53 Bible Verses about Self Deception

Most Relevant Verses

Psalm 36:1-4

The rebellion of the wicked saith to my heart that there is no fear of God before his eyes. For he flatters himself in his own eyes until his iniquity is found to be hateful. The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit; he has left off to be wise and to do good.read more.
He devises iniquity upon his bed; he sets himself in a way that is not good; he does not abhor evil.

Jeremiah 2:34-35

Even in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents; thou didst not find them in any trespass, but by all these things. Yet thou didst say, Because I am innocent, surely his anger shall turn from me. Behold, I will enter into judgment with thee because thou hast said, I did not sin.

Jeremiah 17:9-10

The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked; who shall know it? I the LORD search the heart; I try the kidneys, even to give each man according to his ways and according to the fruit of his doings.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10

Know ye not that the unjust shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not err: neither fornicators nor idolaters nor adulterers nor effeminate nor homosexuals nor thieves nor covetous nor drunkards nor revilers nor extortioners shall inherit the kingdom of God.

Matthew 23:13-15

But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of the heavens in front of men, for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye those that are entering to go in. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses and for a pretence make long prayer; therefore, ye shall receive the greater judgment. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more a son of hell than yourselves.

Luke 11:42-52

But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs and pass over the judgment and the charity of God; these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye love the first seats in the synagogues and greetings in the markets. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are as graves which are not seen, and the men that walk over them are not aware of them.read more.
Then one of the lawyers answered and said unto him, Master, saying these things, thou dost reproach us also. And he said, Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! for ye burden men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers. Woe unto you! for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and your fathers killed them. Truly ye bear witness that ye allow the deeds of your fathers: for they indeed killed them, and ye build their sepulchres. Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and others they shall persecute: that the blood of all the prophets which was shed from the foundation of the world may be required of this generation, from the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, who perished between the altar and the temple; verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation. Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and those that were entering in, ye hindered.

John 8:33-34

They answered him, We are Abraham's seed, and we have never served anyone; how sayest thou, Ye shall be set free? Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever commits sin is the slave of sin.

James 1:22-26

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if anyone hears the word and does not put it into practice, this same is like unto the man beholding his natural face in a mirror: For he considered himself and went his way and in one hour forgot what he was like.read more.
But whosoever has looked attentively into the perfect law of liberty and has persevered in it, not being a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, the same shall be blessed in their deed. If anyone among you thinks to be religious and does not bridle his tongue, but deceives his own heart, his religion is vain.

James 4:13-16

Come now, ye that say, Today and tomorrow we will go into such a city and continue there a year and buy and sell and get gain; and ye do not know what shall be tomorrow. For what is your life? Certainly it is a vapour that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Ye ought to say instead, If the Lord wills, and if we live, we shall do this or that.read more.
But now ye boast in your arrogance; all such glory is evil.

Jeremiah 5:31

The prophets prophesied falsely, and the priests bore rule by their hands; and my people love to have it so. What will ye do in the end thereof?

Jeremiah 6:13-14

For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them each one is given to greed; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one deals falsely. They treat also the destruction of the daughter of my people lightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.

Jeremiah 8:10-11

Therefore I will give their wives unto others and their fields unto those that shall inherit them: for each one from the least even unto the greatest is given to greed; from the prophet even unto the priest every one deals falsely. For they have treated the destruction of the daughter of my people lightly, saying, Peace, peace, when there is no peace.

Jeremiah 14:14-16

Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I did not send them, neither have I commanded them, neither did I speak unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision, divination, vanity, and the deceit of their heart. Therefore thus hath the LORD said concerning the prophets that prophesy in my name which I did not send and that say, Sword and famine shall not be in this land; By sword and famine shall those prophets be consumed. And the people to whom they prophesy shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and the sword; and they shall have no one to bury them, their wives, nor their sons, nor their daughters; for I will pour their wickedness upon them.

Jeremiah 23:16-18

Thus hath the LORD of the hosts said, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD. They say boldly unto those that stir me to anger, The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto anyone that walks after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you. For who has stood in the secret of the LORD and has seen and heard his word? Who has payed attention to his word and heard it?

Ezekiel 13:7-9

Have ye not seen a vain vision and have ye not spoken a lying divination, whereas ye say, The LORD hath said it; albeit I have not spoken? Therefore thus hath the Lord GOD said: Because ye have spoken vanity, and seen lies; therefore, behold, I am against you, said the Lord GOD. And my hand shall be against the prophets that see vanity and that divine lies: they shall not be in the assembly of my people, neither shall they be written in the book of the house of Israel, neither shall they return to the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the Lord GOD.

Micah 3:5

Thus hath the LORD said concerning the prophets that make my people err, that bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and he that does not give them something to eat, they even prepare war against him.

Luke 12:16-20

And he spoke a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully; and he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my storehouses and build greater, and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.read more.
And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast many goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee; then whose shall those things be which thou hast stored up?

Jeremiah 7:9-11

Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not, and come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are free to do all these abominations? Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, said the LORD.

Deuteronomy 29:14-21

Neither with you only do I make this covenant and this oath, but with those that stand here with us today before the LORD our God and also with those that are not here with us today. For ye know how we have dwelt in the land of Egypt, and how we came through the Gentiles which ye passed by;read more.
and ye have seen their abominations and their idols, wood and stone, silver and gold, which they have among them. Peradventure there shall be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turns away today from the LORD our God to go and serve the gods of those Gentiles; peradventure there shall be among you a root that bears poison and wormwood; and it shall be, when that one hears the words of this curse, that he blesses himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of my heart, to add drunkenness to thirst. The LORD will not forgive him, but then the anger of the LORD and his jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the LORD shall blot out his name from under heaven. And the LORD shall separate him unto evil out of all the tribes of Israel, according to all the curses of the covenant that are written in this book of the law.

Jeremiah 37:9-10

Thus hath the LORD said; Do not deceive yourselves, saying, The Chaldeans have surely departed from us; for they shall not depart. For though ye had smitten the whole army of the Chaldeans that fight against you and there remained but wounded men among them, yet should they rise up each man from his tent and burn this city with fire.

Matthew 3:8-9

Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance and think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham as our father, for I say unto you that God is able to raise up children unto Abraham of these stones.

Luke 3:8

Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham for our father; for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

Matthew 7:21-23

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of the heavens, but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in the heavens. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then I will profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Luke 13:25-27

When once the husband of the house is risen up and shall have shut the door, and ye begin to stand without and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not from where ye are, then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say unto you, I know you not from where ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.

Matthew 25:41-46

Then he shall also say unto those who shall be on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into eternal fire, prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and ye gave me no food; I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me not in; naked, and ye clothed me not; sick and in prison, and ye visited me not.read more.
Then they shall also answer him, saying, Lord, when did we see thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and did not minister unto thee? Then he shall answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of my brothers, ye did it not to me. And they shall go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.

John 8:39-47

They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus said unto them, If ye were Abraham's sons, ye would do the works of Abraham. But now ye seek to kill me, a man that has told you the truth, which I have heard of God; Abraham did not do this. Ye do the deeds of your father. Then they said to him, We are not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.read more.
Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would surely love me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither did I come of myself, but he sent me. Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. Ye are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father ye desire to do. He was a murderer from the beginning and abode not in the truth because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own, for he is a liar and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye do not believe me. Which of you reproves me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? He that is of God hears God's words; ye therefore hear them not because ye are not of God.

Romans 2:17-29

Behold, thou doth call thyself a Jew and art supported by the law and doth glory in God and dost know his will and approve the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law, and art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of those who are in darkness,read more.
an instructor of the ignorant, a teacher of children, who hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law. Thou, therefore, who teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? Thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? Thou that dost abhor idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? Thou that makest thy boast of the law, with rebellion to the law doth thou dishonour God? For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written. For circumcision verily profits if thou keep the law, but if thou art a rebel to the law, thy circumcision is made into a foreskin. Therefore if the uncircumcised keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his foreskin be counted for circumcision? And that which is by nature foreskin, but keeps the law perfectly, shall judge thee who with the letter and with the circumcision art rebellious to the law. For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, neither is circumcision that which is done outwardly in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit and not in the letter, whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Philippians 3:2-7

Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. For we are the circumcision, who serve God in spirit and glory in Christ Jesus, having no confidence in the flesh. Though I might also have reason to confide in the flesh. If any other man thinks that he has whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:read more.
Circumcised the eighth day, of the lineage of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, a persecutor of the congregation ; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But those things which were gain to me, I counted loss for Christ.

1 Corinthians 3:18-20

Let no one deceive himself. If any one among you seems to be wise in this age, let them become a fool that they may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He takes the wise in their own craftiness. And again, The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.

Jeremiah 49:16

Thy arrogance has deceived thee, and the pride of thine heart, O thou that dost dwell in the clefts of the rock, that dost hold the height of the mountain: though thou should make thy nest as high as the eagle, I will bring thee down from there, said the LORD.

Matthew 26:33-35

Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended in thee, yet I will never be offended. Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night before the cock crows, thou shalt deny me three times. Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.

Mark 14:27-31

Then Jesus said unto them, All ye shall be scandalized in me this night; for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered. But after I have risen, I will go before you into Galilee. Then Peter said unto him, Although all be scandalized, yet I will not.read more.
And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crows twice, thou shalt deny me three times. But he spoke the more vehemently, If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said the others.

Luke 22:33-34

And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison and to death. And he said, I tell thee, Peter, thou shalt deny three times that thou knowest me before the cock shall crow this day.

John 13:37-38

Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my soul for thy sake. Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy soul for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow until thou hast denied me three times.

2 Corinthians 10:12

For we dare not mix ourselves in with or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves, but they do not understand that they are measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves among themselves.

Isaiah 1:11-17

To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? shall the LORD say. I am full of the burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed beasts; and I do not delight in the blood of bullocks or of lambs or of he goats. When ye come to appear before me, who has required this at your hand, to tread my courts? Bring no more vain oblations; the incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot stand them; iniquity and the solemn meeting.read more.
Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; likewise, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear; your hands are full of blood. Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; put away the evil of your doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil; learn to do good; seek judgment; restore unto the oppressed; hear the fatherless in right judgment; protect the widow.

Isaiah 58:2-7

That they seek me daily and want to know my ways, as people that do righteousness and have not forsaken the rights of their God: they ask me of the rights of righteousness and desire to approach God. Why have we fasted, they say, and thou dost not see? why have we afflicted our soul, and thou dost take no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find your own pleasure and exact your own estates. Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day to make your voice to be heard on high.read more.
Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast and an acceptable day to the LORD? Is not rather the fast that I have chosen, to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the ties of oppression, to release into freedom those who are broken, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to share thy bread with the hungry and that thou bring the poor that are cast out into thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou not hide thyself from thy brother?

Jeremiah 7:2-8

Stand in the gate of the LORD's house and proclaim there this word and say, Hear the word of the LORD, all ye of Judah that enter in at these gates to worship the LORD. Thus hath the LORD of the hosts the God of Israel said, Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place. Do not trust in lying words, saying, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD are these.read more.
For if ye thoroughly amend your ways and your doings, if ye thoroughly do right between a man and his neighbour, if ye do not oppress the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed no innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other gods to your hurt, then I will cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers for ever and ever. Behold, ye trust in lying words that cannot profit.

Amos 5:21-24

I hate, I despise your solemnities, and I will not savour your assemblies. Though ye offer me your burnt offerings and your presents, I will not accept them; neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts. Take away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy instruments.read more.
But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.

Malachi 1:6-14

The son honours his father and the slave his master; if then I am a father, where is my honour? and if I am a master, where is my fear? said the LORD of the hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, In what have we despised thy name? Ye offer polluted bread upon my altar; and ye say, In what have we polluted thee? In that ye say, We die of hunger in the service of the LORD. And when ye offer the blind animal for sacrifice, is it not evil? Likewise when ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy prince; will he be pleased with thee or accept thy person? said the LORD of the hosts.read more.
And now, therefore, beseech the face of God, and he will have compassion on us; this has come by your hand: will he regard your persons? said the LORD of the hosts. Who is there even among you that would shut the doors or tend the fire on my altar for free? I have no pleasure in you, said the LORD of the hosts, neither will the offering from your hand be agreeable unto me. For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same, my name is great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense is offered unto my name, and a clean offering; for my name is great among the Gentiles, said the LORD of the hosts. And ye have profaned it when ye say, We die of hunger at the service of the LORD and when ye speak that his food is contemptible. And ye say, Behold, what a weariness it is! and ye have rejected it, said the LORD of the hosts; and ye brought that which was stolen or lame or sick and presented an offering: should this be acceptable unto me by your hand? said the LORD. But cursed be the deceiver, who has in his flock a male and vows and sacrifices unto the Lord a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, saith the LORD of the hosts, and my name is formidable among the Gentiles.

Matthew 6:5

And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They already have their reward.

Isaiah 65:2-5

I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, who walk in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts; a people that provokes me to anger continually to my face; that sacrifices in gardens, and burns incense upon altars of brick; who remain asleep among the graves, and lodge in the deserts, who eat swine's flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels;read more.
who say, Stand by thyself, do not come near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burns all the day.

Luke 18:9-14

And he spoke this parable unto some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray, the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee that I am not as other men are: extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.read more.
I fast two meals every sabbath; I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God, reconcile me, a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for anyone that exalts himself shall be humbled, and he that humbles himself shall be exalted.

Romans 1:20-23

For the invisible things of him, his eternal power and divinity, are clearly understood by the creation of the world and by the things that are made so that there is no excuse; because having known God, they did not glorify him as God, neither were thankful, but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became foolsread more.
and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man and of birds and of fourfooted beasts and of serpents.

Isaiah 44:17-20

the residue of it he turns into god, into his graven image; he humbles himself before it and worships it and prays unto it and says, Deliver me; for thou art my god. They did not know nor understand; for he has anointed their eyes that they not see and their hearts that they not understand. He does not return to his right mind; he does not have knowledge nor intelligence to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; I have also baked bread upon the coals of it; I have roasted flesh and eaten it and shall I make the residue of it an abomination? Do I have to humble myself before the trunk of a tree?read more.
The ashes feed him; his deceived heart inclines him, that he not deliver his soul and say, Is not the lie at my right hand?

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