Somebody walks up to you and asks, “Hey, did you eat the last piece of chicken?” and you, with oil still shining on your lips, respond, “Which chicken?”
Is that lying? Of course.
But what about when the stakes are much, much higher?
What if telling the truth puts someone in danger?
What if honesty could break a family apart?
What if a simple, well-placed diplomatic response could keep the peace?
Does God expect absolute truthfulness at all times, or is there room for wisdom in how we respond? Let’s unpack this with real-life illustrations, biblical insights, and some necessary heart checks.
1. The Clear Biblical Command: No Lying. Period.
The Bible is very clear about lying:
“Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices.”
(Colossians 3:9)
“The Lord detests lying lips, but He delights in people who are trustworthy.”
(Proverbs 12:22)
“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.”
(Exodus 20:16 – One of the Ten Commandments)
So, at face value, the answer seems simple: Lying is never okay.
But then we read certain biblical stories that make us stop and think.
2. When Lying (or “Strategic Words”) Seemed to Work in the Bible
A few biblical characters seemed to get away with “not telling the whole truth.” Does that mean lying is sometimes justified?
A. The Hebrew Midwives – Exodus 1
Pharaoh commanded the Hebrew midwives to kill all Israelite baby boys. But they didn’t. When Pharaoh asked why, they said:
“The Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women; they are vigorous and give birth before the midwives arrive!”
(Exodus 1:19)
Essentially, they lied to save lives. And guess what? God blessed them for it. 🤯
B. Rahab and the Spies – Joshua 2
When Israelite spies hid in Rahab’s house, soldiers came looking for them. Rahab told the soldiers, “They already left,” while she was actually hiding them on her roof.
Did God strike her down for lying? No. In fact, Rahab is honored in the Bible for helping God’s people.
C. Jesus and the “Withholding” Approach
Now, Jesus never lied (obviously!), but He often responded to tricky questions with wisdom rather than blunt answers.
Example: When the Pharisees tried to trap Him by asking, “Should we pay taxes to Caesar?” (Matthew 22:17), He didn’t give a simple yes or no. Instead, He responded in a way that made them think:
"Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s."
He answered without falling into their trap. Was it deception? No. Was it wisdom? Absolutely.
3. When Does Truth Require Tact? (And When Does It Become a Lie?)
Now, let’s get real.
Imagine these scenarios:
A. Protecting Someone’s Life
You’re in Nazi Germany hiding Jews in your house.
Soldiers bang on your door: “Are you hiding anyone?”
What do you say?
Telling the absolute truth might lead to their death. Would God be more honored by telling the truth or protecting innocent lives?
B. Keeping Peace in a Sensitive Situation
Your friend just finished singing a very off-key solo at church.
They ask, “Did I sound okay?”
If you say, “Honestly, it was terrible,” they might never sing again.
If you say,
"Your passion was amazing!"
without mentioning the off-key part, are you being deceitful or just gracious?
C. Navigating Work and Leadership
Your boss asks, “Do you think my idea is the best one?” (but it’s actually terrible).
If you say,
"I think there’s a lot of potential here, and maybe we can refine it,"
you avoid dishonesty while gently steering things in a better direction.
4. The Difference Between Wisdom and Deception
Lying is clearly wrong when it:
❌ Protects our selfish interests.
❌ Manipulates others for personal gain.
❌ Breaks trust and integrity.
But wisdom is different.
✅ Being diplomatic isn’t the same as lying. It means speaking with grace and discernment.
✅ Being strategic in communication (like Jesus) doesn’t mean deception—it means avoiding unnecessary conflict.
✅ Using tact when responding to difficult questions doesn’t mean compromising truth—it means presenting it in a way that builds up rather than tears down.
5. So, Is It Ever Okay to Lie?
The best answer is: It’s complicated.
The Bible commands us to be truthful. But how we tell the truth requires wisdom. There are situations where brutal honesty can do more harm than good. However, we should never use this as an excuse to be deceitful for personal gain.
Instead of lying, consider these alternatives:
âś” Silence: Sometimes, the best answer is to say nothing.
✔ Redirecting: Like Jesus did—answer wisely rather than bluntly.
âś” Speaking with Grace: You can be honest without being harsh.
At the end of the day, our words should reflect both truth and love. Because truth without love is harsh, and love without truth is deception.
Final Thoughts: When Truth Meets Love
Every situation is different, but the goal remains the same: Honor God with your words.
- Speak truth, but with wisdom.
- Be honest, but also gracious.
- Avoid deception, but also avoid unnecessary harm.
And if you’re ever in a situation where telling the truth seems impossible without causing harm—pray for wisdom. Because the God of truth is also the God of wisdom.
What Do You Think?
Have you ever been in a situation where telling the truth felt complicated? How did you handle it? Let’s talk in the comments! ⬇️