Topical Bible: Deceit: Forbidden

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Deceit, defined as the act of concealing or misrepresenting the truth, is consistently condemned throughout the Scriptures. The Bible presents deceit as contrary to the nature of God, who is characterized by truth and righteousness. The prohibition against deceit is rooted in the moral law and is emphasized in both the Old and New Testaments.

Old Testament Teachings

The Old Testament explicitly forbids deceit, associating it with wickedness and unrighteousness. In the Ten Commandments, deceit is implicitly condemned through the commandment against bearing false witness: "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor" (Exodus 20:16). This commandment underscores the importance of truthfulness in maintaining justice and community integrity.

The Psalms frequently highlight the destructive nature of deceit. Psalm 5:6 states, "You destroy those who tell lies; the LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man" . Here, deceit is equated with violence and is shown to be detestable to God. Similarly, Psalm 34:13 advises, "Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from deceitful speech" , urging believers to pursue honesty and integrity.

Proverbs, known for its wisdom literature, also warns against deceit. Proverbs 12:22 declares, "Lying lips are detestable to the LORD, but those who deal faithfully are His delight" . This verse contrasts deceit with faithfulness, highlighting the moral preference for truthfulness.

New Testament Teachings

The New Testament continues the Old Testament's condemnation of deceit, emphasizing its incompatibility with the Christian life. Jesus Christ, in His teachings, often addressed the issue of deceit, particularly in the context of hypocrisy. In Matthew 23:28, He rebukes the Pharisees, saying, "In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness" . Here, deceit is linked with hypocrisy, revealing a disconnect between outward appearances and inward reality.

The apostle Paul also addresses deceit in his epistles. In Ephesians 4:25, he instructs believers, "Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one another" . This exhortation emphasizes the communal aspect of truthfulness, as deceit undermines the unity and trust within the body of Christ.

In 1 Peter 2:1, believers are urged to "rid yourselves of all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind" . This call to reject deceit is part of a broader appeal to live a life that reflects the holiness and purity of God.

Theological Implications

Deceit is fundamentally opposed to the character of God, who is described as a God of truth (Deuteronomy 32:4). The Bible teaches that God cannot lie (Titus 1:2), and His followers are called to emulate His truthfulness. Deceit is seen as a manifestation of the sinful nature, which believers are to put to death through the power of the Holy Spirit (Colossians 3:5-10).

The prohibition against deceit is not merely a legalistic command but is rooted in the transformative work of Christ. Believers are called to live in the light, as children of the light (Ephesians 5:8-9), reflecting the truth and integrity of their Savior. Deceit, therefore, is not only a moral failing but a denial of the new identity in Christ.

Nave's Topical Index

Proverbs 24:28
Be not a witness against your neighbor without cause; and deceive not with your lips.
Nave's Topical Index

1 Peter 3:10
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:
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Library

What was the Life in Paradise, and what was the Forbidden Tree ?
... comes this fruit of mixed knowledge, is among those things which are forbidden;
and that ... hidden, and seem at first sight acceptable, and some deceit makes them ...
/.../gregory/gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/xx what was the life.htm

That the one God was Foretold Even by the Prophets.
... light and forbidden, most cruelly tortured and slew them. They, therefore, who had
no desire for gain, had neither the inclination nor the motive for deceit. ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap iv that the one god.htm

The Eighth Commandment
... and robbery, in the command, Thou shalt not steal.' The thing forbidden in this ... By
deceit and prevarication, the lawyer robs the client of his land, and may be ...
/.../watson/the ten commandments/2 8 the eighth commandment.htm

Letter ii.
... a slippery thing, quick to be cheated, but quick also to recover from deceit and
as ... Let no one deceive thee saying: "God hath not forbidden to marry;" I know ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chrysostom/on the priesthood/letter ii.htm

Chapter ii.
... and most righteously will it be said to them, Depart from me, ye workers of deceit;
ye had ... What, therefore, is blamed in them, this thou art forbidden to do. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/augustine/our lords sermon on the mount/chapter ii 2.htm

Curiosity a Temptation to Sin.
... sight of our eyes[2]." And we thus intrude into things forbidden, in various ... Then
seeming arguments in favour of deceit and evil compliance with the world's ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol viii/sermon v curiosity a temptation.htm

Letter xxii. (AD 392. )
... and unworthy practices in these places, if, besides showing that they are forbidden
by Scripture ... 7. As to "strife and deceit," [1489] what right have I to speak ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/letter xxii a d 392.htm

The Clementine Homilies
... Chapter XXV.--Simon's Deceit. Chapter XXVI.--His Wickedness. ... Chapter XXI.--The Eating
of the Forbidden Fruit Denied. Chapter XXII.--Male and Female. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/unknown/the clementine homilies/

Evans -- the Fall and Recovery of Man
... The eating of the "forbidden tree" was "the offense of one," in consequence ... sin like
bread, and drinking iniquity like water; holding fast deceit, and refusing ...
/.../kleiser/the worlds great sermons volume 3/evans the fall and.htm

Heresy Lowers Respect for Christ, and Destroys all Fear of his ...
... should come who were to work even the greatest miracles, in defence of the deceit
of their ... I had forbidden you to lend an ear to heretics; but in this I erred! ...
/.../the prescription against heretics/chapter xliv heresy lowers respect for.htm