15:2 KJV 1900

He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, And speaketh the truth in his heart.

- You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom. To be speakers of truth, we must fill our hearts with truth, especially with God's word. [; ; ; ; ]

Psalm 51:6 KJV 1900

Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: And in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

Proverbs 12:5 KJV 1900

The thoughts of the righteous are right: But the counsels of the wicked are deceit.

Proverbs 26:24 KJV 1900

He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, And layeth up deceit within him;

John 8:32 KJV 1900

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

John 3:21 KJV 1900

But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

2 Timothy 4:2–4 KJV 1900

Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

Do not dally with falsehoods.

Do not consider repeating such things.

Refuse to have anything to do with them.

- Keep yourself far from a false matter.

Exodus 23:7 KJV 1900

Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked.

- Put away from you a deceitful mouth, And put perverse lips far from you.

Proverbs 4:24 KJV 1900

Put away from thee a froward mouth, And perverse lips put far from thee.

- Remove falsehood and lies far from me.

Proverbs 30:8 KJV 1900

Remove far from me vanity and lies: Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with food convenient for me:

Don't see how close to error you can get; stay "far" from lying. We must both fill our hearts with truth and reject lies and deceit. Don't harbor falsehood in your heart and it cannot be expressed in your speech.

Often we end up telling lies because we associate with liars, we listen to their lies, and we learn to imitate their evil.

- An evildoer gives heed to false lips; A liar listens eagerly to a spiteful tongue. When we listen to other people's falsehoods, we are tempted to speak them ourselves.

Proverbs 17:4 KJV 1900

A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; And a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.

- He who works deceit shall not dwell within my house; He who tells lies shall not continue in my presence. [Cf. vv 4-7]If we are to keep truth in our hearts and avoid falsehood, we must take care whose speech we listen to. Yes, we should help liars repent and be forgiven. But if they refuse to repent and continue to speak lies, we must limit our association in order to keep our own hearts pure.

Psalm 101:7 KJV 1900

He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: He that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight.

- Who will stand in God's holy place? Those who have clean hands and a pure heart.

Psalm 24:3–5 KJV 1900

Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; Who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, Nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, And righteousness from the God of his salvation.

Those who have not lifted up their souls to falsehood and have not sworn deceitfully.

This is the one who will be blessed by the Lord.Lying is truly an abomination to the Lord.

He hates a lying tongue.

What about you and me?

Do we have lying tongues such as God hates?

Or are we such as can stand before God holy because we have not accepted falsehood and deceit into our hearts and lives?

Have you become a Christian and been forgiven of your sins?

Lying and Deceit: What Does the Bible Teach?

Lying and Deceit: What Does the Bible Teach?

What are some ways people may be guilty of lying and deceiving others?

Why do people tell lies or deceive, and what consequences can result?

What does the Bible say?

What must we do to overcome dishonesty and learn to be honest and truthful? What does the Bible teach about the dangers of falsehood?

Introduction

By its very nature, a lie is untrue. It is a falsehood.

Note that not everything that is untrue is necessarily a lie or deceit.

I. Specific Kinds of Lies and Deceit

A. Outright Falsehoods

These are "bold-faced lies" - the one who tells them is well aware that he has told an outright falsehood.

B. False Promises

Some people make promises they have no intention of keeping or know they cannot keep. This is a form of deliberately misleading people.

C. Flattery

Often people want to make a favorable impression on others, so they say nice things that they don't really mean or don't really believe to be true.

D. False Doctrine

When religious teaching is presented as truth even though it cannot be proved by the Bible, deceit is always involved.

E. Hypocrisy

A hypocrite is a deceiver because he pretends to be something he knows he is not.

He tries to give other people the impression he is more righteous than he really is.

F. Half Truths

Some think they are innocent as long as they say what is technically true, even though they intend to mislead others to believe what is not true.

It is possible to tell things that are technically true, yet we leave out pertinent facts or otherwise so speak that we lead others to believe untruths.

Modern examples

Many salesmen are experts at half-truths.

I emphasize:

we are not required to tell people everything we know.

G. Self-Deception

One of the saddest forms of deceit is self-deception. People who don't want to face reality can sometimes convince themselves to believe things that they really know are not true.

Bible teaching

Many passages warn about self-deception.

This especially happens in religion.

Modern examples

People who believe in evolution, atheism, and many other false doctrines, often have motivations for not believing in God.

Have we repented and obeyed God's conditions to forgive us?

II. Causes of Lying and Deceit

In order to avoid lying and deceit, we need to know what causes people to be guilty.

Ultimately all lies are conceived in the heart under the influence of Satan.

A. Selfishness or Personal Gain

Some lies are told for personal gain or pleasure.

We seek to obtain some benefit that we think we cannot achieve by telling truth.

Bible examples

Modern examples

B. Cover-up

When people sin or commit other acts they want to hide from others, they often tell lies.

Bible examples

Modern examples

C. Pride and Envy

Often people tell lies because they want people to think they are better than they really are.

Bible examples

Modern examples

Like Ananias and Sapphira, some people deceive others about their possessions or wealth or generosity in order to impress others.

D. Misguided "Love"/Kindness

Bible examples

Modern examples

E. Habit

Some people begin to lie for various reasons, but then it just becomes a way of life.

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They lie even when there appears to be no real purpose in it.

III. Consequences of Lying and Deceit

Why should we avoid lying? What problems does it cause?

A. Lying Harms Other People.

Examples in Jacob's life

These examples show the harm that can come when people practice lying and deceit.

Other passages

B. Lying Influences Others to Sin.Liars often influence other people to tell lies.

False teachers also deceive other people to sin.

C. Lying Leads to Loss of Respect and Confidence.

Who can trust someone who is known to tell lies?

D. Lying Alienates from God and Condemns Eternally.

IV. Overcoming Lying and Deceit

Consider some steps we should take to help avoid being guilty of lying or deceit.

A. Love Truth and Hate Lies

B. Fill Your Heart with Truth

C. Stay Far from Falsehood.

D. Avoid People and Influences Known to Lie or Deceive.

Conclusion