8 Bible Stories About Lying

One of the first lessons parents must teach kids is that they should not lie. When they tell a lie, even a small one, it can have a ripple effect that can cause havoc in their life and the lives of others. If you’re not sure how to teach your kids about honesty, then look to the Good Book. There are numerous poignant and educational Bible stories about lying that will really drive home the point that your children should strive to always tell the truth. Some of these stories involve families telling lies, while others center around the disciple lying about much bigger matters, such as their love of Jesus. Each story has a lesson that is sure to teach your kids something of value that they’ll take with them as they get older.

Joseph’s Brothers’ Deceit

Joseph lived in a house with many brothers. His father, Jacob, treated him better than his brothers, and they didn’t like it. So, one day, while Joseph was running an errand, his brothers tricked him and sold him into slavery. Then, to hide the truth, they came up with a lie. They covered themselves in lamb’s blood and went home to their father, claiming that a wild animal had attacked them and killed Joseph. Their father believed the lie, and since Joseph was gone for many years, it was especially hard for Jacob. Finally, after many trials and tribulations, the brothers came clean and told their dad the truth. This is one of the most important Bible stories about lying because it shows how much grief we put people through when we tell a fib. It’s better to be honest upfront because you don’t have to live with the guilt, and the other person won’t feel deceived.

Jacob and Esau

It was terrible when Joseph’s brothers lied to their father, Jacob. However, Jacob, was also a liar at one point in his life. When he was still living at home, he lied to his own dad. Jacob and his brother Esau were already at odds from a young age because their father favored Esau and was going to give Esau his blessing. However, Jacob wanted that blessing. So, while his brother was hunting, Jacob dressed up in his clothes and convinced his blind father that he was actually Esau. His father believed him and gave Jacob his blessing even though he meant it for Esau. What followed was many years in which the two brothers became enemies. Luckily, they make up later down the line, which in itself is a great lesson of forgiveness. However, this is a lesson about being honest, especially with family. Your kids should always strive to be honest, even if it’s avoiding a little white lie.

Naboth’s Vineyard

Another one of the Bible stories about lying revolves around King Ahab and his neighbor Naboth, who had a vineyard. The king really wanted to purchase his vineyard, but Naboth wouldn’t sell. So, the king confided in his queen, who convinced him to spread lies about Naboth and say that he talked badly about God. This lie was taken seriously by the community, so they stoned Naboth to death. Then, the king took the vineyard. While the king was taking over, he met Elijah, who said that God would punish him for his sins. As a result, King Ahab confessed his sins, repented and surrendered to God. The point here is that we should feel guilt when we lie. We should also know that lying is not the way to get what we want. Instead, we should be honest and work hard. God will forgive you if you admit your sins, but it’s not worth it to put yourself in that place from the start.

Lies in the Garden of Eden

When God created the Earth, it was supposed to be a paradise. However, the first lie took place in the Garden of Eden, and it led to the fall of man. The story is that God had two trees, one of which was the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Adam and Eve lived in the garden, and God told Adam never to eat the fruit from that tree. However, Satan came into the garden in the form of a snake. He lied to Adam and Eve and told them that it was okay for them to eat the fruit. They listened to Satan, and they were ultimately expelled from the Garden of Eden. Since that time, all people are born with sin in their hearts. The good news is that belief in the blood of Jesus can save us and allow us to go to Heaven. However, your kids need to know that bad people in the world are always working hard to deceive them. Your children must be careful so they can live a pure life and stay out of trouble.

Zacchaeus the Tax Collector

Another of the famous Bible stories about lying involves Zacchaeus, who was a very rich tax collector. He was likely wealthy because he was over-taxing and keeping some of the money for himself, which in itself is dishonest. One day, Jesus was walking through the area and a crowd was gathering around him. Hoping for a chance to meet him, Zacchaeus climbed to the to the top of a sycamore tree. Not only did Jesus meet him, but he actually went to his house. Zacchaeus was so overwhelmed that he admitted the error of his ways, came clean that he cheated many people, and then vowed to pay back everyone he cheated four times what he owed them. The point here is that it doesn’t feel good to lie. We all have a conscience, and we know that it’s wrong when we don’t tell the truth. The ability to spend eternity in Heaven should be enough for us to want to stop lying. No matter how you see it, there’s an important lesson for kids here.

Ananias and Sapphira

The Bible stories about lying continue with the story of Ananias and Sapphira. They were a married couple who looked to have the best intentions. They claimed that they sold their house and their land and that they were giving every dime to Jesus’ disciples. Only that wasn’t the truth. They had held back some of the money for themselves. As soon as they told that lie, they died right there on the spot. It was a shocking event but not so startling when you think about how upset it makes God when people are dishonest. In fact, there isn’t anyone out there who likes to be lied to. Of course, lying to God’s people about how much money they were giving was a more serious crime. Still, tell your kids never to lie because it will please their creator and the people around them if they’re honest.

Potiphar’s Wife Lies About Joseph

This is a story that you may want to tell your kids when they get older. It’s about Joseph, who was a pure soul who tried never to do wrong. After his brothers lied after selling him into slavery, Joseph continued to be blessed by God, eventually becoming the captain of Pharaoh’s guard and working for Potiphar. He was doing well until Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce Joseph. Being a good man, Joseph refused her advances. However, she was upset and she lied to her husband, saying that Joseph did an evil deed. Because he trusted his wife, Potiphar threw Joseph in prison. God took care of Joseph, and he was eventually released. However, it was an awful scenario. Teach your kids that when they lie, it can lead to terrible consequences for the person they’re lying about. It only takes a few words to ruin someone’s life, so advise your children to be careful.

Peter Denies Knowing Jesus

One of the most profound Bible stories about lying is the story of when Jesus was taken to be crucified. The guards were looking for his disciples when they approached Peter. They asked him three times if he knew Jesus and three times, he said no. The guards move on but Peter is deeply distraught by his lie. Luckily, Jesus is resurrected from the dead, and he forgives Peter. This is a good story to tell children because it shows that even if they love someone very much, they may still feel inclined to lie, but they must not. Lie once, and people may not trust you again after that, so it’s essential to be honest whenever possible.

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