The issue of lying, even so-called “small” or “white” lies, is a significant one that the Bible addresses many times. God’s Word makes it clear that lying is sinful and displeasing to Him, even if the lie seems minor or harmless. At the same time, the Bible offers hope and forgiveness to liars through Jesus Christ.
Here is an overview of some key biblical principles about lying and being truthful:
Lying is against God’s nature and commands
The Bible repeatedly warns that God hates lying and strongly condemns it. For example:
“Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight.” (Proverbs 12:22)
“A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will perish.” (Proverbs 19:9)
God cannot lie, and His commands reflect His nature. Followers of Christ are instructed to imitate God’s truthfulness:
“Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.” (Ephesians 4:25)
Lying goes against God’s character and His commands for human behavior. Even “small” lies are sinful because they violate His standards.
No lie comes from the truth
Lies are directly opposed to truth, which comes from God. Jesus said of Satan:
“He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44)
As children of God, Christians are called to reflect His character as the God of truth in their speech:
“Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.” (Colossians 3:9-10)
Since God is the source of truth, lies can never originate from Him. Even “small” lies go against His nature.
Every lie is sin
The Bible does not classify lies as big or small, black or white. All lies are sinful affronts to a God of truth.
“‘Do not steal. Do not lie. Do not deceive one another.'” (Leviticus 19:11)
“No one who practices deceit shall dwell in my house; no one who utters lies shall continue before my eyes.” (Psalm 101:7)
“Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight.” (Proverbs 12:22)
The Bible makes no distinction between so-called “white lies” and other falsehoods. Every lie strays from God’s nature and commands.
The heart is deceitful and wicked
At the root of lying is the sinful human heart. Jeremiah 17:9 says:
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?”
Even seemingly harmless lies flow from the wickedness of the unredeemed heart. Liars may convince themselves their lies are justified or not serious based on their intentions or circumstances. But God sees the heart.
This is why believers must allow the Holy Spirit to continually renew their hearts and align their desires with God’s truth.
Satan is the father of lies
The impulse to lie ultimately comes from Satan. In fact, lying was one of the first sins when the serpent deceived Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:1-7). Jesus called Satan:
“A murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44)
While we are all susceptible to lies because of our sin nature, followers of Christ have the Spirit of God in them. They must consciously reject the desires of the flesh and pattern their lives after the perfect truthfulness of Jesus.
We reap what we sow
The Bible warns that liars bring harm upon themselves. Sowing dishonesty leads to distrust, damaged relationships, and even punishment from authorities. For example:
“A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will perish.” (Proverbs 19:9)
“He who speaks the truth gives honest evidence, but a false witness utters deceit.” (Proverbs 12:17)
Although we hope others will not find out when we lie, God knows every false word. There are always eventual consequences for deceit.
Liars can be forgiven through Christ
Despite the seriousness of lying, the Bible offers hope to liars. Through His death on the cross, Jesus paid the penalty for sins like lying. Those who confess their sins and believe in Christ receive complete forgiveness:
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
Followers of Christ demonstrate their faith through action. The Holy Spirit empowers believers to turn from lies and speak the truth in love. By God’s grace, even the most habitual liars can experience freedom in Christ.
Examples of lying in the Bible
Several biblical accounts illustrate the sinfulness of lying in concrete ways:
The midwives in Exodus 1
The midwives Shiphrah and Puah disobeyed Pharaoh’s command to kill Hebrew baby boys at birth. When questioned, they lied about why the babies were living (Exodus 1:15-21). God was merciful, but their lying was still sinful.
Rahab in Joshua 2
Rahab hid the Israelite spies and lied to protect them from discovery. While God praised Rahab’s faith, her lie was still against His standards (Joshua 2).
Gehazi in 2 Kings 5
Gehazi told lies to Naaman and Elisha to hide his greedy motives. As result, Gehazi was struck with leprosy (2 Kings 5:20-27).
Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5
This couple lied about giving all the money from selling their land to the apostles. As judgment for their deception, God struck them dead (Acts 5:1-11).
These examples reinforce that, while God showcases His mercy, lying brings consequences and is always contrary to His holiness.
Practical ways to speak truthfully
Growing in truthfulness begins with receiving Christ’s forgiveness and submitting every area of life to the Holy Spirit. Some practical tips for speaking truthfully include:
- Think carefully before speaking to ensure your words are completely true.
- Refuse to embellish stories or omit difficult details to make yourself look better.
- Be honest even when it means admitting failure, fault, or embarrassing information.
- Avoid exaggerations and speaking in absolutes unless you have all the facts.
- Don’t assume you know other people’s motivations or make assumptions about circumstances.
- When you catch yourself lying, promptly admit it and ask forgiveness.
- Surround yourself with truth-tellers who gently confront your lies.
- Pray and meditate on Bible verses about truthfulness.
- Remember that God loves and forgives you completely in Christ as you seek to live truthfully.
Conclusion
Lying is a serious issue that the Bible addresses frequently from Genesis to Revelation. God hates lies because they violate His holy nature and commands. Even “small” or “white” lies are sinful and ultimately come from Satan, the father of lies. However, through confession and repentance, liars can be fully forgiven by the grace of Jesus Christ. As redeemed people, followers of Christ demonstrate their faith by rejecting every form of falsehood and speaking truthfully in love. By the power of the Holy Spirit, habitual liars can experience freedom and walk in God’s life-giving truth.