Lies and Lying

A lie is a false statement made with the purpose of deceiving; an intentional untruth; a falsehood; the utterance by speech or act of that which is false, with intent to mislead or delude: That which is intended or serves to deceive or mislead; anything designed or adapted to produce false conclusions or expectations: Synonyms Untruth, deception: To speak falsely; utter untruth for the purpose of misleading; make a misrepresentation consciously: To make a false impression, either consciously or unconsciously; hold forth a misleading or deceitful appearance; act or manifest an untruth: used of both persons and things.—Century Dictionary

Lie not at all, neither in a little thing nor in a great, neither in the substance nor in the circumstance, neither in word nor deed: that is, pretend not what is false; cover not what is true; and let the measure of your affirmation or denial be the understanding of your contractor; for he who deceives the buyer or the seller by speaking what is true, in a sense not intended or understood by the other, is a liar and a thief. Avoid that which deceives, equally with that which is false.—Albert Pike

Belial (or Beliar), the Father of Lies is the author of evil and murder. Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. 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.—John 8:42-44. Lying is the perversion of the spoken Word and is a sin.

Edna Lister on Lies and Lying

Moral evil includes falsehood in actions and in words (including voiced untruths). Falsehood that ruins the faith of another tarnishes the soul of the liar. An injustice is the essence of falsehood, the spirit back of falsehood. Every false word is an injustice. Injustice is the death of the moral being and falsehood the poisoning of intelligence until the person no longer realizes he is false.—Edna Lister, March 30, 1935.

God often uses others’ deceit to build His vibrations.—Edna Lister, October 1, 1938.

Lies may fool the Elect for a time, but never remain hidden.—Edna Lister, November 24, 1938.

The sword of truth cuts deceitful words asunder for the lies they are.—Edna Lister, January 27, 1940.

Woe unto them who believe a lie, for so shall they reap.—Edna Lister, February 22, 1940.

Kingdoms and principalities may pass away and those who rule them, but truth shall stand forever. Truth is a living monument that nothing of earth may ever disturb. Those who are foolish enough to use an untruth for any reason find themselves over quicksand with no proper footing. The world forever tries to make truth out a liar, forever seeks to destroy truth. The world may build a garment of darkness around truth for a time but in a due season, nature’s storms cut down the covering and truth again stands revealed in the Light.—Edna Lister, A Design for Ascension, 1941.

There are those in whom the truth does not lie. There are those to whom all truth is a lie. There are those to whom truth is truth one time and a lie another. There are those to whom all is a lie. And there be those steadfast under laws of Light to whom all is truth, and God makes it so. Believe not the lies at any time. Stand on truth for truth’s sake at all times.—Edna Lister, February 25, 1941.

Work stands according to the foundation upon which it is built. If truth spoken and lived can tear it down, then that is a not-truth, for truth builds truth and cannot destroy itself. If lies have done the founding, then truth blows away the structure. Seek to harm no one, but to exalt truth, to justify honor, loyalty and truth. Standing nobly and serenely upon the truth, being steadfast to establish truth can harm no one, but only draw unto itself all others from the deep shadows in the vale of illusion.—Edna Lister, March 3, 1942.

Deceit breeds lies, treachery and subterfuge.—Edna Lister, August 1, 1945.

Your instant reaction is the true one. Do not lie to escape it, or you give the subconscious more to act out.—Edna Lister, August 11, 1945.

Many people say, "You have to face the facts," rather than facing the Light of eternity. You make a liar of God if you think you must face earthly "facts" that are merely the truth of appearances. The truth of reality is right before you, staring you in the face. All you have to say is, "This is Good. Let there be Light!"—Edna Lister, The Three Phases of Life Through Faith, April 20, 1947.

A liar believes that no one can see his lies.—Edna Lister, October 12, 1947.

If you wish to hide from God because you are unworthy, you are lying.—Edna Lister, December 13, 1947.

A liar becomes convinced of his lies. One day his final access to Power will be cut off by his own evil ways, hate, lies and treachery.—Edna Lister, August 10, 1950.

"Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour."—Exodus 20:16 refers to lying on the outer. Yet you bear a false witness if you do nothing when someone needs your witness. Work silently, lift it to an altar, and graciously cover others’ transgressions. Cover gossip most of all; and remember, you bear a false witness if you enjoy listening to it.—Edna Lister, Now Is the High Time, December 6, 1953.

You may not evade issues, hide things from yourself, use treachery, lies, or tell tales under self delusion. You are of the truth and the truth only shall set you free from the wages of sin, which is the death of soul, only truth, in which is no treacherous covering up toward the self. Treachery turns inward and devours the one who practices it.—Edna Lister, July 20, 1956.

Insincerity, self-justification and arguing, enjoying disagreement and excessive lying trigger liver trouble.—Edna Lister, March 17, 1958.

All lies return to their speaker.—Edna Lister, March 23, 1959.

The subconscious works out lies to perfection and makes them come true.—Edna Lister, January 1, 1961.

Evil and lies fall of their own weight.—Edna Lister, January 12, 1961.

As you conquer evil, lies begin to fall of their own weight and never again shall they have such ability to sound as truth to the weak-minded. Even the weak ones shall recognize the stupidity of lies.—Edna Lister, November 28, 1963.

The leaven of the Pharisees is pride, and the leaven of Herod is treachery.—Edna Lister, December 9, 1963.

Anyone who lends himself to lies or darkness is inverting the wisdom of God.—Edna Lister, Loveliness and Beauty, October 25, 1964.

You tell a white lie, which we call a truth of necessity, when you don’t want to hurt someone’s feelings. Yet, no matter your motive, if you misuse truth, you will regret it.—Edna Lister, What Is a Messiah? December 13, 1964.

Where lies are spoken, they create a monster to confront their perpetrator, who must meet, conquer and lift them.—Edna Lister, November 9, 1964.

God sees no evil or lies. You can always stray and return, but you must pay your debts.—Edna Lister, May 3, 1966.

That which is made of lies and chicanery sinks to the ground, but truth stands and brings its own reward of completion.—Edna Lister, January 1, 1967.

Liars shall be convicted by their own lies.—Edna Lister, January 8, 1967.

Lies act like a boomerang, returning to the one who sent them out.—Edna Lister, June 24, 1968.

The wrath of God presents to each his debts of blasphemy, lies, and all that is evil.—Edna Lister, May 18, 1970.

You must pay for every untrue statement you make.—Edna Lister, Undated Papers, 1933-1971.

One who lies himself into a place will lie himself out of it.—Edna Lister, Undated Papers, 1933-1971.

Stories That Illustrate Lying

Peter Swears He Will Never Deny Jesus: Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee. Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended. Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.—Matthew 26:31-35; see also Mark 14:26-31; Luke 22:34,39; John 13:37,38.

And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest’s palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end.—Matthew 26:57-58.

Peter Denies Jesus: Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest. And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man. And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee. Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.—Matthew 26:69-75.

Love Covers Peter’s Transgressions (Lies): After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself. There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.
  But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea. And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes. As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.
  Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken. Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise. This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.
  So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
  Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.—John 21:1-19.

The Father of Lies: Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. Ye are of your father the devil [Belial], 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.—John 8:42-44.

Jezebel’s Lies and Murder: Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel, hard by the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. And Ahab spake unto Naboth, saying, Give me thy vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it is near unto my house: and I will give thee for it a better vineyard than it; or, if it seem good to thee, I will give thee the worth of it in money. And Naboth said to Ahab, The Lord forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee.
  And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him: for he had said, I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers. And he laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread. But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said unto him, Why is thy spirit so sad, that thou eatest no bread? And he said unto her, Because I spake unto Naboth the Jezreelite, and said unto him, Give me thy vineyard for money; or else, if it please thee, I will give thee another vineyard for it: and he answered, I will not give thee my vineyard.
  And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel? arise, and eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite. So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles that were in his city, dwelling with Naboth. And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people: And set two men, sons of Belial, before him, to bear witness against him, saying, Thou didst blaspheme God and the king. And then carry him out, and stone him, that he may die.
  And the men of his city, even the elders and the nobles who were the inhabitants in his city, did as Jezebel had sent unto them, and as it was written in the letters which she had sent unto them. They proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people. And there came in two men, children of Belial, and sat before him: and the men of Belial witnessed against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, Naboth did blaspheme God and the king. Then they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned him with stones, that he died. Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, Naboth is stoned, and is dead.
  And it came to pass, when Jezebel heard that Naboth was stoned, and was dead, that Jezebel said to Ahab, Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give thee for money: for Naboth is not alive, but dead. And it came to pass, when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, that Ahab rose up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it.
  And the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, which is in Samaria: behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, whither he is gone down to possess it. And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the Lord, Hast thou killed, and also taken possession? And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the Lord, In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine. And Ahab said to Elijah, Hast thou found me, O mine enemy?
  And he answered, I have found thee: because thou hast sold thyself to work evil in the sight of the Lord. Behold, I will bring evil upon thee, and will take away thy posterity, and will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel, and will make thine house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, for the provocation wherewith thou hast provoked me to anger, and made Israel to sin. And of Jezebel also spake the Lord, saying, The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.—1 Kings 21:1-23.

New Testament on Lies and Lying

What concord hath Christ with Belial?—2 Corinthians 6:15. [What agreement does Christ have with the Father of Lies?]

Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.—Colossians 3:9-10.

For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.—2 Thessalonians 2:7-12.

The Spirit speaks expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.—1 Timothy 4:1-2.

Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descends not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.—James 3:13-17.

God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.—1 John 1:5-10.

The fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.—Revelation 21:8.

No liar shall enter the holy city of New Jerusalem.—Revelation 21:27.

Old Testament on Lies and Lying

Thou shalt not bear false witness.—Exodus 20:16

Lies and Lying in Other Sacred Writings

Beware of murmuring, which is unprofitable; and refrain from backbiting: for no word is so secret that it shall go for nought: and the mouth that lies slays the soul.—Wisdom of Solomon 1:11.

An unseasonable tale will always be in the mouth of the unwise.—Wisdom of Ben Sirach 20:19.

A lie is a foul blot in a man, yet it is continually in the mouth of the untaught.—Wisdom of Ben Sirach 20:24.

The disposition of a liar is dishonorable, and his shame is ever with him.—Wisdom of Ben Sirach 20:26.

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