21 Bible Verses About Cheating, in Marriage and in Everyday Dishonesty

Exodus 20:14

“You shall not commit adultery.”

Reflection: In Hebrew the commandment is two words, lo tin’af. It comes without explanation, as though its meaning were already understood.

Proverbs 6:32

“He who commits adultery lacks sense; he who does it destroys himself.”

Reflection: Proverbs argues from sense rather than outrage: adultery is a foolish trade, and the one who commits it destroys himself. A few verses earlier the chapter asks, “Can a man carry fire next to his chest and his clothes not be burned?” (6:27).

1 Corinthians 6:18

“Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.”

Reflection: Paul’s verb is flee, and he gives a reason: sexual sin is against one’s own body. The same advice applies to lust, before it becomes an act.

Proverbs 11:1

“A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is his delight.”

Reflection: A false balance cheated the buyer on every sale. The Hebrew word for abomination, to’evah, is the word Deuteronomy uses of idols (Deuteronomy 7:25).

Leviticus 19:11

“You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; you shall not lie to one another.”

Reflection: Stealing, dealing falsely and lying appear in one verse, as parts of one kind of wrong.

Proverbs 12:22

“Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight.”

Reflection: The second half is easy to miss: people who act faithfully are the Lord’s delight.

Luke 16:10

“One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.”

Reflection: Jesus says this after the parable of the dishonest manager (16:1-9). Faithfulness in small matters shows how a person will handle large ones.

2 Corinthians 8:21

“For we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man.”

Reflection: Paul is explaining how a large gift for Jerusalem would be handled, so “that no one should blame us” (8:20). He wanted the honesty to be visible to people as well as to God.

Numbers 32:23

“But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the Lord, and be sure your sin will find you out.”

Reflection: Moses says this to the tribes of Reuben and Gad, who wanted to settle east of the Jordan. If they failed to fight alongside the other tribes, their sin would find them out.

Proverbs 10:9

“Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.”

Reflection: The person of integrity walks securely, with nothing to hide or keep track of. The crooked will be found out.

Galatians 6:7

“Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.”

Reflection: Sowing and harvest are separated by time, long enough for someone to think they have got away with it. Paul says they have not.

1 Corinthians 10:13

“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation, he will also provide the way of escape.”

Reflection: Paul begins by saying the temptation is common to everyone, and then promises that God will provide a way of escape.

James 1:12

“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life.”

Reflection: The blessing is for the one who remains steadfast under trial, staying in place rather than escaping.

Ephesians 6:11

“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.”

Reflection: “Schemes” implies planning. Cheating usually involves some arranging beforehand, and the armor goes on before that begins.

Philippians 4:8

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

Reflection: Paul ends with what to think about rather than what to avoid, giving the mind something true and honorable to hold.

Psalm 51:1

“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.”

Reflection: The psalm’s heading places it after the prophet Nathan confronted David over Bathsheba. David had also arranged the death of her husband, Uriah (2 Samuel 11:15). He appeals to God’s steadfast love rather than to his own case.

1 John 1:9

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Reflection: Forgiveness rests on God being “faithful and just,” keeping his own promise, not on the size of the sin.

Luke 15:7

“Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”

Reflection: This ends the parable of the shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine sheep to find the one that was lost (15:4-6). The response to repentance is joy.

Proverbs 28:6

“Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways.”

Reflection: Proverbs does not claim that integrity always pays; it says a poor person with integrity is better off than a rich one who is crooked.

Psalm 37:3

“Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.”

Reflection: “Befriend faithfulness” makes reliability something a person spends time with until it becomes familiar.

Proverbs 21:21

“Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor.”

Reflection: “Pursues” describes a long effort. Honor comes at the end of the list, and it is often the first thing lost by someone caught cheating.