Who Is the Father of Lies According to the Bible?
- Jessica Brodie Award-winning Christian Novelist and Journalist
- Updated May 26, 2021
"You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies." John 8:44
God claims many names that are synonymous with truth, power, love, goodness, and light. God always speaks the truth. Scripture promises us His words can be trusted completely. Titus 1:2 assures us God does not lie, while Hebrews 6:18 says God cannot lie—indeed, that it is “impossible” for God to lie. Given that God epitomizes good and truth, their opposites have no place with Him. Those who do evil and who lie are not doing the will of God the Father but rather that of Satan.
In fact, Jesus tells us, those people do not have God as their Father but rather another father—the father of lies. Who is the father of lies according to the Bible? Jesus tells us unequivocally the father of lies is the devil, also known as Satan.
Neil Anderson puts it this way: Satan's power is in the lie. He has no power over you except what you given him when you believe his lies. You break his power when you expose the lie. Since Satan's primary weapon is the lie, your defense against him is the truth. Dealing with Satan is not a power encounter; it's a truth encounter. When you expose Satan's lie with God's truth, his power is broken. That's why Jesus said: "You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32). That's why He prayed: "My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. . . . Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth" (John 17:15, 17 NIV ).
Who Is the Father of Lies according to the Bible?
God epitomizes goodness and truth, and Jesus in no uncertain terms says that He comes from God, His Father. But those who oppose Him and utter lies have a different father, Jesus says in John 8. Their father is the devil, the father of lies. In this passage, a group of Jews are opposing Jesus, yet insisting they are children of Abraham (John 8:39) and that the only father they have is God Himself (8:41). But Jesus says in return that while they might be descendants of Abraham, they are not Abraham’s children, nor are they children of God.
The devil is a tricky, clever evil one, hence the name “father of lies.” Not only did he deceive Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3), but when he tempted Jesus in the wilderness in Matthew 4, he used a twisted, misquoted version of Scripture to try to get Jesus to do his bidding. This Scripture-twisting is not only done by the devil but his workers on earth.
As Jesus told them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:42-44).
Further, Jesus said, whoever belongs to God hears what God says, but “the reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God” (John 8:47).
In his second letter to the early church in Corinth, the apostle Paul addresses certain “false apostles” and “deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.”
“No wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light,” Paul writes. “It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness” (2 Corinthians 11:13-15).
Revelation 12:9 refers to Satan as the devil “who leads the whole world astray” (NIV), and the ESV translation uses the word “deceiver.” In 1 Thessalonians 3, the devil is called the “tempter.”
What Does the Bible Say about Lying?
A lying tongue is “detestable” to God (Proverbs 6:17), and it is among one of the Ten Commandments that we should not lie (Exodus 20:16). Psalm 101:7 says, “No one who practices deceit will dwell in my house; no one who speaks falsely will stand in my presence” (NIV), and Colossians 3:9 reminds us, “Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices.” Lying is considered to be evil and not “of God,” who represents truth. Jesus tells us He is “the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6), and telling the truth is one way we can represent Jesus in the world.
John 8:44: "You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies."
2 Corinthians 11:14: "And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light."
Revelation 12:9: "And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him."
What Is the Danger of Lying and Why Should We Avoid It?
Lying is an act of betrayal, not love. We are commanded to love God foremost and then to love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-40), but when we lie, we’re not living in accordance with love. Lying leads to dissension and corruption, and Proverbs 25:18 warns that a liar is much like “a war club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow,” an instrument of hate that brings destruction and death. There are a few key reasons not to lie.
- First, God tells us not to do it (Exodus 20:1).
- Second, those who lie will eventually be found out. As it says in Luke 8:17, “For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.”
- Third, God will not deal kindly with liars. Punishment awaits those who deceive (Psalm 12:2-6, Proverbs 19:9, Proverbs 21:6, Revelation 21:7-8).
When we lie, we turn from God and turn toward the devil. But if we are followers of Christ, we should commit ourselves to doing good, telling the truth, and living righteously.
What about White Lies?
Of course, sometimes we might want to tell a small, seemingly trivial lie to spare someone’s feelings or avoid embarrassment. These are termed “white lies,” and some people think they don’t rate as a “real lie.” But trust is important. We trust God’s promises, and we make crucial decisions based on the truths we believe. We wouldn’t want to think God was telling us a seemingly trivial lie just to make us feel better; then how would we know which of His truths to believe?
It’s the same with God’s people. Lying is lying, whether it’s a “big” or a “small” lie. God calls us to be honest and truthful. He tells us not to lie. If we are being obedient, we will heed His commands. In a world where we cannot always trust what we see or hear, it’s a genuine comfort to know we can count on God for the truth. As His children, we must do the same and hold fast to truth.
A Prayer To Stand Strong Against the Father of Lies
Father God, I thank you for your Word that is filled with the truth about your love and my identity in you. Today I bring my thoughts, behaviors, and actions into submission to your truth. Give me wisdom to know when Satan, the father of lies, is trying to pull me away from your will. Help me to keep your word as a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. Protect me from the attacks of evil that seek to destroy me through deception and lies. You are all things true, holy and right. Today I recommit my ways to you.
Amen.
Further Reading
The Father of Lies - Greg Laurie Daily Devotion
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