Dishonesty and God’s nature

Dishonesty is contrary to the will and nature of God

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?

See also 1 Sa 15:29; Ro 3:4; Tt 1:2

Dishonesty, like sin, is of satanic origin

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.

See also Ge 3:1–5

God’s hatred of dishonesty

Proverbs 12:22 KJV 1900

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

See also Ps 5:4–6; Pr 6:16–17; Is 59:1–4; Is 59:12–15

Kinds of dishonesty

In business deals

Hosea 12:7 KJV 1900

He is a merchant, the balances of deceit are in his hand: He loveth to oppress.

See also Dt 25:13–16; Pr 20:14; Am 8:5; Mic 6:10

In not paying debts

Psalm 37:21 KJV 1900

The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: But the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.

See also Jas 5:4

In exploiting the poor

Ezekiel 22:29 KJV 1900

The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully.

See also Job 24:2–11; Is 32:7; Je 22:13

God’s judgment on dishonesty

God’s denunciation of dishonesty in general

Hosea 4:1–2 KJV 1900

Hear the word of the Lord, ye children of Israel: For the Lord hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, Because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land. By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, And blood toucheth blood.

See also Le 19:15; Je 7:8–10; 1 Th 4:6

The dishonesty of liars and false witnesses

Pr 19:9; Ac 5:1–10

See also Dt 19:16–19; Jos 7:10–12 regarding Achan’s sin; 2 Ki 5:19–27; Ps 5:6; Is 29:20–21; Je 9:4–9; Re 21:8

The dishonesty of false prophets and teachers

Je 14:14–15; 2 Pe 2:1–3; Is 9:14–15; Je 28:15–16; Eze 13:1–23; Zec 10:2–3; 1 Ti 4:1–2

God’s demands for making amends for dishonesty

Le 6:1–7; Lk 3:12–14 This demonstrated that their repentance was genuine; Lk 19:8 the result of encountering Jesus Christ; Lk 16:1–12 Jesus Christ was not commending the steward’s dishonesty but his shrewdness.