Deceitfulness is a recurring theme in the Bible, often associated with sin, moral corruption, and the fallen nature of humanity. It is characterized by the act of misleading or deceiving others through falsehoods, trickery, or cunning. The Bible consistently warns against deceitfulness, highlighting its destructive consequences and urging believers to pursue truth and integrity.

Old Testament References

In the Old Testament, deceitfulness is frequently condemned as contrary to God's nature and His commandments. The book of Proverbs offers numerous warnings about deceit. Proverbs 12:22 states, "Lying lips are detestable to the LORD, but those who deal faithfully are His delight." This verse underscores the Lord's abhorrence of deceit and His pleasure in truthfulness.

The account of Jacob and Esau in Genesis 27 illustrates the personal and familial turmoil that deceit can cause. Jacob, with the help of his mother Rebekah, deceives his father Isaac to receive the blessing meant for Esau. This act of deceit leads to long-lasting conflict and separation within the family.

New Testament Teachings

In the New Testament, deceitfulness is similarly denounced. Jesus Christ, in His teachings, emphasizes the importance of sincerity and truth. In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus warns against the deceitfulness of wealth, which can lead individuals away from spiritual truth: "But the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful" (Mark 4:19).

The Apostle Paul also addresses deceitfulness in his epistles. In Ephesians 4:22-25, Paul instructs believers to "put off your former way of life, your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be renewed in the spirit of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one another."

Spiritual Implications

Deceitfulness is not only a moral failing but also a spiritual danger. It is often linked with the influence of Satan, who is described as the "father of lies" (John 8:44). The Bible portrays deceit as a tool of the enemy to lead people away from God and into sin. In 2 Corinthians 11:3, Paul expresses concern that believers might be led astray by deceit, just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning.

Call to Truthfulness

The Bible calls believers to a life of truthfulness and integrity, reflecting the character of God. Psalm 51:6 declares, "Surely You desire truth in the inmost being; You teach me wisdom in the inmost place." This verse highlights God's desire for His people to embody truth at the core of their being.

In the Christian life, truthfulness is not merely an ethical obligation but a reflection of one's relationship with God. As followers of Christ, believers are called to reject deceitfulness and embrace the truth, living in a manner that honors God and builds up the community of faith.1. (n.) The disposition to deceive; as, a man's deceitfulness may be habitual.

2. (n.) The quality of being deceitful; as, the deceitfulness of a man's practices.

3. (n.) Tendency to mislead or deceive.

539. apate -- deceit
... Noun, Feminine Transliteration: apate Phonetic Spelling: (ap-at'-ay) Short Definition:
deceit, deception Definition: deceit, deception, deceitfulness, delusion ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/539.htm - 6k8649b. tarmith -- deceitfulness
... 8649a, 8649b. tarmith. 8650 . deceitfulness. Transliteration: tarmith Short
Definition: deception. Word Origin from ramah Definition ...
/hebrew/8649b.htm - 5k

The Deceitfulness of Sin.
... the first and third lines of the stanza. Hymn 2:150. The deceitfulness
of sin. 1 Sin has a thousand treacherous arts To practise ...
/.../watts/hymns and spiritual songs/hymn 0 1875 the deceitfulness of.htm

The Deceitfulness of Sin.
... Hymns, Book II HYMN 150 The deceitfulness of sin. CM The deceitfulness of sin.
Sin has a thousand treach'rous arts. To practise on the mind; ...
/.../watts/the psalms and hymns of isaac watts/hymn 150 the deceitfulness of.htm

The Deceitfulness of the Human Heart
... Third Series Sermon 123 The Deceitfulness of the Human Heart. "The heart of man
is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: Who can know it?" ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 123 the deceitfulness of.htm

"For what the Law could not Do, in that it was Weak through the ...
... But that is the deceitfulness of our hearts to cover our desperate wickedness from
our own discerning, and flatter ourselves with self-pleasing thoughts. ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xi for what the.htm

Preface.
... would say that those of Celsus were "according to the rudiments of the world." Now
those words, which contained some element of deceitfulness, the apostle ...
//christianbookshelf.org/origen/origen against celsus/preface.htm

"And if any Man Sin, we have an Advocate with the Father,",
... For who did truly ponder the inclineableness of our nature to sin, the strong
propension of the heart to evil, the deceitfulness of sin itself, and the many ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xxiv and if any.htm

Tenth Commandment
... The Bible speaks of the deceitfulness of two things""the deceitfulness of sin" and
"the deceitfulness of riches." Riches are like a mirage in the desert ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/weighed and wanting/tenth commandment.htm

Sin.
... 2. Sin is deceiving. "But exhort one another daily, while it is called to-day; lest
any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." Heb.3:13. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/orr/the gospel day /chapter iii sin.htm

The Crowded Life
... For some it is full of the cares of this world, and for some it is full of the
deceitfulness of riches. ... That is the deceitfulness of riches. ...
/.../peabody/mornings in the college chapel/xlviii the crowded life.htm

Against those who Object Because the Devil Has not Been Put Out of ...
... this one thing first, that he does not overcome us by force, or by compulsion; next
after that, we added that even when he overcomes by deceitfulness, not thus ...
/.../chrysostom/on the priesthood/homily ii against those who.htm

Deceitfulness (7 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) The disposition to deceive; as, a man's
deceitfulness may be habitual. ...Deceitfulness (7 Occurrences). ...
/d/deceitfulness.htm - 8k

Choke (6 Occurrences)
... is carried a little farther still in describing the way the word, planted in the
heart, is overcome by the care of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches ...
/c/choke.htm - 9k

Unfruitful (8 Occurrences)
... Matthew 13:22 What was sown among the thorns, this is he who hears the word, but
the cares of this age and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he ...
/u/unfruitful.htm - 9k

Worries (6 Occurrences)
... Matthew 13:22 And that sown toward the thorns, this is he who is hearing the word,
and the anxiety of this age, and the deceitfulness of the riches, do choke ...
/w/worries.htm - 8k

Insincerity (5 Occurrences)
... of being insincere; want of sincerity, or of being in reality what one appears to
be; dissimulation; hypocritical; deceitfulness; hollowness; untrustworthiness ...
/i/insincerity.htm - 8k

Riches (118 Occurrences)
... Matthew 13:22 What was sown among the thorns, this is he who hears the word, but
the cares of this age and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he ...
/r/riches.htm - 41k

Making (644 Occurrences)
... Matthew 13:22 What was sown among the thorns, this is he who hears the word, but
the cares of this age and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he ...
/m/making.htm - 34k

Proves (11 Occurrences)
... Matthew 13:22 What was sown among the thorns, this is he who hears the word, but
the cares of this age and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he ...
/p/proves.htm - 9k

Becometh (82 Occurrences)
... Matthew 13:22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the
word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the ...
/b/becometh.htm - 30k

Becomes (138 Occurrences)
... Matthew 13:22 What was sown among the thorns, this is he who hears the word, but
the cares of this age and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he ...
/b/becomes.htm - 34k

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Deceitfulness: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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