Treachery

Treachery is defined as the "violation of allegiance or of faith and confidence. The man who betrays his country in any manner, violates his allegiance, and is guilty of treachery This is treason. The man who violates his faith pledged to his friend, or betrays a trust in which a promise of fidelity is implied, is guilty of treachery. The disclosure of a secret committed to one in confidence, is treachery This is perfidy."—Noah Webster

Synonyms for treachery include backstabbing, betrayal, disloyalty, double cross, faithlessness, falseness, falsity, infidelity, perfidy, sellout, treason, two-timing, and unfaithfulness.

Today, treachery is defined as "deceit, cheating, perfidy; a violation of faith or betrayal of trust, perfidious conduct, the deception or perfidy of a traitor, treason against a sovereign, lord, or master."—OED


Synonyms for treachery include betrayal, disloyalty, faithlessness, unfaithfulness, infidelity, a breach of trust, duplicity, dirty tricks, deceit, deception, chicanery, backstabbing, double-dealing, untrustworthiness, and treason. Treachery is a sin, a frequent activity of those who are inclined to do evil.





Edna Lister on Treachery

Nothing is omitted when the time has come to sift all weaknesses, treachery and deceit from the soul.—Edna Lister, August 23, 1939.


When one misuses mind in treachery, it eventually makes a sieve of brain cells, until they hold nothing. Medical science would say that the brain "softens" to a jellylike substance [which describes Alzheimer’s disease].—Edna Lister, August 30, 1939.


As the Oversoul descends and ascends the spine, the embodied soul becomes willful and the self becomes more sly and treacherous unless curbed.—Edna Lister, The Silver Cord, April 25, 1942.


Find a positive way to state it in prayer treatment if someone is evil or treacherous.—Edna Lister, July 6, 1945.


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


You experience much travail in clearing out ages of selfish undergrowth, which is subtle and treacherous. However, this is the Way of Ascension.—Edna Lister, July 25, 1947.


You hide nothing when you live by deceit and treachery, and do not admonish self, for Light brings it into the open. Call such actions by their right name. Light will shout your fault from the housetops if you don’t face it.—Edna Lister, December 6, 1947.


Evil can use treachery only where it finds deceit, just as it can play upon self only where self is blaming others and desiring more for self.—Edna Lister, April 19, 1948.


When you hide things, you cover up only from self.—Edna Lister, July 20, 1956.


You may not hide things from yourself, evade issues, tell tales, or use treachery or lies, even under self-delusion.—Edna Lister, July 20, 1956.


Many souls who have great chronological soul age cannot stand the test of time, which is the hardest, for nothing escapes the sifting of weaknesses, treachery and deceit.—Edna Lister, January 12, 1961.


Light uncovers all darkness and treachery. To be "perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect" is to lift as your only response.—Edna Lister, April 2, 1967.


Treachery turns inward and devours the one who practices it.—Edna Lister, Undated Papers, 1924-1971.

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A Story That Illustrates Treachery

Judas Betrays Jesus, Matthew’s Version: Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said unto his disciples, Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified. Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, and consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him. But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people ...

Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, and said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.

Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover? And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples. And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the passover. Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve.

And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I? And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me. The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born. Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said.—Matthew 26:1-5,14-25.


Judas Betrays Jesus, Luke’s Version: Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover. And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people. Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve. And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them. And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money. And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude.—Luke 22:1-6.

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Edna Miriam Lister
1884 – 1971
The original Christian Pioneering Mystic,
Platonist philosopher, American Idealist, Founder, Society of the Universal Living Christ, minister, teacher, author, wife, and mother.


Edna Lister


Etymology of treachery: Middle English trecherie, from Old French, from trichier, "to trick," probably from Vulgar Latin triccare, "to trick."


Treachery is a sin.


References

The Oxford English Dictionary: Compact Edition 2 volumes. Oxford University Press, 1971.

The Holy Bible King James Version (KJV).

Merriam-Webster. “Treachery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus. Accessed 25 Oct. 2022.

Webster, Noah. “Treachery,” Webster’s American Dictionary of the English Language. New York: S. Converse, 1828. This work is in the public domain.



Related Topic

See Deceit