Definition and Nature:
Deceit, in biblical terms, refers to the act of misleading or lying to others, often with the intent to gain an advantage or to harm. It is characterized by falsehood, trickery, and the concealment of truth. The Bible consistently portrays deceit as contrary to the nature of God, who is truth (John 14:6), and as a characteristic of the fallen human condition.

Old Testament References:
Deceit is frequently condemned in the Old Testament. In the Ten Commandments, God commands, "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor" (Exodus 20:16), highlighting the importance of truthfulness. The Psalms and Proverbs often contrast the righteous, who speak truth, with the wicked, who practice deceit. Psalm 5:6 states, "You destroy those who tell lies; the LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man" . Proverbs 12:22 declares, "Lying lips are detestable to the LORD, but those who deal faithfully are His delight" .

New Testament Teachings:
The New Testament continues to emphasize the sinfulness of deceit. Jesus Himself warns against deceitful practices, particularly in religious contexts. In Mark 7:21-22, He lists deceit among the evils that come from within a person and defile them. The apostle Paul frequently admonishes believers to put away deceit. In Ephesians 4:25, he writes, "Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one another" .

Spiritual Implications:
Deceit is seen as a tool of Satan, the father of lies (John 8:44). It is a manifestation of the sinful nature and is opposed to the fruit of the Spirit, which includes truthfulness and integrity. Believers are called to live in the light, as children of light, which involves rejecting deceit and embracing truth (Ephesians 5:8-9).

Consequences of Deceit:
The Bible warns of the destructive consequences of deceit. It leads to broken relationships, loss of trust, and ultimately, judgment from God. Revelation 21:8 warns that "all liars will have their place in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur" , indicating the severe spiritual consequences of living a life characterized by deceit.

Examples of Deceit in Scripture:
Several biblical narratives illustrate the destructive nature of deceit. Jacob's deceit in obtaining Esau's blessing (Genesis 27) led to family strife and years of separation. Ananias and Sapphira's deceit about their offering resulted in their sudden deaths (Acts 5:1-11), serving as a stark warning to the early church about the seriousness of lying to the Holy Spirit.

Call to Truthfulness:
The Bible calls believers to a life of truthfulness, reflecting the character of God. In Colossians 3:9-10, Paul exhorts, "Do not lie to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices, and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator" . This transformation involves a commitment to honesty and integrity in all aspects of life.

Conclusion:
While deceit is a pervasive issue in the human experience, the Bible provides a clear and consistent call to reject deceit and embrace truth, reflecting the character of God and the transformative power of the Gospel.

Deceits of the Demons.
... Homily VIII. Chapter XIII."Deceits of the Demons. "But some of the maleficent
demons deceive in another way. For at first they ...
/.../unknown/the clementine homilies/chapter xiii deceits of the demons.htm

Reasons Why their Deceits are not Detected.
... Homily VIII. Chapter XVII."Reasons Why Their Deceits are Not Detected. "For
why do they oracularly foretell cures after a long time? ...
/.../unknown/the clementine homilies/chapter xvii reasons why their deceits.htm

A Good Declaring of Some Certain Deceits that May Befall in this ...
... HERE BEGINNETH THE FIVE AND FORTIETH CHAPTER A good declaring of some certain
deceits that may befall in this work. A good declaring ...
/.../anonymous/the cloud of unknowing/here beginneth the five and 3.htm

How These Young Presumptuous Disciples Misunderstand this Other ...
... HERE BEGINNETH THE SEVEN AND FIFTIETH CHAPTER How these young presumptuous disciples
misunderstand this other word "up"; and of the deceits that follow thereon ...
/.../anonymous/the cloud of unknowing/here beginneth the seven and 4.htm

A Good Teaching How a Man Shall Flee These Deceits, and Work More ...
... HERE BEGINNETH THE SIX AND FORTIETH CHAPTER A good teaching how a man shall flee
these deceits, and work more with a listiness of spirit, than with any ...
/.../anonymous/the cloud of unknowing/here beginneth the six and 3.htm

How These Young Presumptuous Disciples Misunderstand this Word "In ...
... HERE BEGINNETH THE TWO AND FIFTIETH CHAPTER How these young presumptuous disciples
misunderstand this word "in," and of the deceits that follow thereon. ...
/.../anonymous/the cloud of unknowing/here beginneth the two and 4.htm

All Things have Been Created for the Service of Man the Deceits ...
... Against Heresies: Book V Chapter XXIX."All things have been created for the service
of man The deceits, wickedness, and apostate power of Antichrist. ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter xxix all things have been.htm

Of the Two Classes of Voluptuous Men, and of their Death, Falling ...
... truth, deceiving them with wicked desires, through which they will perish; for they
forget the commandments of the living God, and walk in deceits and empty ...
/.../pastor/the pastor books first second third/similitude sixth of the two.htm

Here Beginneth a Table of the Chapters
... THE FIVE AND FORTIETH CHAPTER. A good declaring of some certain deceits
that may befall in this work. THE SIX AND FORTIETH CHAPTER. ...
/.../anonymous/the cloud of unknowing/here beginneth a table of.htm

The Cloud of Unknowing
... HERE BEGINNETH THE FIVE AND FORTIETH CHAPTER A good declaring of some certain
deceits that may befall in this work. HERE BEGINNETH ...
//christianbookshelf.org/anonymous/the cloud of unknowing/

Deceits (9 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Deceits (9 Occurrences). Matthew 13:22 And that
which was dropped among the thorns, this is he who has ...
/d/deceits.htm - 9k

Growth (77 Occurrences)
... Matthew 13:22 And that which was dropped among the thorns, this is he who has the
word; and the cares of this life, and the deceits of wealth, put a stop to ...
/g/growth.htm - 29k

Tricks (9 Occurrences)
... So that we may be no longer children, sent this way and that, turned about by every
wind of teaching, by the twisting and tricks of men, by the deceits of error ...
/t/tricks.htm - 9k

Stop (108 Occurrences)
... Matthew 13:22 And that which was dropped among the thorns, this is he who has the
word; and the cares of this life, and the deceits of wealth, put a stop to ...
/s/stop.htm - 38k

Gives (542 Occurrences)
... Matthew 13:22 And that which was dropped among the thorns, this is he who has the
word; and the cares of this life, and the deceits of wealth, put a stop to ...
/g/gives.htm - 35k

Deceivableness (1 Occurrence)

/d/deceivableness.htm - 9k

Deceitfulness (7 Occurrences)

/d/deceitfulness.htm - 8k

Deceit (160 Occurrences)
... Psalms 38:12 They also who seek after my life lay snares. Those who seek my hurt
speak mischievous things, and meditate deceits all day long. ...
/d/deceit.htm - 35k

Imagine (24 Occurrences)
... Psalms 38:12 They also that seek after my life lay snares for me: and they that
seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long. ...
/i/imagine.htm - 14k

Injure (16 Occurrences)
... Psalms 38:12 They also who seek after my life lay snares. Those who seek my hurt
speak mischievous things, and meditate deceits all day long. (See NAS). ...
/i/injure.htm - 11k

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