Scripture Reading: 2 Kings 5:20-27
Memory Verse: “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who deal truthfully are His delight.” Proverbs 12:22
Introduction:
Once when the famous minister, Warren A. Candler, was preaching to a large audience, he used as his text the story of Ananias and Sapphira, who told a lie to God and were struck dead. The old bishop proclaimed: “God doesn’t strike people dead for lying like He used to. If He did, where would I be?” After allowing his audience to snicker for a bit, he went on. “I’ll tell you where I would be,” he roared. “I would be right here preaching to an empty house!”
Undoubtedly the congregation became hushed, because lying is a severe problem everyone’s tongue seems to innately have. The Bible speaks very strongly about the consequences of lying. It also shows us the benefit of being truthful and honest.
Maurice Dametz once told a story about three boys who arrived late to school at about 10:00 a.m. one day. They had been fishing. They told the teacher that they were delayed because of a flat tire. The teacher decided to give them a test immediately, so she had them sit apart from one another. She said, “This test will have only one question, and I will give your thirty seconds to put down your answer.” Then she wrote the question on the board, “Which tire?” The teacher was pretty wise, the results of the test showed the three boys had lied.
If we lie, we may think, like these three boys, that we won’t be found out by our friends and neighbors, but our lying is not hidden from God. Maybe God will choose to hold back (for a season) judgment against us for our lying. But do not be deceived, God knows about every lying word we speak, and He will judge us.
Lesson Questions:
- Who is the father of all lies? John 8:44.
- What does the Lord think of a lying tongue? Proverbs 12:22.
- Share some thoughts on these verses about lying:
- Psalm 31:18.
- Proverbs 12:19.
- Proverbs 19:22.
- Proverbs 21:6.
- Jeremiah 7:4, 8.
- Ephesians 4:25.
- Is there a chance for an unrepentant liar to make it in the kingdom? Revelation 21:8; Revelation 21:27.
- What question did Elisha ask Gehazi, and what was his answer? 2 Kings 5:25. Did Elisha know what Gehazi had done? 2 Kings 5:26.
- Who lied about knowing Jesus? Mark 14:66-71. Did the Lord know this was going to happen? Matthew 26:34.
- What was Gehazi’s punishment for lying? 2 Kings 5:27. Why wasn’t Peter punished similarly to the way Gehazi was punished? Mark 14:72; 1 John 1:9.