Deceit: Evil of Leads to Pride and Oppression
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Topical Encyclopedia
Deceit, as depicted in the Holy Scriptures, is a grave sin that corrupts the heart and leads to further moral decay, including pride and oppression. The Bible consistently warns against deceit, illustrating its destructive nature and the spiritual peril it poses to individuals and communities.

Nature of Deceit

Deceit is fundamentally a distortion of truth, often employed to manipulate or gain an unfair advantage over others. It is characterized by falsehood, trickery, and duplicity. The Psalmist declares, "No one who practices deceit shall dwell in my house; no one who tells lies shall stand in my presence" (Psalm 101:7). This verse underscores the incompatibility of deceit with the holiness and righteousness that God demands from His people.

Deceit and the Human Heart

The Bible teaches that deceit originates from the human heart, which is inherently sinful. Jeremiah 17:9 states, "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" . This passage highlights the pervasive nature of deceit within the human condition, suggesting that without divine intervention, individuals are prone to fall into its snare.

Deceit Leading to Pride

Deceit often leads to pride, as individuals who engage in deceitful practices may become arrogant, believing they are clever or superior for having deceived others. Proverbs 26:24-26 warns, "A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart. When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart. Though his hatred is concealed by deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly" . This passage illustrates how deceit can foster a false sense of security and self-importance, ultimately leading to one's downfall.

Deceit Leading to Oppression

The Bible also links deceit to oppression, as those who deceive often exploit others for personal gain. Micah 6:12 condemns such behavior: "For the rich men of the city are full of violence, her residents speak lies, and their tongues are deceitful in their mouths" . Here, deceit is associated with societal injustice and the mistreatment of the vulnerable, revealing how it can perpetuate systems of oppression.

Divine Judgment on Deceit

Scripture is clear that God detests deceit and will bring judgment upon those who practice it. Proverbs 12:22 states, "Lying lips are detestable to the LORD, but those who deal faithfully are His delight" . This verse emphasizes God's disdain for deceit and His favor towards those who uphold truth and integrity.

Call to Righteousness

Believers are called to reject deceit and pursue righteousness. Ephesians 4:25 exhorts, "Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one another" . This call to honesty and transparency reflects the transformative power of the Gospel, which enables believers to overcome deceit and live in accordance with God's truth.

In summary, deceit is a sin that leads to pride and oppression, corrupting both individuals and societies. The Bible's teachings on deceit serve as a warning and a call to pursue truth and righteousness, aligning one's life with the will of God.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Jeremiah 5:27,28
As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Homilies on the Epistle to the Hebrews.
... some spend in prayer, some in deeds of evil, [3277]438 ... 452, [3452]459; makes bold,
[3453]453; leads by the ... Praise, to repudiate, one form of pride, [3465]490. ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homilies on the epistle to.htm

A Treatise to Prove that no one Can Harm the Man who Does not ...
... For pleasure is produced when desire leads the way, and ... feigned, nor hidden under
a mask of deceit, but real ... For revenge is so great an evil that it actually ...
/.../chrysostom/on the priesthood/a treatise to prove that.htm

Concerning Salutations and Recreations, &C.
... Christians ought to be leavened, and which leads into sobriety ... man, as a mutual remedy
of this evil, in which ... teacheth us; that all manner of deceit and malice ...
/.../proposition xv concerning salutations and.htm

The Same Necessary and Eternal Different Relations
... and rash passions, by lusts, vanity, and pride, by private ... contended, that all
difference of good and evil, and all ... Yes, says he, because it leads men to a ...
/.../i proposition i the same.htm

Tit. 2:06 Thoughts for Young Men
... travelling in the broad way which leads to destruction ... young men, what must be the
evil and guilt ... and divisions, envy, jealousy, and malice, deceit, fraud, and ...
/.../chapter xix tit 2 6 thoughts.htm

The Life and Death of Mr. Badman,
... to detect and condemn the wickedness, warn the evil doer of ... death and its awful
consequences, This leads to the ... Badman's pride, atheism, infidelity, and envy,. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the life and death of.htm

St. Gregory the Great.
... out with their malignity, their plundering, and their deceit. ... a name of blasphemy,
of diabolical pride, and a ... empty hands, while your Excellency leads a long ...
/.../allies/the formation of christendom volume vi/chapter v st gregory the.htm

part i
... to chill our hearts and fill them with deceit in a ... order, Who governs the whole of
mankind, evil, perverted as we ... sin, and return to the road that leads to life ...
//christianbookshelf.org/calvin/my life in christ/part i.htm

The Holy War,
... superstition, ignorance, error, falsehoods, deceit, compulsion, extortion ... a poor
fallen sinner, five evil spirits, or ... thereof made, as fancy leads the writers ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the holy war.htm

A Few Sighs from Hell;
... Friend, thy way leads 'down to death,' and thy 'steps ... thy good things, and likewise
Lazarus evil things: but ... ready to be puffed up with pride, stoutness, cares ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a few sighs from hell.htm

Resources
Who was Nathanael in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Why does God allow deception? | GotQuestions.org

What are elemental spirits? | GotQuestions.org

Deceit: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Subtopics

Deceit

Deceit is Falsehood

Deceit: A Characteristic of Antichrist

Deceit: A Characteristic of the Apostasy

Deceit: Blessedness of Being Free From

Deceit: Characteristic of the Apostasy

Deceit: Characteristic of the Heart

Deceit: Chief Priests

Deceit: Christ Was Perfectly Free From

Deceit: Comes from the Heart

Deceit: David

Deceit: Delight In

Deceit: Devise

Deceit: Doeg

Deceit: Evil of Hinders Knowledge of God

Deceit: Evil of Keeps from Knowledge of God

Deceit: Evil of Keeps from Turning to God

Deceit: Evil of Leads to Lying

Deceit: Evil of Leads to Pride and Oppression

Deceit: False Teachers are Workers of

Deceit: False Teachers: Impose on Others By

Deceit: False Teachers: Preach

Deceit: False Teachers: Sport Themselves With

Deceit: False Witnesses Use

Deceit: Forbidden

Deceit: God Abhors

Deceit: Hatred often Concealed By

Deceit: Herod

Deceit: Hypocrites Devise

Deceit: Hypocrites Practice

Deceit: Hypocrites Practise

Deceit: Impose on Others By

Deceit: Increase In

Deceit: Job's Friends

Deceit: Joseph's Brothers

Deceit: Keeps from Turning to God

Deceit: Laban

Deceit: Leads: To Lying

Deceit: Leads: To Pride and Oppression

Deceit: Ministers should Lay Aside

Deceit: Often Accompanied by Fraud and Injustice

Deceit: Pharaoh

Deceit: Pharisees

Deceit: Preach

Deceit: Punishment of

Deceit: Rebecca and Jacob

Deceit: Saints: Avoid

Deceit: Saints: Delivered from Those Who Use

Deceit: Saints: Free From

Deceit: Saints: Pray for Deliverance from Those Who Use

Deceit: Saints: Purpose Against

Deceit: Saints: Purposed Against

Deceit: Saints: should Beware of Those Who Teach

Deceit: Saints: should Lay Aside, in Seeking Truth

Deceit: Saints: Shun Those Addicted To

Deceit: Sport Themselves With

Deceit: The Devil

Deceit: The Folly of Fools Is

Deceit: The Kisses of an Enemy Are

Deceit: The Tongue is an Instrument of

Deceit: The Tongue, the Instrument of

Deceit: The Wicked are Full of

Deceit: The Wicked: Delight In

Deceit: The Wicked: Devise

Deceit: The Wicked: Increase In

Deceit: The Wicked: Use, to Each Other

Deceit: The Wicked: Use, to Themselves

Deceit: The Wicked: Utter

Deceit: The Wicked: Work

Deceit: Use, to Each Other

Deceit: Use, to Themselves

Deceit: Utter

Deceit: Work

Related Terms

Deception (24 Occurrences)

Guile (21 Occurrences)

Deceiving (18 Occurrences)

Fraud (15 Occurrences)

Deceitful (46 Occurrences)

Utters (26 Occurrences)

Balances (15 Occurrences)

Tricked (25 Occurrences)

Treacherous (34 Occurrences)

Perverseness (46 Occurrences)

Subtil (3 Occurrences)

Subtlety (3 Occurrences)

Subtilty (9 Occurrences)

Subtle (5 Occurrences)

Deceitfully (22 Occurrences)

Mouths (86 Occurrences)

Satan (50 Occurrences)

Falsehood (107 Occurrences)

Deceive (48 Occurrences)

Tells (38 Occurrences)

Unrighteousness (57 Occurrences)

Mischief (64 Occurrences)

Worker (36 Occurrences)

Uttereth (30 Occurrences)

Lays (30 Occurrences)

Gold-worker (6 Occurrences)

Wrongdoer (16 Occurrences)

Foolishness (30 Occurrences)

Falsifying (2 Occurrences)

Treachery (18 Occurrences)

Trick (11 Occurrences)

Deceivers (5 Occurrences)

Delusions (7 Occurrences)

Designing (22 Occurrences)

Decreed (33 Occurrences)

Deceptive (11 Occurrences)

Malice (24 Occurrences)

Purposing (21 Occurrences)

Breather (2 Occurrences)

Bread (433 Occurrences)

Bloodshed (43 Occurrences)

Covetousness (22 Occurrences)

Cunning (43 Occurrences)

Crooked (31 Occurrences)

Snake (43 Occurrences)

False (303 Occurrences)

Vanity (100 Occurrences)

Designs (118 Occurrences)

Breathing (25 Occurrences)

Slander (34 Occurrences)

Envy (56 Occurrences)

Wickedness (232 Occurrences)

Unfaithful (58 Occurrences)

Dishonest (33 Occurrences)

Purposes (67 Occurrences)

Lips (199 Occurrences)

Using (88 Occurrences)

Overcome (300 Occurrences)

Err (41 Occurrences)

Balance (12 Occurrences)

Oppression (67 Occurrences)

Hatred (30 Occurrences)

Uncontrolled (58 Occurrences)

Workers (76 Occurrences)

Cursing (53 Occurrences)

False.

Plan (58 Occurrences)

Worketh (49 Occurrences)

Tongue (160 Occurrences)

Untrue (50 Occurrences)

Scales (33 Occurrences)

Desires (151 Occurrences)

Deceased (8 Occurrences)

Refused (89 Occurrences)

Goods (231 Occurrences)

Wrongdoing (122 Occurrences)

Refuse (103 Occurrences)

Secret (341 Occurrences)

Deceit: Evil of Leads to Lying
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