Self-deception

Self-deception is believing what is false about oneself, and the heart is deceitful above all things. This page lists verses on warnings not to be deceived, thinking oneself to be something, hearing without doing, being clean in one's own eyes, the deceitful heart, and false security.

Be not deceived

• Galatians 6:7
  Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.Do not be deceived: God is not to be mocked. Whatever a man sows, he will reap in return.
  Show context · Read Galatians 6 →
• 1 Corinthians 6:9-10
  ⁹Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or perform homosexual acts, ¹⁰Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.
  Show context · Read 1 Corinthians 6 →
• 1 Corinthians 15:33
  Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
  Show context · Read 1 Corinthians 15 →

Thinking oneself to be something

• Galatians 6:3
  For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
  Show context · Read Galatians 6 →
• 1 Corinthians 3:18
  Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.Let no one deceive himself. If any of you thinks he is wise in this age, he should become a fool, so that he may become wise.
  Show context · Read 1 Corinthians 3 →
• 1 Corinthians 8:2
  And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.The one who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know.
  Show context · Read 1 Corinthians 8 →
• Proverbs 26:12
  Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
  Show context · Read Proverbs 26 →

Hearing without doing

• James 1:22-24
  ²²But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves. ²³For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:For anyone who hears the word but does not carry it out is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror, ²⁴For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.and after observing himself goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
  Show context · Read James 1 →
• James 1:26
  If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless.
  Show context · Read James 1 →
• Matthew 7:26-27
  ²⁶And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. ²⁷And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its collapse!”
  Show context · Read Matthew 7 →
• 1 John 2:4
  He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.If anyone says, “I know Him,” but does not keep His commandments, he is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
  Show context · Read 1 John 2 →

Clean in one's own eyes

• 1 John 1:8
  If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
  Show context · Read 1 John 1 →
• Proverbs 16:2
  All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits.All a man’s ways are pure in his own eyes, but his motives are weighed out by the LORD.
  Show context · Read Proverbs 16 →
• Proverbs 21:2
  Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts.All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart.
  Show context · Read Proverbs 21 →
• Proverbs 30:12
  There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.There is a generation of those who are pure in their own eyes and yet unwashed of their filth.
  Show context · Read Proverbs 30 →

The deceitful heart

• Jeremiah 17:9
  The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?
  Show context · Read Jeremiah 17 →
• Proverbs 14:12
  There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.
  Show context · Read Proverbs 14 →
• Proverbs 28:26
  He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.He who trusts in himself is a fool, but one who walks in wisdom will be safe.
  Show context · Read Proverbs 28 →
• Obadiah 1:3
  The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground?The pride of your heart has deceived you, O dwellers in the clefts of the rocks whose habitation is the heights, who say in your heart, ‘Who can bring me down to the ground?’
  Show context · Read Obadiah 1 →
• Hebrews 3:13
  But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.But exhort one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.
  Show context · Read Hebrews 3 →

False security

• Revelation 3:17
  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:You say, ‘I am rich; I have grown wealthy and need nothing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.
  Show context · Read Revelation 3 →
• Luke 12:19-20
  ¹⁹And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.Then I will say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take it easy. Eat, drink, and be merry!”’ ²⁰But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be required of you. Then who will own what you have accumulated?’
  Show context · Read Luke 12 →
• Jeremiah 7:4
  Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord, are these.Do not trust in deceptive words, chanting: ‘This is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD.’
  Show context · Read Jeremiah 7 →
• 1 Thessalonians 5:3
  For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.While people are saying, “Peace and security,” destruction will come upon them suddenly, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
  Show context · Read 1 Thessalonians 5 →
• Matthew 7:22-23
  ²²Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ ²³And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’
  Show context · Read Matthew 7 →

See also

• Pride
• Heart
• Hypocrisy
• Lying
• Self-righteousness
• Self-examination

Notes

1. Verses are quoted in the translation chosen in the Translation menu at the top of the page. See Translations for sources and copyright notices.
2. Each reference links to the full chapter so the verse can be read in context.