The concept of misleading is a significant theme in the Bible, often associated with deception, false teachings, and leading others astray from the truth of God's Word. The Bible warns against those who mislead others and emphasizes the importance of discernment and adherence to the truth.

Old Testament References

In the Old Testament, misleading is frequently linked with false prophets and idolatry. Deuteronomy 13:1-3 warns the Israelites about prophets or dreamers who might lead them astray: "If a prophet or dreamer of dreams arises among you and proclaims a sign or wonder to you, and if the sign or wonder he has spoken to you comes to pass, but he says, ‘Let us follow other gods (which you have not known) and let us worship them,’ you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer."

The prophets often spoke against those who misled the people of Israel. Jeremiah 23:32 states, "‘Indeed,’ declares the LORD, ‘I am against those who prophesy false dreams,’ declares the LORD. ‘They tell them and lead My people astray with their reckless lies, yet I did not send or appoint them. They do not benefit these people in the least,’ declares the LORD."

New Testament Warnings

In the New Testament, Jesus Christ and the apostles frequently warned against false teachers and those who would mislead believers. In Matthew 24:4-5 , Jesus cautions, "See to it that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many."

The apostle Paul also addressed the issue of misleading teachings in his letters. In 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 , he writes, "For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their actions."

Paul further warns in Galatians 1:6-7 , "I am astonished how quickly you are deserting the One who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—which is not even a gospel. Evidently some people are troubling you and trying to distort the gospel of Christ."

Discernment and Truth

The Bible emphasizes the need for discernment to avoid being misled. In 1 John 4:1 , believers are instructed, "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world."

The pursuit of truth is paramount, as seen in John 8:31-32 , where Jesus says, "If you continue in My word, you are truly My disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

Consequences of Misleading

The Bible makes it clear that those who mislead others will face judgment. In Matthew 18:6 , Jesus warns, "But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea."

Revelation 21:8 also speaks of the fate of deceivers: "But to the cowardly, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and sexually immoral, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death."

The theme of misleading in the Bible serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of truth and the dangers of deception. Believers are called to remain vigilant, grounded in Scripture, and committed to the truth of the Gospel.5583. pseustes from the same as NG5574 -- liar.
... Cognate: 5583 (from 5574 , "to falsify, lie") -- properly, a lair; a person
who falsifies, misrepresents (distorts, misleads). Word ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5583.htm - 7k

4105. planao -- to cause to wander, to wander
... deceived (9), deceives (3), deceiving (2), go astray (1), gone astray (3),
leads...astray (2), led astray (1), misguided (1), mislead (4), misleads (2), misled ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4105.htm - 9k

5496. suth -- to incite, allure, instigate
... instigate NASB Word Usage diverted (1), entice (2), enticed (1), incited (3), inciting
(1), induced (1), mislead (2), misleading (1), misleads (1), misled (1 ...
/hebrew/5496.htm - 6k

7686. shagah -- to go astray, err
... 1), committed a error (1), erred (2), exhilarated (2), go astray (1), goes astray
(1), intoxicated (1), leads the astray (1), misleader (1), misleads (1), reel ...
/hebrew/7686.htm - 6k

The Natural Invisibility of the Father, and the visibility of the ...
... and yet did not die, the Scripture is false in stating that God said, "If a man
see my face, he shall not live." Either way, the Scripture misleads us, when it ...
/.../tertullian/against praxeas/chapter xiv the natural invisibility of.htm

To the Magnesians
... 2For the honor, then, of him who loved us, we ought to obey without any dissembling,
since the real issue is not that a man misleads a bishop whom he can see ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/richardson/early christian fathers/to the magnesians.htm

Chapter xii.
... the splendour of his clothing or other things, is easily convicted by the things
themselves of being a follower of the pomps of the world, and misleads no one ...
/.../augustine/our lords sermon on the mount/chapter xii 2.htm

Of the Sacraments.
... As its brevity makes it somewhat obscure, and thereby misleads the more illiterate,
I wished to remove all doubt, and make the definition fuller by stating it ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 14 of the sacraments.htm

The Living Dead
... dissolution. It misleads us no less, when we use it as if it expressed in
itself the whole truth even as to that act of dissolution. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/the living dead.htm

victor's Simile to Show that God Can Create by Breathing Without ...
... remaining in us notwithstanding the process." Now, however elegant and applicable
this simile seems to you, I beg you to consider how greatly it misleads you. ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 4 iv victors simile to.htm

Index.
... Confessors, the Saint's difficulty in finding, iv.8, 13; harm done by ill-instructed,
v.6, 20, vi.6; one of them misleads the Saint, viii.15; unskilful, xx.28 ...
//christianbookshelf.org/teresa/the life of st teresa of jesus/index 2.htm

Elucidations.
... In Germany a passing stranger often sees the pious peasantry at Mass, singing with
all their hearts their beautiful German hymns. It misleads, however. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/various/early liturgies/elucidations.htm

Several Ways of Controverting his Quibbling Syllogisms.
... severed the connection of the living whole [202] , and thus made it, as he thinks,
a more yielding and assailable victim of his logic, he misleads his own ...
/.../gregory/gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/section 38 several ways of.htm

When a Revival is to be Expected.
... It rather does hurt. It misleads them as to the real nature of religion; and so
far from converting them, it carries them farther away from salvation. ...
/.../finney/lectures on revivals of religion/lecture ii when a revival.htm

Misleads (8 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Misleads (8 Occurrences). ... (WEY). Matthew 24:4 "Take
care that no one misleads you," answered Jesus; (WEY NAS). ...
/m/misleads.htm - 8k

Mislead (13 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Mislead (13 Occurrences). Matthew 24:4 "Take care that
no one misleads you," answered Jesus; (Root in WEY DBY NAS). ...
/m/mislead.htm - 10k

Misleading (8 Occurrences)

/m/misleading.htm - 9k

Misled (7 Occurrences)

/m/misled.htm - 8k

Lie (291 Occurrences)
... the intention to deceive. 3. (n.) A fiction; a fable; an untruth. 4. (n.)
Anything which misleads or disappoints. 5. (vi) To utter ...
/l/lie.htm - 48k

God's (602 Occurrences)
... with the Herodians; who said, "Teacher, we know that you are truthful and that you
faithfully teach God's truth; and that no fear of man misleads you, for you ...
/g/god's.htm - 33k

Faithfully (27 Occurrences)
... with the Herodians; who said, "Teacher, we know that you are truthful and that you
faithfully teach God's truth; and that no fear of man misleads you, for you ...
/f/faithfully.htm - 14k

Truthful (12 Occurrences)
... with the Herodians; who said, "Teacher, we know that you are truthful and that you
faithfully teach God's truth; and that no fear of man misleads you, for you ...
/t/truthful.htm - 9k

Rank (42 Occurrences)
... with the Herodians; who said, "Teacher, we know that you are truthful and that you
faithfully teach God's truth; and that no fear of man misleads you, for you ...
/r/rank.htm - 21k

Deceit (160 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) An attempt to deceive or lead into error; a falsehood; any declaration,
artifice, or practice, which misleads another, or causes him to believe what is ...
/d/deceit.htm - 35k

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