Biblical Answer

Why does God hate lying so much?

The Nature of Deception

Lying is a problem because it denies the character of God who is truth (Heb 6:18) and whose word embodies truth (Jn 17:17). Jesus said, "I am... the truth" (Jn 14:6), emphasizing that there is nothing false in him. The Bible affirms that God is not human that he should lie or change his mind (Num. 23:19; 1 Sam. 15:29; cf. Ps. 89:35; Isa. 31:2). God's character is rooted in truth, and lying is a departure from that character.

The Influence of Satan

Lying is not just a human problem, but it is also deeply connected to the work of Satan, who is the father of lies (John 8:44). Satan delights in falsehood and uses it to corrupt and deceive people. When we lie, we are participating in Satan's nature, and that is why God hates lying so much. The Bible says that Satan is the counselor who endorses the lies we believe, and that his lies come to us after the seeds of deception have already been sown in our hearts (2 Thess. 2:10-12). By lying, we are giving Satan a foothold in our lives, and that is a serious problem.

The Consequences of Lying

The consequences of lying are severe, not just for us, but also for those who are deceived by our lies. The Bible says that God sends a powerful delusion to those who refuse to love the truth and be saved (2 Thess. 2:10-12). When we lie, we are contributing to a world that is increasingly deceived and hostile to God. That is why God hates lying so much - it is a denial of his character, a participation in Satan's nature, and a contributor to a world that is increasingly hostile to him. As Psalm 119:163 says, "I hate and abhor falsehood, but I love your law." We must hate lying and love the truth, just as God does.