Convicting Bible Verses about Lying

We’ve all told a lie before, right? Not a big deal, everybody does it from time to time or most of the time. No harm done. Right?!!

Should we really just give up and quit because our flesh is weak – assuming we’ll always be liars? That’s a resounding NO. Lying is one of the easiest, yet most damaging sins that cause grief in relationships with family, spouses, and of course, your Heavenly Father. We can’t take it lightly as it’s an abomination, yep, you heard that right. It’s at the same level as the other social sins we like to focus on.

Now, let’s discuss why it’s SO critical that you always fight the temptation to lie even when it will cost you dearly. Plus, we’ll dive into why people lie and Bible Verses about Lying to help us with those temptations we get on a daily basis. 

We’ll talk about ‘white lies’, ‘fibs’, and ‘embellishments’ that are all just disguised labels that hide an insidious sin, lying. 

What Does God say about Lying

Are you well known for something – maybe cross stitching, being on time, or even giving out tons of hugs? Whatever you’re known for, hopefully, it’s a good thing. We want it to be a positive attribute, right?!! 

In contrast, we don’t desire a scarred reputation of being a liar or deceiver. It ruins not only your reputation and causes the loss of jobs and money, and of course, it damages relationships with spouses, kids, friends, and family. 

Proverbs 6:16-19 – These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

Why Do People Lie?

There are many reasons why people lie and if you think about it, look back on a time you didn’t tell the truth. Were some of these reasons below one of them?

• Avoiding Embarrassment – we are afraid of judgment from others. 
• Avoiding Conflict – The other person disagrees with your opinion. 
• Politeness – responding with a truthful answer that would hurt someone’s feelings. 
• Deception – avoiding someone from knowing the truth for multiple reasons. 
• Protection – Eliminating the possibility of harm of self or another person
• Privacy – escape exposure to personal issues you’d like to keep secret. 
• Excitement – it’s the thrill or compulsion of getting away with it. 

In my opinion, most of the time it’s being afraid of ‘man’s’ judgment upon us or the conflict it potentially creates in a relationship. We try to delay the inevitable just a few more days. Eventually, though, the Bible says, you reap what you sow.

It’s just not Biblical to lie but it’s quite possible to stop lying! With God, all things are possible (Philippians 4:13).

What Happens When You Lie Bible Verses

If you’re not convinced that lying is a serious ‘Biblical crime’, let’s talk about the physiological changes that happen when you avoid the truth. Based on research by Arthur Markman, Ph.D., the very moment you lie, your body releases cortisol into your brain. 

Then in just a few minutes afterward, your memory goes into a deep dive focusing on remembering both the lie and the truth. This affects your concentration on the subject at hand, you lose focus on information, and decision-making becomes more difficult.

Telling a lie also triggers an increased heart rate, high blood pressure, and high doses of stress hormones in the blood. This is not good for your body long term.

Lying causes significant harm to you mentally, physically, and of course, spiritually.

We will discuss several verses below that show where these lies come from – while it seems they just pop up out of nowhere, it’s coming from somewhere. Want to take a guess? 

Lies come from the heart. Jim Berg, in one of his life-changing books, “A Time for Change”, used a tea bag as a brilliant illustration of the importance of guarding the heart.

Let’s take this tea bag illustration and its reaction to hot water. When a tea bag hits the hot water, it reveals the tasty flavor of the tea. It doesn’t change the flavor of the water, the tea bag does. 

The tea bag is your heart. The hot water doesn’t have a taste at all yet reveals so many things in your heart — it represents the temptation, trials, and tests we get in our worldly environment every day. If the tea bag gives off a nice taste, it’s a good tea bag. If it’s bitter and tastes funny, your heart or tea bag is filled with evil thoughts and emotions. 

Why We Must Tell the Truth

If YOUR heart is filled with bitterness, disgust, anger, pride, and any of those evil sins God hates, you’ll be exposed quickly when difficult situations come up on a daily basis. We must not give in under pressure. Instead, fill our hearts with God’s Word, not ungodly lusts. 

Have you ever tried taking inventory of your mind? Biblical thinking is the first step to cleanse your heart of evil thoughts and emotions that lead you to lie. 

God takes lying very seriously and when you falsify a statement, Jesus said you’re of your father the devil! He goes on the say you’re giving in to the lusts of your ‘father’ as he was a murderer and a liar from the beginning with no truth in him.

Lying is a Deadly Sin

Our society these days seems to not care too much about absolute truth. This is a deception that Satan wants the world to believe. He fulfills his evil purpose.

If society doesn’t seek truth and is deceived by corruption, it will continue to fall for lies. If society ignores laws, it will cause the destruction and deterioration of our civilization. Think third world country, my friends. 

That’s why it’s so important to fill your mind with God’s Word and promises every day. Otherwise, you’ll be lying to yourself first with the deception of the world before you lie to others. It all starts internally, that’s why we must first guard our heart.

Do you fill your mind with God’s truth every day? If not, you must learn how to read the Bible every day. This will give you the armor of God to battle the sins of the mind. 

John 8:41-47 – Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

What are the Consequences of Lying?

Now, let’s talk about how it affects relationships. Seriously, it’s a lose-lose with lying. You lose many things and the person you lie to loses the truth and more. For example, your credibility is gone, trust now becomes an issue with your relationships, and it will take a lot of time for people to trust you again. 

You might get away with it but eventually, you’ll be discovered and your testimony will be tarnished as a liar. 

There is good news, however, You can redeem your creditability by asking for forgiveness from those you violated with your fibs, white lies, or exaggerations. Your friends and family will appreciate your candid courage. Trust me. Yes, they may be upset at first, but you did the right thing, even when it was hard!  

I believe they will come to realize that after the initial shock of you revealing the truth. 

This, my friend, is the start of a beautiful relationship. It’s a win-win for all parties involved. Remember, James 5:16 says, “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

Proverbs 19:9 – A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.

Psalms 101:7 – He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight.

10 Children’s Bible Verses about Lying

When kids are young, it’s important to talk to them about lying, as it’s very easy for them and one of the first sins they’ll commit. If you can teach them young, it won’t be as difficult to lie when they are older. 

It’s all about establishing habits while kids are developing their moral compass. This will help them focus more on what’s important that getting distracted by the sins of the world. 

Here are some short, yet sweet Bible Verses about Lying to help kids understand why we shouldn’t lie. 

• Exodus 20:16 – Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
• Proverbs 19:9 – A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.
• Proverbs 12:22 – Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.
• Colossians 3:9 – Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds.
• Luke 8:17 – For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.
• Proverbs 12:19 – The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.
• Ephesians 4:25 – Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
• 1 John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
• Proverbs 24:28 – Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.
• Proverbs 19:5 – A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.

Stories about Lying in the Bible

Here are four stories in the Bible that reveal the consequences of our sinful nature with lying. It all started at the beginning, so we know avoiding the truth is an easy one to commit.

Adam and Eve and the Serpent

While Eve was telling the serpent God’s commands, she misrepresented God’s words by adding to them. She caused Adam to sin as well.

Genesis 2:17 – But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.

Abraham and Sarah in the Bible

Abraham lied several times when approached by a king about his beautiful wife. Sarah lied when the Lord asked, “Why did you laugh?”. 

Both Abraham and Sarah lied and they went through several consequences throughout Genesis for not only their lies but lack of faith in God. Eventually, Abraham and Sarah did get the courage to be faithful and are considered part of the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11. 

Ananias and Sapphira 

Ananias and Sapphira had sold the property to give to the church yet, only gave part of the price to the church. Then on top of it, they lied to the church saying they gave the entire amount. Peter knew they lied and asked, “How is it you have conceived this thing in your heart.” Sadly, the consequences of their actions were instant death for both.

Jacob was a Deceiver 

Let’s talk about deception. There are many stories about Jacob involving deceit. Jacob deceived his own father when trying to obtain a blessing that was meant for his brother Esau. Then, Jacob ran away and found his Uncle Laban. 

Jacob served seven years for Rachel and got deceived by Laban by disguising the other sister Leah as his bride. Talk about you reap what you sow. 

Pharaoh deceived Moses by promising to let Israel leave Egypt if the horrible plagues were removed. Sadly, when God took away the plagues, Pharoah did not keep his promise in Exodus 8:28,29.

Bible Verses about Lying KJV

Let’s get to the meat of our discussion. Nothing can replace the Word of God when it comes to powerful tools at your disposal on combatting the temptation of lying. 

Bible Verses about Lying and Cheating

Cheating is just another form of lying. Whether it’s cheating on your spouse or a test, you are deceiving those who administered the test and your spouse. 

Proverbs 12:22 – Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.

Revelation 21:8 – But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Bible Verses about Lying to Parents

This one is certainly a no-no. How is lying to your parents honoring? I’ve lied to my parents and later in life, I asked for forgiveness for all of the sins I committed against them. They forgave me and we have a great relationship now. 

Start today, start mending your fences and building back your bridges with all of your relationships. 

1 John 2:4 – He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

Ephesians 6:2-3 Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

Bible Verses about Lying and Deceit 

Let’s compare lie vs. deceit. Here’s the dictionary’s definition of both:

Lie – a false statement made with deliberate intent to deceive. 

Deceit – is an act or practice intended to mislead by a false appearance or statement.

While a lie is generally spoken, deceit includes anything, whether words or deeds, that are intended to lead people into believing something else. 

Here are some scripture verses about what comes out of our mouths make a huge difference in what defiles a man (and ruins their credibility!):

Matthew 15:18-20 – But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.

Proverbs 24:28 – Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.

Bible Verses about Lying in Relationships

Avoiding the truth causes huge diversions in a variety of relationships. From marriage to family siblings, if you have a reputation as a con artist or compulsive liar, it will cause grief and heartache for all parties involved. Yet, confession of our sins will reverse the cycle of sinning if we repent or turn from our sinful behaviors. 

Colossians 3:9-10 – Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;   10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.

Ephesians 4:25 – Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

Bible Verses about Lying and Stealing

While we know that lying under oath can send you to jail, so can stealing. Stealing is as serious as lying, but has huge consequences and can lead you to legal trouble and jail time. Even if you take a salt shaker from a restaurant or a towel from a hotel without permission, it’s still stealing. 

Exodus 20:15  Thou shalt not steal.

Bible Verses about Lying to Spouse

I believe lying to our spouses is running rampant in marriages. Instead of facing the truth or confessing a fault, we have a tendency to lie to our spouse, trying to avoid conflict. Maybe one spouse nags or negatively responds so the other partner doesn’t want the hassle.

This is a double whammy, my friends. Not only are you lying to your spouse, you ruining intimacy and trust which is SUPER important in marriage. Again, confess your faults to one another and hit the problem head-on. Tell your mate of their constant barrage of nagging etc in a loving and Christ-like manner. 

You might not get the results you want, but give it to God and He will take care of it.

Luke 8:17 – For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.

Bible Verses about Lying to Yourself

Yes, we lie to ourselves. I consistently see people lying to themselves on TV and in the news. 

Proverbs 12:19 – The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.

An example in the Bible about someone lying to themselves is in the beginning book of Genesis.  When Adam & Eve ate the fruit, they told themselves that God really didn’t mean what He said.

In Romans 1:18, we are easily duped and have a tendency to suppress the truth. We want to trust our own ‘wisdom’ rather than the true wisdom of God. 

Punishment for Liars in the Bible

Let’s look at the story of Jacob as an example of clear punishment. In our own lives, sometimes we see the consequences of our sinful actions, and sometimes we don’t. Bad things that happen to us tend to be thought of as just happening by chance or we cry out to God, “why me?!!!”.Some difficult circumstances are innocent, others are not. We can cause our own problems many times. 

Jacob was definitely punished for his deceitfulness. As we discussed earlier, his father-in-law Laban deceived him and Jacob had to work an extra 7 years to marry Rachel after finding out he actually married her sister. 

There you have it, my friends. The Bible is clear that lying is a “Biblical Offense” and should not be taken lightly. If it’s an abomination to the Lord, it’s a serious sin to God. 

Get into the Word, memorize Bible Verses, and when a test comes your way, remember His Words. 

Galatians 6:7   Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Proverbs 19:5 – A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.

1 John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.