Topical Bible: Lying: Often Accompanied by Gross Crimes

◄ Lying: Often Accompanied by Gross Crimes ►

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Lying, as depicted in the Bible, is not merely a sin of speech but is frequently intertwined with more grievous transgressions. The Scriptures provide numerous instances where deceit is coupled with other serious offenses, illustrating the destructive nature of falsehoods and their capacity to lead to further moral decay.

Old Testament Examples

One of the earliest and most illustrative examples of lying accompanied by gross crimes is found in the account of Cain and Abel. After murdering his brother Abel, Cain lies to God, saying, "I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?" (Genesis 4:9). Here, the lie serves to cover up the heinous act of murder, highlighting how deceit can be used to conceal greater sins.

In the narrative of Jacob and Esau, Jacob's deception of his father Isaac to steal Esau's blessing (Genesis 27) is another instance where lying is linked with a grave offense. Jacob's lie not only results in familial discord but also in a long-lasting enmity between the descendants of the two brothers.

The account of Achan in the Book of Joshua further exemplifies this connection. Achan's theft of devoted items from Jericho, followed by his deceit in hiding the stolen goods, leads to Israel's defeat at Ai and ultimately to Achan's execution (Joshua 7). His lie is directly tied to the crime of theft and the resulting judgment upon Israel.

New Testament Examples

In the New Testament, the account of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 serves as a stark warning about the consequences of lying. They sell a piece of property and deceitfully withhold part of the proceeds while claiming to have given the full amount to the apostles. Their lie, motivated by greed and hypocrisy, results in their immediate deaths, underscoring the severity of lying in the early Christian community.

The trial and crucifixion of Jesus Christ also involve a series of lies and false testimonies. The chief priests and the Sanhedrin seek false witnesses to accuse Jesus, leading to His unjust condemnation (Matthew 26:59-61). This instance demonstrates how lying can be instrumental in the miscarriage of justice and the perpetration of the ultimate crime against the innocent Son of God.

Moral and Spiritual Implications

The Bible consistently portrays lying as a sin that not only offends God but also disrupts human relationships and societal order. Proverbs 6:16-19 lists a lying tongue among the seven things the Lord detests, emphasizing its abominable nature. Furthermore, Revelation 21:8 warns that "all liars" will have their part in the lake of fire, indicating the eternal consequences of unrepentant deceit.

Lying is often a gateway to other sins, as it can be used to manipulate, control, and harm others. It is a tool of Satan, the "father of lies" (John 8:44), who uses deceit to lead people away from truth and righteousness. The Bible calls believers to speak truthfully and to put away falsehood, as seen in Ephesians 4:25: "Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body."

In summary, the biblical narrative consistently associates lying with gross crimes, illustrating its potential to cause significant harm and its incompatibility with a life of holiness and integrity.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Hosea 4:1,2
Hear the word of the LORD, you children of Israel: for the LORD has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Treatise v. An Address to Demetrianus.
... rend you." [3407] For when you used often to come ... The sins of lying, of lust, of
fraud, of ... of property, and such like evils which accompanied the persecutions ...
/.../cyprian/the treatises of cyprian/treatise v an address to.htm

Exposition of the Doctrines of Grace
... turn to the continent of America, how gross the falsehood ... and it has been carried
on full often by those ... to a strange congregation"dead, dry bones, lying in a ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 7 1861/exposition of the doctrines of.htm

Concerning Salutations and Recreations, &C.
... these general titles of honour, what gross abuses are ... from evil, to wit, from
unfaithfulness, lying, deceit; and ... oaths of these times, by so often swearing and ...
/.../proposition xv concerning salutations and.htm

Of Prayer --A Perpetual Exercise of Faith. The Daily Benefits ...
... rule hypocrisy and the device of lying to God are ... not find perfect faith or repentance,
accompanied with fervent ... of the generality of men, how often do David's ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 20 of prayera perpetual.htm

CHAP. II. 4-25 (2-23).
... But that which is the cause of the gross whoredom, is ... The first love is but too
often"nay, it is, more ... wilderness appears as a state of trial, lying in the ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/chap ii 25-apr 2-23.htm

Footnotes
... and heads.{HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS} Some useful sermons have been often perplexed with
a ... in a state of grace, though he should commit the greatest crimes, God sees ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/footnotes.htm

Exposition of the Moral Law.
... wont to devise after forming some gross idea of ... of their parents, because they are
often inflicted for ... the wicked and flagitious for their crimes, by depriving ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 8 exposition of the.htm

The Resurrection of the Dead, and Eternal Judgment:
... Secondly He hath often put us in remembrance of the ... souls were departed from them,
Lazarus lying in his ... of his imperfection, when he is accompanied with many ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the resurrection of the dead.htm

Faustus States his Objections to the Morality of the Law and the ...
... who are described in these writings as guilty of the worst crimes, and as ... that, in
their intercourse though with one wife only, they are often influenced by ...
/.../faustus states his objections to.htm

Beginning at Jerusalem. --Luke xxiv. 47.
... of the gospel is good that is not accompanied with it ... of villany in the guilt thereof,
now lying upon their ... having so often sold thyself to me to work wickedness ...
/.../bunyan/jerusalem sinner saved/beginning at jerusalem luke xxiv 47.htm