Do Not Lie to One Another—Colossians 3:9

The Command in Its Immediate Setting

Colossians 3:9 states, “Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old man with its practices.” Paul did not present this command as an isolated rule of polite behavior, because the surrounding passage describes the moral transformation required of those who belong to Christ. Colossians 3:5 commands Christians to put to death sexual immorality, uncleanness, uncontrolled passion, harmful desire, and greed, which Paul identifies as idolatry. Colossians 3:8 then requires the removal of wrath, anger, malice, abusive speech, and obscene talk from the Christian’s mouth. Lying appears within this larger collection of practices because falsehood belongs to the former way of life governed by sinful desires, selfish protection, and disregard for Jehovah’s standards. The words “seeing that” provide the reason Christians must reject lying: they have already put off the old man with his practices and entered a new course of obedient faith. Paul therefore connects truthful speech with Christian identity rather than treating honesty as an optional virtue for unusually conscientious people. Today’s devotion must begin with the sober recognition that a person cannot consistently wear the name of Christ while deliberately wearing the dishonest practices of the old life.

Why Lying Belongs to the Old Man

The “old man” describes the former identity, pattern of thinking, and course of conduct shaped by sin before a person submitted to Christ. Ephesians 4:22 explains that this old man is corrupted according to deceptive desires, showing that sin itself operates through false promises and distorted reasoning. A lie may promise protection from embarrassment, escape from responsibility, financial gain, control over another person, or preservation of a carefully constructed reputation. Those promises conceal the damage caused when trust is broken, consciences are weakened, innocent people are misled, and wrongdoing is allowed to continue without correction. John 8:44 identifies the Devil as a liar and the father of the lie, because his rebellion against Jehovah began and advanced through deliberate deception. Genesis 3:1-5 records how Satan contradicted Jehovah’s warning, misrepresented His motive, and persuaded Eve that disobedience would bring desirable knowledge rather than death. Every deliberate lie therefore follows the moral direction established by Satan, even when the speaker labels the falsehood harmless, necessary, protective, or socially convenient. A Christian puts off the old man by refusing Satan’s method and choosing truth even when truth requires humility, confession, personal loss, or an uncomfortable conversation.

Truthful Speech Reflects Jehovah’s Character

Jehovah requires truth because truthfulness reflects His own perfect character and supports every righteous relationship. Numbers 23:19 declares that God is not a man that He should lie, while Titus 1:2 describes Him as the God who cannot lie. Hebrews 6:18 likewise states that it is impossible for God to lie, giving Christians absolute confidence in His promises concerning forgiveness, resurrection, judgment, and eternal life. Jesus Christ perfectly represented His Father, and First Peter 2:22 says that He committed no sin and that no deceit was found in His mouth. Jesus never manipulated listeners with false claims, concealed selfish motives behind religious language, or altered His message to secure the approval of powerful men. John 8:29 records His declaration that He always did the things pleasing to His Father, which included complete honesty in public teaching, private conversation, correction, promises, and personal conduct. Christians who speak truth imitate the moral character revealed by Jehovah and displayed perfectly by His Son. Truthfulness is therefore an act of worship because it demonstrates that the believer values Jehovah’s approval more highly than the temporary advantage a lie may provide.

Putting Off the Old Man Requires Decisive Action

Paul’s picture of putting off the old man resembles removing polluted clothing that no longer belongs on the Christian. Ephesians 4:22-24 commands believers to put away the old man, be renewed in the spirit of their minds, and put on the new man created according to God’s likeness in righteousness and loyalty to the truth. Removing old clothing requires intentional action, and removing dishonest practices likewise requires identifying them, rejecting their excuses, and replacing them with truthful conduct. A person who regularly exaggerates accomplishments must stop decorating facts to gain admiration and learn to report events accurately without making himself appear more important. A person who hides purchases from a spouse must disclose the spending, accept responsibility for the breach of trust, and establish transparent habits regarding money. A student who cheats must stop using another person’s answers, accept the honest result of his own work, and prepare more diligently for future assignments. A congregation member who spreads an unverified accusation must correct the false impression with every person who received it rather than quietly hoping the damage will disappear. Putting off the old man is not accomplished by feeling regret about dishonesty while preserving the conduct that produced the regret.

Accurate Knowledge Renews the New Man

Colossians 3:10 continues Paul’s thought by saying that Christians have put on the new man who is being renewed through accurate knowledge according to the image of his Creator. The expression “accurate knowledge” refers to knowledge that is full, dependable, and governed by the truth Jehovah has revealed rather than by vague religious impressions. Moral renewal cannot remain stable when a person’s mind continues to feed upon deception, corrupt entertainment, false teaching, selfish reasoning, and worldly definitions of success. Romans 12:2 commands Christians not to be conformed to the present age but to be transformed through the renewing of the mind so that they can discern God’s will. This renewal occurs as the believer studies the Spirit-inspired Word, understands its meaning, remembers its principles, and deliberately applies them to actual decisions. For example, Proverbs 12:22 teaches that lying lips are detestable to Jehovah, while those acting faithfully are pleasing to Him. Ephesians 4:25 commands each Christian to put away falsehood and speak truth with his neighbor because believers are members of one another. Accurate knowledge renews the new man when these texts govern a difficult conversation more powerfully than fear, pride, greed, embarrassment, or the desire to escape correction.

Recognizing the Many Forms of Dishonesty

Lying includes more than speaking a completely invented statement, because deception can be communicated through selective facts, misleading silence, exaggeration, flattery, false promises, and carefully arranged impressions. An employee lies when he records hours he did not work, blames a coworker for his own error, or claims that an unfinished task was completed. A seller lies when he conceals a serious defect, alters a description, or allows a buyer to believe something he knows is untrue. A Christian lies when he promises to pray, assist, visit, repay, or complete an assignment while having no settled intention of keeping his word. Proverbs 25:14 compares a person boasting about a gift he never gives to clouds and wind without rain, because both create expectation and provide nothing. Dishonest flattery also belongs to the old man, for Psalm 12:2 describes those who speak falsehood to one another with flattering lips and a divided heart. Online communication does not remove moral responsibility, so false profiles, altered stories, fabricated achievements, deceptive photographs, and deliberate impersonation remain lies before Jehovah. The renewed Christian asks not merely whether each sentence is technically defensible but whether his words are intended to give another person an accurate understanding of the facts.

Truthfulness Protects Christian Relationships

Paul specifically says, “Do not lie to one another,” because deception is especially destructive within the congregation and the Christian household. Believers depend upon truthful communication when giving counsel, confessing wrongdoing, settling disagreements, managing shared resources, reporting misconduct, and caring for vulnerable people. Ephesians 4:25 explains that Christians must speak truth because they are members of one another, meaning that dishonesty injures the spiritual body to which the liar also belongs. First Corinthians 12:26 says that when one member suffers, all the members suffer with it, so concealed wrongdoing and false accusations never remain entirely private in their effects. A husband who hides serious conduct from his wife deprives her of the truth needed to understand the marriage, while a wife who manipulates facts for control damages the trust required for loyal companionship. Parents must also avoid deceiving children with promises they repeatedly fail to keep, because such conduct teaches that authority may use words without accountability. Congregation leaders must investigate serious matters impartially, reject unsupported accusations, and refuse to conceal established wrongdoing merely to protect an individual’s reputation. Truth protects Christian relationships because it brings conduct into the light where repentance, forgiveness, correction, justice, and restored trust can operate according to Scripture.

Responding Honestly After Telling a Lie

Human imperfection means that a Christian may stumble into dishonesty through fear, pressure, pride, carelessness, or a long-established habit, but Scripture does not permit him to protect the lie afterward. Proverbs 28:13 says that the person concealing his transgressions will not succeed, while the one confessing and abandoning them will receive mercy. First John 1:9 assures Christians that Jehovah faithfully forgives and cleanses those who confess their sins rather than denying or disguising them. Genuine confession names the wrongdoing accurately, so the offender says, “I lied,” rather than hiding behind expressions such as “I misspoke,” “I was unclear,” or “You misunderstood me.” He must correct the false information with the people who received it, even when doing so exposes his embarrassment or removes an advantage gained through deception. When a lie caused financial loss, damaged another person’s reputation, or influenced an important decision, repentance includes reasonable efforts to repair that harm. Luke 19:8 records that Zacchaeus demonstrated repentance by addressing the material consequences of his former dishonesty instead of offering words without action. Christ’s sacrifice provides the basis for forgiveness, but the forgiven sinner must walk in repentance by abandoning falsehood and establishing a truthful pattern.

Guarding the Heart Before Words Are Spoken

Truthful speech begins before the mouth opens because Jesus taught that words come from what fills the heart. Matthew 12:34-37 connects speech with the heart’s moral condition and warns that people will give an account for careless words. A Christian therefore guards truthfulness by examining the desire operating beneath the temptation to lie. Fear may say, “Change the facts so that no one becomes angry,” pride may say, “Exaggerate so that others admire you,” and greed may say, “Hide the defect so that you receive the money.” The believer must bring each of these thoughts under obedience to Christ, as Second Corinthians 10:5 requires, and replace the deceptive reasoning with Scripture. When fear is driving dishonesty, Proverbs 29:25 warns that fear of man lays a snare, while trust in Jehovah provides security. When pride is driving exaggeration, Philippians 2:3 commands Christians to reject selfish ambition and conceit and to regard others with humility. Guarding the heart means preparing to tell the truth before pressure arrives rather than expecting an untrained conscience to become courageous during the decisive moment.

Practicing Truth Throughout This Day

The command in Colossians 3:9 can govern every conversation, message, promise, explanation, and report made during this day. Before speaking, the Christian can ask whether his statement is factually accurate, sufficiently complete, motivated by love, and free from a purpose to mislead. James 1:19 instructs believers to be quick to hear and slow to speak, which prevents careless claims made before the facts are known. Proverbs 18:13 warns that answering a matter before hearing it is foolish and humiliating, so truthful people investigate rather than repeat rumors. When uncertain, the honest answer is “I do not know,” and when memory is incomplete, the honest qualification is “This is how I remember it.” When correction is necessary, Ephesians 4:15 requires speaking the truth in love, joining accuracy with a sincere desire for another person’s spiritual good. When a promise is made, Matthew 5:37 requires dependable speech in which “Yes” means yes and “No” means no. By rejecting deception and speaking truth today, the Christian shows that the old man is being left behind and that the new man is being renewed according to Jehovah’s image.

You May Also Enjoy

The Christian Duty to Defend the Faith

About the Author

CLICK LINKED IMAGE TO VISIT ONLINE STORE

CLICK TO SCROLL THROUGH OUR BOOKS