Deceit and God’s nature

God’s nature and purposes are not based on deception

Deceit is contrary to the nature of God

Titus 1:2 NRSV

in the hope of eternal life that God, who never lies, promised before the ages began—

See also Jn 16:13; 1 Pe 2:22

God cannot be deceived

1 Chronicles 28:9 NRSV

“And you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve him with single mind and willing heart; for the Lord searches every mind, and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will abandon you forever.

See also Ps 139:1; Ac 5:3; 1 Co 4:5

Jesus Christ does not deceive

Isaiah 53:9 NRSV

They made his grave with the wicked and his tomb with the rich, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.

Satan’s power rests on deception

John 8:44 NRSV

You are from your father the devil, and you choose to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

See also Ge 3:1–4; 2 Co 11:3; 2 Co 11:14; 2 Th 2:9–10

The coming antichrist will rely on deception

2 John 7 NRSV

Many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh; any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist!

See also Mt 24:24; Re 13:14

False prophets and false teachers rely on deception

2 Corinthians 11:13 NRSV

For such boasters are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.

See also Je 14:14; Je 23:26; Eze 13:6; Ac 20:30; Ro 16:18; Eph 4:14; 1 Ti 4:2; Tt 1:10–11; 2 Pe 2:1–3

Deception is at the heart of human sin

The fall took place through deception

Ge 3:1–4; Ge 3:13

See also 1 Ti 2:14

Deception is a characteristic of fallen human nature

Jeremiah 17:9 NRSV

The heart is devious above all else; it is perverse— who can understand it?

See also Job 15:35

Deceptive speech:

Ps 5:9; Ps 10:7; Ps 35:20; Ps 36:3; Mic 6:12; Ro 3:13

Ps 38:12; Ps 116:11; Pr 12:5; Je 9:4–5 deceptive friends and brothers; Ho 11:12; Na 3:1; Mt 15:19; Ro 1:29; 2 Ti 3:13; Tt 1:12

Examples of deceit

Ge 4:9 Cain

Abraham:

Ge 12:13; Ge 20:2

Ge 26:7 Isaac; Ge 27:19 Jacob; Ge 31:7 Laban; Ge 37:31 Joseph’s brothers; Ex 8:29 Pharaoh; Jos 9:4 the Gibeonites

David:

1 Sa 21:2; 1 Sa 21:13

2 Sa 13:6 Amnon; 1 Ki 13:18 the old prophet; 2 Ki 5:22 Gehazi; Mt 2:8 Herod

The Pharisees:

Matthew 22:18 NRSV

But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites?