Of course, any mature Biblical Christian should have a solid answer to this easy question. Lying is always a sin, right?

What Does the Scriptures Say about Lying

Is there any question that lying is a sin? Are there any exceptions to the Ninth Commandment?

Exodus 20:16 – You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

The list of verses is long and clear, from the Old Testament to the New Testament that lying is a sin to be avoided.

Proverbs 19:9 – A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will perish.

Colossians 3:9 – Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices.

The Midwives of Exodus 1:15-19

In this story, two Gentile midwives were commanded by the King of Egypt to kill all male babies born of Hebrew women. Fearing God, they let the male children live and lied to the King, saying that the women gave birth before they arrived. The story concludes with God saying…

Exodus 1:20-21 – So God dealt well with the midwives. And the people multiplied and grew very strong. And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families.

Some might argue that the midwives were truthful in their statement, and did not “sin” by lying to the King. However, that makes little sense as the children could have been dealt with when the midwives finally arrived.

Consider… replacing the midwives with Jesus. Would Jesus have lied to the King or would He have told the truth? Did God reward the midwives for sinning or was lying not a sin?

Rahab and the Jewish Spies

Rahab, a prostitute and Gentile Canaanite woman from Jericho, offered shelter and protection to Israelite men spying out the land for future warfare. When confronted by her own people, she misdirected them (lied) to protect the Jews in their escape. As a result of her actions, many refer to her as a “heroine of the faith” (details here). In fact, in Hebrews 11 she is specifically called out within the list of heros of the faith …

Hebrews 11:31 – By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.

Consider… replacing Rahab with Jesus. Would Jesus have lied to the people of Jericho in order to allow the Israelites to escape? Does the book of Hebrews suggest that Rahab was saved due to her righteous act of lying?

Is Lying Always a Sin or are there Exceptions

If there are exceptions, why is the Bible so outspoken (perhaps 30 verses here) on lying being a sin punishable by eternity in Hell, or the need for repentance and the grace the God offered through His Son? What about all the little white (and large black) lies we frequently offer to protect feelings or twist outcomes to our benefit, etc.

A Consideration toward Reconciliation

There is an obvious solution to what appears to be a theological oxymoron. Consider that God saw both the midwives’ and Rahab’s lies as sin, but forgave them, which He does for us on a regular basis.

We live in a sin cursed world confronted with deciding between the ‘lesser of evils’ on a regular basis. Further, we have neither the wisdom of Solomon, the courage of David, nor the omniscience of Jesus to make the right decision on when to lie and when to tell the truth as we go about our daily lives. Fortunately, the Lord offers each of us a way out, through the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ, as the only path to forgive us of our sins.