Topical Bible: Lying: Hypocrites Addicted To

◄ Lying: Hypocrites Addicted To ►

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Lying, as a sin, is frequently addressed in the Bible, and it is often associated with hypocrisy. Hypocrites, those who profess one thing but act contrary to their professed beliefs, are depicted as being particularly prone to deceit. The Scriptures provide numerous examples and warnings against such behavior, emphasizing the spiritual and moral dangers it poses.

Biblical References:

1. Isaiah 29:13 : "Therefore the Lord said: 'These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is but rules taught by men.'" This verse highlights the disconnect between outward expressions of faith and the true condition of the heart, a hallmark of hypocrisy.

2. Matthew 23:27-28 : "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity. In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness." Jesus condemns the religious leaders of His time for their outward show of piety that conceals inner corruption, including deceit.

3. Proverbs 12:22 : "Lying lips are detestable to the LORD, but those who deal faithfully are His delight." This proverb underscores the Lord's disdain for lying, a trait often found in hypocrites who use deceit to maintain their false appearances.

4. Psalm 78:36-37 : "But they deceived Him with their mouths, and lied to Him with their tongues. Their hearts were disloyal to Him, and they were unfaithful to His covenant." The psalmist recounts Israel's history of hypocrisy, where their words did not match their actions, leading to a breach in their covenant relationship with God.

5. 1 John 2:4 : "If anyone says, 'I know Him,' but does not keep His commandments, he is a liar, and the truth is not in him." This passage from the New Testament emphasizes that claiming to know God while living in disobedience is a form of lying, characteristic of hypocrites.

The Nature of Hypocritical Lying:

Hypocritical lying is not merely the act of speaking falsehoods but involves a deeper level of deceit where individuals present themselves as virtuous or godly while engaging in sinful behavior. This form of lying is particularly insidious because it not only deceives others but also attempts to deceive God, as seen in the case of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:1-11. Their pretense of generosity was exposed by the Holy Spirit, resulting in severe consequences.

Spiritual Implications:

The Bible warns that hypocritical lying leads to spiritual blindness and hardening of the heart. In Matthew 15:7-9, Jesus quotes Isaiah, rebuking the Pharisees for their hypocrisy, which nullifies the word of God for the sake of tradition. Such behavior distances individuals from God and undermines their witness to others.

Moral and Ethical Considerations:

From a moral standpoint, hypocritical lying erodes trust and integrity, both personally and within the community. It is a violation of the commandment against bearing false witness (Exodus 20:16) and is contrary to the call for Christians to live in truth and sincerity (Ephesians 4:25).

Conclusion:

The Bible consistently condemns lying, particularly when it is used to mask hypocrisy. The call for believers is to live authentically, aligning their words and actions with the truth of God's Word, thereby reflecting His character to the world.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Hosea 11:12
Ephraim compasses me about with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit: but Judah yet rules with God, and is faithful with the saints.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Heavenly Race
... he is an ill bed-fellow; ill at lying down, and ... better to make no profession at all
than to be hypocrites. ... greatest fault to which man can be addicted: they say ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/the heavenly race.htm

Saving Faith.
... Once you did not desire to do them, and, perhaps, those who did, were a pack of
hypocrites, in your estimation. ... Here is another person addicted to lying. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/booth/godliness/chapter ii saving faith.htm

We Shall not be Curious in the Ranking of the Duties in which ...
... Charity is not self addicted. ... Few do conceive an obligation lying on them to it ... importing,
that great censurers are often the greatest hypocrites, and sincerity ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/chapter iv we shall not.htm

1 John ii. 18-27
... "Ye hypocrites, how can ... tree is known by its fruit." [2164] A more lying antichrist
is ... hath within it that are perjured, defrauders, [2165] addicted to black ...
/.../ten homilies on the epistle of john to the parthians/homily iii 1 john ii.htm

Luther -- the Method and Fruits of Justification
... her God, and reproving Him of lying; being furnished ... like unto those of Cain's progeny,
and hypocrites; whose hands ... in bondage: all of them are addicted to the ...
/.../various/the worlds great sermons volume i/luther the method and.htm

The Life and Death of Mr. Badman,
... When he was but a child, he was so addicted to lying that his parents scarce knew
when to believe he spake true; yea, he would invent, tell, and stand to the ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the life and death of.htm

A Holy Life the Beauty of Christianity: Or, an Exhortation to ...
... his readers that, 'To depart from iniquity is to shun those examples, those beastly
examples to drunkenness"to whoredom"to swearing"to lying"to stealing ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a holy life the beauty.htm

The Pharisee and the Publican
... were a due debt; nor could they go before God for a free gift, because, by the
commandment, they were made a payment; but proud men and hypocrites love so to ...
/.../bunyan/the pharisee and publican/the pharisee and the publican.htm

A Few Sighs from Hell;
... They are resolved to disown them; they will give them no entertainment: if the lying
in the streets will do them any good, if hard usage will do them any good ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a few sighs from hell.htm

A Discourse Upon the Pharisee and the Publican
... were a due debt; nor could they go before God for a free gift, because by the
commandment they were made a payment; but proud men and hypocrites, love so to ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a discourse upon the pharisee.htm