Liars*: The serpent**, also called the Devil or Satan by Jesus, was the primary agent behind sin in the Bible and is also called the father of liars. So by telling Eve that she would not die, he lied to her. When in fact, God had already warned Adam that they would die if they ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. In order to get more details about the sin of lying, spend 7 minutes and read on.
- * This refers to a statement Jesus made about the devil in John 8:44. ** And this refers to a statement in Revelation 12:9.
Revised: Tuesday, May 21, 2024
Liars Are Sinful, Being Like Their Father The Devil!
STM Bible Lesson
Lesson focus:
Genesis 2:17, 3:4, 6, and 13. Bible lesson background, Genesis 2:8-25,
3:1-19: God gave Adam His first command. Unfortunately for humans, Adam’s
failure to obey God caused all humans to suffer. Lying led to the first human sin. That is after the
snake lied to Eve, she did what God told Adam not to do. We must visit Genesis 2:17 and also 3:4,
6, and 13 for the details.
- Genesis 2:16-17 [read Genesis 2:8-25 (16-17)]
- The Lord God commanded the man. He said, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden. 17 But you must never eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil because when you eat from it, you will certainly die.” (GW)
- KJV: And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
The Beginning of Sin
- Genesis 3:3-4 [read Genesis 3:1-19 (3-4)]
- but not the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden. God said, ‘Don’t eat from it, and don’t touch it, or you will die.’” 4 The snake said to the woman, “You won’t die! (CEB)
- KJV: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
Adam and Eve Disobey God
- Genesis 3:6 [read Genesis 3:1-19 (6)]
- The woman saw how beautiful the tree was and how good its fruit would be to eat, and she thought how wonderful it would be to become wise. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, and he also ate it. (GNT)
- KJV: And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
The Snake Lied
- Genesis 3:13 [read Genesis 3:1-19 (13)]
- Then the Lord God said to the woman, ‘Why have you done a thing like that?’ The woman replied, ‘It was the snake. The snake deceived me with a lie. So I ate the fruit.’ (EASY)
- KJV: And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.
The Father of Liars
- John 8:44 [read John 8:37-47 (44)]
- You belong to your father the devil, and you are [always] wanting to do what your father desires. He was a murderer from the [very] beginning*** and does not stand for the truth, because there is no truth in him.
When he lies, he only speaks what is part of his nature, because he is a liar and the father of [all] liars (people who tell lies). (AUV) - KJV: Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
- *** Note: This is probably a reference to Satan’s influence on Adam, Eve, and Cain in the Garden of Eden.
- What do liars do?
- Liars are sinful people who practice telling lies. In fact, they tell lies often or as a habit with the purpose to mislead.
- Pseustes – liar
- G5583 ψεύστης pseustes (psef’-stees) n.
1. A falsifier; a liar.
2. People who tell lies or give a false idea (distorts, misleads).
[from G5574] KJV: liar
The Wicked Person
- Proverbs 6:16-19 [read Proverbs 6:12-19 (16-19)]
- There are six things that the Lord hates, even[a] seven things that are an abomination to him:
1. haughty eyes,
2. a lying tongue, and
3. hands that shed innocent blood,
4. a heart that devises wicked plans,
5. feet that are swift to run to evil,
6. a false witness who pours out lies,
7. and a person who spreads discord among family members. (NET) - KJV: These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
God Hates Liars
- Proverbs 12:22 [read Proverbs 12:1-28 (22)]
- The Lord hates liars, but is pleased with those who keep their word. (GNT)
- KJV: Lying lips are abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are his delight.
FYI: First Mention in the Bible
- The word liar is first found in Deuteronomy 33:29. It was the last of what Moses said about the tribe of Asher.
- Deuteronomy 33:29 [read Deuteronomy 33:24-29 (29)]
- You are happy, Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by Yahweh, the shield of your help, the sword of your excellency? Your enemies will submit themselves to you. You will tread on their high places.” (WEB)
- KJV: Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places.
Defined in the Brown-Driver-Briggs Lexicon
- Kachash – liars
- H3584 כָּחַשׁ kachash (kaw-chash’) v. thine enemies shall cringe (come cringing, i.e. originally act deceptively, feigning obedience) to thee.
[a primitive root]
KJV: deceive, deny, dissemble, fail, deal falsely, be found liars, (be-)lie, lying, submit selves.
“Shall be found liars”
- 1611 KJV Marginal Notes: Or, shall be subdued.
- John Trapp’s Complete Commentary: Shall feign**** to be friends for fear, and shall yield a forced obedience. See Psalms 18:45.
- The Pulpit Commentary: literally, shall feign**** unto thee; i.e. shall pretend to be thy friends, in order to obtain favor with thee.
- Barnes Commentary: Perhaps rather, “cringe before thee.” The verb means to show a feigned or forced obedience: see the marginal references.
- **** KJV Dictionary Definition: feign To make a show of; to pretend; to assume a false appearance; to counterfeit.
War in Heaven
- Revelation 12:9 [read Revelation 12:7-18 (9)]
- The giant [great] dragon was thrown down [cast; hurled] out of heaven. (He is that old snake [ancient serpent] called the devil or Satan [Genesis 3:1, 15], who tricks [deceives; leads astray] the whole world.) The dragon with his angels was thrown down [cast; hurled] to the earth. (EXB)
- KJV: And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Final Thoughts About Liars
- 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 [read 1 Corinthians 6:1-11 (9-10)]
- Don’t you know that people who do wrong will not receive God’s kingdom? (So) don’t be fooled. Those who commit sexual sins will not receive the kingdom. Neither will:
- a. Those who worship statues of gods or commit adultery.
- b. Men who sleep with other men.
- c. Thieves or those who always want more and more.
- d. Those who are often drunk or (people who) tell lies (liars) or cheat.
- People who live like that will not receive God’s kingdom. (NIRV)
- KJV: Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
The Liars Are…
So let’s look at a few Scriptures that tell us who the sinful liars are. Don’t worry, you probably will not be one of them or will you?
1. Believers That Fail to Obey God
- 1 John 2:4 [read 1 John 2:3-11 (4)]
- Someone may say, “I am a Christian; I am on my way to heaven; I belong to Christ.” But if he doesn’t do what Christ tells him to, he is a liar. (TLB)
- KJV: He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
2. People Who Do Not Accept Jesus as the Christ
- 1 John 2:22 [read 1 John 2:8-23 (22)]
- Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son. (NIV)
- KJV: Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
3. Those Who Love God but Not Each Other
- 1 John 4:20-21 [read 1 John 4:18-23 (20-21)]
- But if we say we love God and don’t love each other, we are liars. We cannot see God. So how can we love God, if we don’t love the people we can see? 21 The commandment that God has given us is: “Love God and love each other!” (CEV)
- KJV: If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
Hopefully, if you find that you are one of the sinful liars as revealed by this lesson, you will repent and continue to develop a better relationship with God. On the other hand, if you are not guilty of being one of the people who tell lies, God bless you! Thank you for taking the time to read this Bible lesson. I urge you to make full use of it. Blessings to you and your loved ones—♥ Tim. ☺
Related studies, lessons, and snacks for further spiritual growth:
See the latest on the Sound Truth Ministry website.
I look forward to your feedback via comment at the bottom of the page or by emailing tim@stministry.com. Have a wonderful day!
