Misleading others is a sin, and it’s also something that we’re all guilty of at some point in our lives. In fact, it’s so common that we may not even realize when we’re doing it. What does the bible mean by woe to those who lead others astray, we’ll learn about In this article.
The Bible is full of verses that tell us not to mislead others—and they can help us identify the times when we’ve been misleading someone else. Here are some of the best ones:
“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light and light for darkness” (Isaiah 5:20). “Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people” (Isaiah 10:1). “You shall not oppress your neighbor or rob him.” (Exodus 22:24). “Do not lie or steal or cheat anyone.” (Ephesians 4:28). We’ll also see what does the bible say about liars and manipulators.
Bible Verses About Misleading Others
When we lie and mislead others, we are only hurting ourselves. Read this list to find out why you shouldn’t mislead others, and how it’s bad for your relationship with God.
Proverbs 26:18-19 – As a maniac who shoots firebrands and deadly arrows, so is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”
This verse is proof that God does not take kindly to those who deceive others. The Bible says that the Lord hates lying lips, and any man or woman who tells lies will be punished. As a maniac shoots firebrands and deadly arrows, so is the man who deceives his neighbor and says I was only joking!
The Bible warns us that those who lie are fools, but they may also be liars. People who tell little lies can easily become big liars, so it’s important to think about what you say before you speak up or write down your thoughts. If you have something negative to say about someone else, stop for a moment and ask yourself if what you plan on sharing might hurt their feelings later down the road—and perhaps even more importantly–if it could cause them harm in other ways than just hurting their feelings?
If someone asks me how my day went today at work (and let’s say that I had some bad news), if they ask me this question while driving by themselves along a busy highway where there aren’t any cars around except theirs then yes I’m going tell them everything without thinking twice about it because I know they want hear everything anyway whether good or bad so why keep any secrets from them?
Proverbs 12:24 – Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor.
Laziness is a sin. Laziness leads to forced labor. A lazy person does not have faith in God and he will be poor because of his lack of discipline.
Proverbs 18:12 – Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.
Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.
- Proverbs 18:12
Humility is not something we hear about often in our world today, especially when it comes to leadership. Prideful leaders have caused many businesses to fail over the years because they are more concerned with their image than they are with leading their people well. If you’re leading a team of people or trying to be an effective leader in any capacity, you need humility. Without it, your pride will lead you right into trouble!
Galatians 6:7 – Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.
- Do not be deceived: God is not mocked.
- For whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.
Psalm 119:11 – I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
In this verse, the psalmist says he has hidden God’s word in his heart so that he won’t sin against God. In other words, if you hide the Bible in your heart, you’re less likely to sin. This is because the Bible is a strong reminder of what God wants from us and how we should live our lives. When we are tempted to do something sinful or disobey Him, having His Word inside us will help us resist temptation and stay on track with what He wants for our lives.
The Bible teaches us many important lessons about how to live our lives properly and how not living correctly can lead us down a path away from God and into sinfulness (Romans 6:1-2). The psalmist also mentions that a person who sins against God will be punished by death (Psalm 9:17). It’s important for Christians everywhere not only because it reminds them of what they should know but also because it gives guidance when they need answers most urgently—especially when they feel tempted by their own desires or when they’ve made mistakes along their journey with Christ
Colossians 3:9-10 – Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
Colossians 3:9-10 – Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. In this renewal process, you must get rid of all deceitful practices and everything that makes for gossip or cackles about others.
The bible teaches us of the dangers of misleading people.
The bible teaches us of the dangers of misleading people
The bible has many verses that warn us about the dangers of misleading others. This is a common topic in many sermons and Bible studies because we are often faced with situations where we need to choose between telling the truth or lying. The following are just some examples:
- Proverbs 6:16-19 – There are six things which the Lord hates, seven which are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood; a heart that devises wicked plans; feet that make haste to run evil errands; a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers (NIV).
- Romans 3:8 – And why not do evil that good may come?—as some people slanderously charge us with saying (NIV).
Misleading your friends and family is a very dangerous act. The bible says that you should only speak the truth and embrace it. People who mislead others are like maniacs shooting firebrands and deadly arrows at their neighbors. God forbids us to do this because we can never take back what we said once it’s out of our mouths. The bible also teaches us to create Christ-like habits by following His teachings and examples. You will reap what you sow; if you say a lie, you will be full of lies. Only the truth will set you free from the chains of deception and misfortune!
Woe To Those Who Lead Others Astray
Is it more grievous in God’s eyes when you bring about the sin of another than when you commit that sin yourself? Or are some sins worse than others? In considering passages like Matthew 18:6, this problem becomes apparent. Christ taught as follows,
To the contrary, whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to fall away, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were drowned in the depths of the sea.
(CSB)
Is there a greater condemnation for one who actively promotes the sins of others?
The definition of “worse” makes it difficult to provide a straightforward answer to this type of question.
Just how much worse is it? To sin and not repent is to die a second death in hell’s fiery lake. If we are the cause of the sins of others and do not repent, we will be cast into the lake of fire, the second death.
One could argue that the other isn’t any better, since both lead to the same place: hell. The judgment that follows sin is just as harsh as the sin itself. If we compare sins based on whether they will send us to heaven or hell, then there is no clear-cut hierarchy.
On the other hand, some sins have more dire consequences in this world. According to Jesus (Matthew 5:21-22), anger is just as bad as murder because it also leads to hell, but murder has far more dire repercussions on earth. We would never tell someone, “There’s no difference between anger and murder because they both lead to hell.” If you’re going to be angry with someone, you might as well kill them.
Both adultery and lust follow the same reasoning. Although Jesus warned that both lust and adultery could result in hell (Matthew 5:27-30), it would be a mistake to say that lust is the same as adultery. The sin of adultery is more serious than the sin of lust because it involves another person and has far-reaching consequences. The ripple effects of adultery spread far and wide.
The Worst of the Worst Bringing a child who trusts in Jesus down is the worst of the worst, according to Matthew 18:6. Falling away from the faith, or committing apostasy, is what this context of the word “fall away” refers to.
Too little room exists to elaborate on why no sincere believer ever falls prey to such a lapse. Phenomenological language of belief seems likely here, since the child displayed all the outward signs of faith in Jesus.
Causing someone to abandon their faith is a terrible sin. Jesus’ next words, “Woe to the world because of offenses,” make perfect sense. Because transgressions are inevitable, but woe to the transgressor (Matt. 18:7). Whoever falls away and whoever causes their fall will both spend eternity in hell. Nevertheless, he who stirs up another to sin must carry a heavier burden, and that’s why a millstone should be hung around his neck.
Jesus’ trial provides us with another intriguing text. Pilate asks Jesus where he is from, and when he doesn’t answer, he gets angry (John 19:9–10). Jesus points out to Pilate that the power Pilate has comes from God, yet he says that whoever handed him over to Pilate “has the greater sin” (John 19:11).
For our purposes, it doesn’t matter whether Annas, Caiaphas, or Judas has the greater sin. Jesus’s words indicate that he considers whoever handed him over to be more guilty than Pilate himself. While it’s true that both Pilate and this other person committed sin, some transgressions are more serious than others. The person who turned Jesus over to Pilate took the initiative to have him executed, while Pilate merely reacted to the circumstances under which he found himself.
Another example is the Israelite and Judean monarchies. One of the main takeaways from 1–2 Kings is that the nation follows the king’s lead. A godly king improves the state of the nation, while a wicked king brings it to its knees and makes life miserable for its citizens. A wicked ruler over a defenseless people is like a roaring lion or a charging bear, Proverbs 28:15 says.
While there are many factors at play in Israel’s demise in 1 and 2 Kings, the author keeps coming back to Jeroboam son of Nebat’s sin. As the nation’s first monarch, he had a unique burden because he was the one responsible for leading his people down the path of idolatry and evil. Those in power who sinfully lead their countries must take special blame. Remembering the atrocities committed under the leadership of men like Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, and Mao Zedong is chilling.
Think of all the pastors who have turned their backs on the gospel and led their congregations astray by rejecting orthodoxy. People in our country are being led astray by clergy who preach a false gospel in their churches.
Similar Conclusions, Varying Scopes
In the end, both the stoic atheist who seems to have no effect on others and the charismatic leader who leads many people astray end up in hell. Those who are the catalysts for others’ sins appear to have a disproportionate share of the guilt for diverting others from the path of holiness.
Jesus did give us a hint that the more serious the sin, the more severe the punishment:
A severe beating awaits the servant who disobeys his master’s explicit instructions despite having ample opportunity to do so. The one who did wrong without realizing it will get a mild flogging. Everyone who is given a lot must also do a lot, and anyone who is trusted with a lot must do even more. (Luke 12:47–48)
From these verses, we can infer that there are varying degrees of punishment in hell. Those who have committed greater sins, which must of necessity include those who encourage the sins of others, must shoulder greater accountability.
Heaven or hell, that is the most basic question.
However, the punishment for those who have led children astray, who have caused others to reject the gospel, will be more severe.
God is righteous, he does everything perfectly, and his holiness will last forever.
What Does The Bible Say About Liars And Manipulators
Manipulation is a common theme in the Bible. Scripture provides numerous warnings against manipulating others and receiving manipulation from others through a combination of illustrative examples, guiding principles, and explicit commands.
Lies are the foundation of manipulation. If someone lies to you with the intent to trick you, they are engaging in manipulation because they are trying to influence your thoughts and actions. As a result, the biblical prohibitions against lying also apply to manipulation. If you tell a lie, you’re committing a terrible sin.
Falsehoods run in Satan’s family (John 8:44). Perhaps another name for him would be “master of manipulation.” He used Eve as a pawn, tricking her into disobeying God with half-truths and appealing to her need for knowledge. Satan still lures his victims today with the promise of temporary happiness before they fall into his traps. He “puts on an act of heavenly benevolence” (2 Corinthians 11:14). He plays on our insecurities, flatters our pride, and convinces us that sin is the best choice. He is cunning and sneaky, and he uses a wide variety of techniques to subjugate us to his will.
A couple of times, Samson fell prey to people trying to manipulate him. At his wedding, he challenged the Philistines in attendance with a riddle, promising them “thirty linen garments and thirty sets of clothes” if they guessed correctly (Judges 14:12). The Philistines had no idea what to do, so they asked Samson’s new wife to coax a response out of him. The woman who would become Samson’s wife “threw herself on him, sobbing, ‘You hate me! You just pretend to love me. She wept for the duration of the seven-day celebration, saying, “You’ve given my people a riddle, but you haven’t told me the answer” (verses 16–17). Samson gave in to her manipulation and told her the answer, which she shared with the rest of the town. Samson later lost his life because he trusted Delilah’s deceptions (Judges 16).
The Bible issues a stern warning against being led astray by spiritually manipulative people. Christians are cautioned repeatedly in the New Testament to avoid following the teachings of those who claim to speak in the name of God but who are actually charlatans. It is imperative that we not fall prey to false hope (Galatians 3:1; 2 Peter 2). “who worm their way into homes and gain control over gullible women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires,” Paul wrote of manipulators (2 Timothy 3:6). False prophets, Jesus warned, “come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves” (Matthew 7:15).
Christians are not to manipulate or take advantage of others in any way; this should go without saying. We are all part of one body, so stop lying to one another and start telling the truth (Ephesians 4:25). In the same vein, we must guard against falling for manipulative tactics. Jesus advised his followers to “have the wisdom of snakes and the purity of doves” (Matthew 10:16). Be as cunning as a snake and you won’t get taken advantage of, but as naive as a dove and you won’t be able to manipulate others, either.
Some people are just more prone to manipulation because of their inherent character traits, like a strong will and an attractive persona. This is especially true when dealing with members of our own families. Trust is vital to every one of our connections. Truthfulness in a loving way should be our standard, and we should expect the same from others.