The Bible is full of examples and warnings about adultery. Adultery is one of the most serious sins in God’s eyes, and it has been called “the root of all evil” (1 Corinthians 6:9).
Adultery was considered so heinous that Jesus said that anyone who commits adultery will be put to death (Matthew 5:27-28). But what does the Bible say about cheating?
In this post, we will share with you some of the most common verses that are used to condemn adultery.
Is There A Difference Between Adultery And Cheating?
Before we dive into the verses, let us first discuss whether there is a difference between adultery and cheating. The answer is yes!
According to Webster’s Dictionary, cheating means “to act dishonestly or unfairly; to take unfair advantage of someone” while adultery refers to sexual relations outside of marriage.
Cheating doesn’t necessarily have to be sexual, it can be cheating by scamming someone or doing someone wrong.
What Is Classed As Cheating?
Cheating can involve anything from lying to stealing. It may even include things like using your position of power for personal gain.
Cheating is often misinterpreted as being just about sex because many people use those words interchangeably. However, cheating goes beyond having sex with someone else.
What Does The Bible Say About Cheating?
Let’s look at some of the most common biblical passages on cheating. We will also talk about how these verses apply today.
“Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out” (Proverbs 10:9).
The verse speaks of how if we walk uprightly and act righteously, then we will experience peace. If we do not walk uprightly and commit wrongdoings by cheating others, then our lives will become unstable and insecure, and we will experience discomfort.
This verse also suggests that if we cheat, we will eventually get caught.
“God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life” (Galatians 6:7-8).
This verse speaks of how when we sow seeds of good deeds, then we will reap good fruit in return. On the other hand, if we sow bad deeds, then we will receive bad consequences.
The same applies to cheating. When we cheat, we will reap bad results and our actions will be reflected on us. This verse teaches us that what we put out into the world is what we ultimately give to ourselves.
Additionally, this verse teaches us that we should always try to live according to the highest standards and be led by the Holy Spirit.
“A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is his delight” Proverbs 11:1).
This verse teaches us that if we weigh something without considering its value, then we are sinning. Similarly, if we cheat someone, we are weighing them down and perceiving them as worthless. Our actions should reflect what we truly believe and value.
Parables Of Cheating In The Bible
In addition to speaking directly about cheating, the Bible has several parables which teach us about cheating. Here are two examples:
Luke 18:9-14 tells us of a story of the Pharisee and a tax collector which tells us of how they both went to the temple to pray.
Whilst the Pharisee prayed to God about how good he was, the tax collector only asked for God’s mercy. This story shows us that although they were both sinners, the Pharisee was more concerned about himself than God. He had a lot of rules and regulations that he followed.
He didn’t care about anyone else except himself.
The tax collector, on the other hand, was concerned only about asking for God’s forgiveness for he knew he had sinned.
The tax collector proved to care about helping others around him. He gave away all of his money so that he could help the poor.
This story tells us that good deeds should be done not in the expectation of return but out of love. And, that no one is perfect, hence seeking redemption for our sins is something that should be practiced.
What matters most about this parable is how we should work on loving God and others.
The Bible says that if we do not repent and turn away from our sins, then we will face judgment. However, it does not mean that we cannot change our ways.
It simply means that we need to take action to correct our wrongdoings. Repentance is a process where we admit our faults and make changes to improve our lives. If we continue to stay in our sinful state, then we will eventually lose our salvation.
Therefore, we must never stop trying to change our behavior. This story teaches us that as Christians, we should always try to keep ourselves pure and honest.
We should avoid doing anything that would harm another person and do what we can to obey God’s commands to receive eternal life.
Another prominent parable that tells us cheating is wrong is found in Proverbs 13:11-13 which tells us a story of dishonest cheating related to money.
The verse states that “money gained by cheating others will soon be gone. Money earned through hard work will grow and grow.”
The story summarizes that a person who cheats with money will end up losing everything. The lesson here is that if we commit fraud with money, then we will suffer the consequences.
Final Considerations
We can trust that God’s Word is true and good for us to follow. The Bible is filled with truth and goodness. It contains many lessons that help us live a life pleasing to God.
We can know that God loves us and wants the best for us. His Word guides us and helps us understand how to live a better life.
I have been a devout Christian since I was a little girl, so I trust my knowledge can help more people learn and perhaps even join the religion that is Christianity.
In 2011, 75% of Americans identified as Christian. However, in 2021, that number dropped to 63%. That is a 12% decrease, and that trend is likely to continue. If more people aren’t informed about Christianity, I fear that we will suffer from fewer members and we will become a forgotten religion.
My hopes for this website are for it to be a useful resource where you can get all of your supplementary knowledge on Christianity in one place. Of course, your religion leader will be able to answer most of your questions, but when they’re not available, I’m here for you.
