Hello Rosary lovers! In this post we will share with you some Bible quotes on honesty.

Honesty is a hugely important virtue in the Christian life. Without it, we cannot get to heaven, for ‘no liar shall enter’ the kingdom of heaven (Revelation 21:27).

Deceit and lying is from the Devil and it is utterly unacceptable for a Christian to copy the Devil in this. As Jesus said, ‘The Devil is a liar and is even the father of lies’ (John 8:44).

Obviously, the Bible has a lot to say on this topic, but here are just a few Scriptures on the matter.

‘Do not lie to one another. Strip yourselves of the old man, with his deeds,’ (Colossians 3:9). So lying is a work of the flesh, it is how the sinful world lives and it is what we used to do before we knew Christ.

‘Therefore, putting away falsehood, speak truth each one with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.’ (Ephesians 4:25). Since Christians belong to each other, and are members of the very same Body of Jesus Christ, we must not deceive each other. The Body of Christ needs to be united and have one goal and unity in mind. Lying disrupts this.

‘Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, but those who do the truth are his delight.’ (Proverbs 12:22). Notice that God HATES the lips that lie. They are an abomination to him. That’s very strong language from the Holy Spirit.

‘A truthful witness will not lie, but a false witness pours out lies.’ (Proverbs 14:5).

For, “He who would love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit. 11 Let him turn away from evil and do good. Let him seek peace and pursue it. 12  For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears open to their prayer; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” Now, who will harm you if you are imitators of what is good? – 1 Peter 3:10-13.

This is the apostle Peter quoting the Scriptures. He quotes from Psalm 34. If we want to love our lives and have happy lives instead if miserable lives, we must keep our tongues from lies. If we don’t lie, it is unlikely that anyone will cause us trouble. Lies almost always get people into chaotic trouble, which truthful people can avoid.

There are six things which the LORD hates; yes, seven which are an abomination to him: 17 arrogant eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, 18  a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are swift in running to mischief, 19  a false witness who utters lies, and he who sows discord among brothers. – Proverbs 6:16-19

This passage should be taken to heart, because there are certain things God really hates. TWICE – not once – it is said that God HATES lying. In fact, God hates ‘a false witness’ and ‘a lying tongue’!

And as for one who sows disagreement and discord among brothers and families, often this is due to lying.

You shall not give false testimony about your neighbour. – Exodus 20:16

This is one of the Ten Commandments. It is often paraphrased as ‘You shall not lie,’ but this is inaccurate, because lying in and of itself may not be a very serious sin. For instance, a white lie, or a lie about something which won’t cause anyone any harm.

But a lie is always wrong, and most especially are those lies which are done in court and under oath. This is what the Commandment especially refers to: You shall not lie in court when you have to give testimony about something or someone.

You must not testify in court that your neighbour did something when you know they didn’t. Such lies are INCREDIBLY sinful and damaging to the individuals involved and to wider society.

The more serious the lie and the more damaging the consequences of lying, the more serious the sin is.

Bottom line: We must not ever tell lies about anyone in any situation.

‘A false measuring unit is an abomination to the Lord’ – Proverbs 11:1

In my country, businesses can be prosecuted if they sell goods which say they weigh a certain amount, but actually weigh less. Like fruit or seeds and nuts, for instance. This is a biblical principle. It is wrong because it is LYING to consumers, and getting more money out of them than you know you should. This is deceitful.

Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report: if there is any virtue and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. – Philippians 4:8

The apostle Paul here instructs believers to focus their minds and hearts and attention on good things, wholesome things. Focus on the truth and true things, not on lies.

‘He who is faithful in very little is faithful also in much. He who is dishonest in very little is also dishonest in much.’ – Luke 16:10

We finish with the words of Jesus himself. Jesus teaches us that it is of HUGE IMPORTANCE how we behave in smaller matters, and what we do when no-one is looking. When only God can see us.

To be faithful in little things – telling the truth, not telling lies, even small lies – is an act of great obedience. Because it means we will be faithful in great things. Those who can be trusted in smaller matters can certainly be trusted in larger matters.

If we train ourselves not to tell even small lies and white lies, then we will find grace to be faithful when temptation comes for us to tell serious and damaging lies. At such times, we will overcome temptation by God’s grace, because we have been trained to obey in little things.

So: let us be faithful in the little things so as to be faithful in the big things.

I hope you have found this post helpful 🙂 Do get in touch if you wish to say something or have a question, we would love to hear from you.

God bless you in the Spirit of the Prophets.