25 Bible Verses about Fake People (With Commentary)

Fake friends can make you feel alone. The Bible shares wisdom on this issue. This article highlights verses about spotting and dealing with unreliable friends. Explore Scripture for guidance on true friendship and how love overcomes deceit.

Warnings Against Hypocrisy

The Bible talks a lot about true and fake friends. It tells us God does not like fake people or hypocrites. Jesus spoke about this too. He said some folks look good on the outside but are bad on the inside.

The Bible has stories about people who only show their faith to get praised by others, not by God. This is seen as wrong. Jesus also pointed out leaders who misuse their power and harm others while trying to appear holy.

The key message here is to be genuine in your friendships with both God and people around you; don’t lie or pretend because that behavior is disliked by both God and humans.

Matthew 23:27-28

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness."

Matthew 23:27-28 tells a story about fake friends. Jesus spoke to the scribes and Pharisees, comparing them to graves that look nice on the outside but inside are full of bad things like greed and fakeness.

This part of the Bible teaches us not to be fooled by how things or people seem from the outside.

Seeing what’s real is key. Though scribes and Pharisees acted good by following rules in public, they weren’t sincere at heart. This message from the Bible encourages us to value truth and honesty over fake appearances.

Luke 12:1-2

"Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: ‘Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.’"

Luke 12:1-2 warns against faking goodness. Jesus told crowds to avoid the “yeast of the Pharisees,” which means pretending to be good. He said all hidden things would become known.

This teaches us that being honest is better than living a lie.

Trying to appear perfect doesn’t fool God. Everything secret will eventually come out in the open. Living truthfully brings peace, unlike the stress of maintaining lies and deceit.

Jesus’ message highlights that we can’t hide our true selves forever. Sooner or later, our real nature shows up, no matter how hard we try to keep it hidden.

Matthew 6:5

"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full."

Matthew 6:5 tells us not to show off when we pray. It says some people pray loudly where everyone can see them because they want praise. This verse teaches us to be honest with God and pray in private.

By praying quietly, we show our true hearts, not just trying to look good for others. This helps us stay away from fake friendships by being real instead of pretending.

Matthew 15:7-9

"You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’"

Jesus pointed out some people act like they are close to God but aren’t. They talk about loving God, but it’s all for show. Their worship is just empty words, not heartfelt. They teach human rules as if they were from Heaven.

Their actions don’t line up with their holy talk. Jesus warned this kind of fake friendship with the divine doesn’t trick anyone, especially not God. It shows a big gap between their words and true feelings, proving their devotion isn’t genuine.

Luke 20:46-47

"Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers."

Luke 20:46-47 warns us about fake religion. It tells us to be careful of people who act religious to impress others. They show off but don’t care about truth or being right. These folks might trick kind people into giving them money with promises they won’t keep.

I have noticed people pretending in places where you’d expect honesty, like church. This Bible verse says looking or sounding religious isn’t enough. Being real and caring for others without wanting anything back is what counts.

True faith means living honestly and loving others even when no one sees it.

Identifying False Prophets and Teachers

The Bible tells us to be careful of false prophets and teachers. These people might look good on the outside but are not true on the inside. They twist scriptures for their own benefit, leading others away from the truth.

I met someone who knew a lot about the Bible. But, his teachings were all about getting rich and successful. This made me think of what the Bible says about envy and pride as signs of false teachings.

It’s key to understand our scriptures well so we can notice when things don’t line up.

This situation reminded me that knowing verses like Matthew 26:25 or stories about Aaron can help us detect misleading teachings. It stresses why phrases such as “For God so loved the world” bring out real values like love over material success.

Spotting these signs helps us avoid being influenced by those who don’t follow true biblical meanings, such as eternal life or loving your enemies as taught in Colossians and other parts of scripture dealing with friendship with the world versus genuine faith.

Matthew 7:15-16

"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them."

Jesus warned us about fake prophets in Matthew 7:15-16. He said they look innocent but are really dangerous inside, like wolves. To tell true from false, we watch what people do, not just what they say.

A good person does good things, and a bad person does bad things.

Growing up, this advice made a lot of sense to me. I’ve met people who seemed nice but acted differently. By looking at their actions, we can see who they really are. It’s similar with friends—real ones show it through their actions.

This lesson teaches us to be careful and wise in choosing our company by observing how they behave more than what they promise or claim to love and goodness. Actions speak louder than words; this guide helps avoid being tricked by those not genuine about their intentions.

2 Peter 2:1-3

"But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories."

2 Peter 2:1-3 warns about fake teachers sneaking into groups. They bring dangerous ideas that can cause big problems. These people say no to the Master who bought them, leading to a quick end for themselves.

Many will follow their bad ways, making others speak badly about the truth.

The verses remind us to be careful and smart. False prophets were in God’s people before, just like false teachers will be among you now. They secretly introduce harmful opinions and deny the boss who owns them, causing swift ruin on themselves.

We must stay sharp and hold onto true teachings so we don’t fall for lies.

Bible verses tell us about facing trouble with fake friends and guides by staying alert and sticking to what is right.

1 John 4:1

"Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world."

1 John 4:1 tells us not to believe every spirit. We need to test them to see if they are from God. Many false prophets spread lies about Jesus and His teachings.

This verse teaches us to be wise with our faith. Always compare what people say with the Bible. This will help us avoid false teachings and stay true to Jesus’ message of love.

Matthew 24:24

"For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect."

Matthew 24:24 warns us about future deceivers. They will pretend to be like Jesus or say they bring messages from God. These people can perform miracles to convince even the strong and smart believers.

This part of the Bible teaches us to watch out for such false leaders.

This section also discusses difficult times ahead, where many will claim, “I am Christ,” and mislead others. Not everyone who seems wise is honest. Some might use their skills wrongly—to push us away from God’s truth and love.

We must stay alert, listen carefully, and judge with our hearts what’s right and wrong.

2 Corinthians 11:13-15

"For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness."

The Bible warns us about fake friends. In 2 Corinthians 11:13-15, Paul talks about people who seem like they are good leaders but are not. They act like they care and know a lot, but they lie.

These false teachers serve themselves instead of following Jesus’ teachings on love and honesty.

I learned this the hard way. A person I trusted showed me their true colors over time. Their words did not match their actions at all. This reminded me of what Paul said about “false apostles” and “deceitful workers.” They look kind and smart but actually lead us away from being truly kind and understanding.

Paul’s warning helps us see through lies to find real kindness based on love your enemies, angel guidance, and truth from verses like Matthew 22:15.

Deceit and Dishonesty

Lies feel bad. They mix up the truth and push us away from doing right. Once, a friend lied to me, leaving me very sad. Bible verses warn us against lying because it’s like food that tastes good but makes you sick later (Proverbs 20:17).

This tells how lies can seem tempting but hurt in the end.

Trust is key. Without trust, we always doubt and worry about what others say or do. Proverbs 12:5 says honest plans come from good people, while bad ones offer tricky advice. So, honesty is better than deceit for building strong relationships.

Bible stories teach about fake friends and show why honesty matters so much in our lives. They guide us on how to deal with dishonesty and highlight the importance of being truthful to build lasting bonds with others.

Proverbs 26:24-26

"Enemies disguise themselves with their lips, but in their hearts they harbor deceit. Though their speech is charming, do not believe them, for seven abominations fill their hearts. Their malice may be concealed by deception, but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly."

Proverbs 26:24-26 talks about fake friends. It says some people talk sweetly but plan to trick others. Their nice words can hide bad plans, just like an empty box that looks good on the outside.

The Bible teaches us to be careful with charming people. Sometimes, they say nice things or make promises without meaning them. My own experiences show me this is true. Not everyone’s actions match their words.

We should watch out for these kinds of friends and understand their true intentions. The Bible helps us see that we can’t always trust what people say if their actions don’t match up.

Psalm 5:6

"You destroy those who tell lies. The bloodthirsty and deceitful you, Lord, detest."

Psalm 5:6 shows God dislikes wicked people. David wrote about those who hurt others and lie. The Bible says God hates evil actions, especially against the innocent.

God stands for what is right. David saw this with his issues, like with Absalom. We learn to avoid liars and harmful friends. These actions upset God.

Bible verses warn about fake friends and dishonesty. They teach us to stay away from them because they are wrong in God’s eyes.

Proverbs 12:5

"The plans of the righteous are just, but the advice of the wicked is deceitful."

Proverbs 12:5 warns us about dishonest people. It says good folks have fair plans, but bad ones offer tricky advice. This verse tells us to be careful around people who look nice but mean harm.

I learned this the hard way when a friend I trusted turned out to spread lies about me. This experience showed me how important it is to pick truth and wisdom.

The Bible often talks about fake friends and false teachers—people who act one way but are something else deep down. Proverbs 12:5 reminds us of this and pushes us to love honesty and avoid lies and tricks.

Doing this helps us stay away from those who want to use deception for their own benefit or change teachings for their goals.

Jeremiah 9:6

"You live in the midst of deception; in their deceit they refuse to acknowledge me,” declares the Lord."

Jeremiah 9:6 from the Bible warns about fake friends. It says people often lie and deceive, even at home. This verse points out that dishonesty is common.

The Bible teaches us that lying leads to trouble. Fake praise comes from being false, not true goodness. Lies hurt everyone involved.

Other parts of the Bible also warn about liars and deceivers. These warnings show how important honesty is.

Proverbs 20:17

"Food gained by fraud tastes sweet, but one ends up with a mouth full of gravel."

Cheating to get food may seem sweet, but it ends up being bitter. Proverbs 20:17 from the Bible makes this clear. It warns us about dishonesty leading to bad results. This verse also talks about how wrong it is to break promises, especially to God.

Enjoying something stolen feels good only for a short time before regret kicks in. The Bible tells us to choose honesty over deceit and shows the sad end of getting things through lies.

Advice on Dealing with Dishonest People

Stay away from people who lie. The Bible, in Romans 16:17-18, tells us to avoid those who cause trouble and say nice things that are not true because they only care about themselves, not Christ.

This helps me see who fake friends are and keeps me close to real ones.

Do not get fooled by dishonest people. Follow the advice from 1 Corinthians 15:33 to keep good friends around you. Bad company can pull us away from doing the right thing. I found this out myself but now I pick friends who value truth and kindness the most.

Romans 16:17-18

"I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people."

Romans 16:17-18 warns us about people who cause trouble and block our path with things that go against what we’ve learned. These individuals talk smoothly not to help us but to benefit themselves.

They confuse those who are innocent. It’s as if they have a map full of wrong ways and invite others to leave the truth behind.

In my life, I’ve come across such fake friends. At first, they were nice, using sweet words that seemed right but actually misled people for their own advantage. This Bible verse encourages me always to compare what I hear with the true teachings of scripture.

Fancy words or big promises may sound appealing but often lead to bad places.

This advice helps us spot fake friends and avoid being led astray from what is right according to the Bible, like avoiding the paths that could lead towards ideas similar to the antichrist as mentioned in Revelation.

It shows the importance of anointing ourselves with wisdom from trusted sources like amazon.com for good books on understanding true friendship versus deception.

1 Corinthians 15:33

"Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’"

1 Corinthians 15:33 says bad friends can ruin good habits. This means being around people who lie or do wrong things might make you start doing the same. It’s important to pick your friends carefully because they affect what you do and think.

The verse isn’t just warning about fake friends; it goes deeper, saying evil talk can damage our character. I learned this myself when I started acting badly because of the people I was with.

We need to be careful about who we spend time with, choosing those who encourage good over bad. Being around good influences helps us stay on the right path.

Proverbs 22:10

"Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife; quarrels and insults are ended."

Proverbs 22:10 offers strong advice about fake friends. It tells us to remove troublemakers from our lives. This action leads to less fighting and insults. Peace follows when you stay away from those who cause problems.

Choosing friends wisely is key. Avoid people who stir up trouble or are insincere. Good company shields our hearts and minds from negativity. True and genuine friends bring joy and less drama into our lives.

2 Thessalonians 3:6

"In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching you received from us."

Paul in 2 Thessalonians 3:6 tells us to stay away from people who live wrong and lie. This is good advice for avoiding fake friends. The Bible says not to hang out or support those who act badly or tell lies.

Problems in Thessalonica made Paul say this. Some pretended to be Paul and sent fake letters. Paul tells us to be careful and wise. We should follow what’s right and avoid lies and wrong teachings.

Keep moral standards high by staying away from those who pick chaos over truth.

Psalm 101:7

"No one who practices deceit will dwell in my house; no one who speaks falsely will stand in my presence."

Psalm 101:7 warns us about fake friends and lying. It tells us, “No one who practices deceit will dwell in my house; no one who speaks falsely will stand in my presence.” This verse shows the value of honesty.

The Bible tells us to avoid lies and deceit.

I had a friend who spread rumors. Psalm 101:7 helped me see why it felt wrong. The Bible says God hates deception and gossip. I learned to be with people who love truth as much as I do.

Encouragement to Be Genuine and Sincere

Ephesians 4:25 teaches us to ditch lies and always talk truthfully with our friends. We’re all connected, so being honest strengthens our friendships.

James 3:17 admires wisdom that’s pure, loves peace, kind, and merciful. True friendship means being sincere and real at heart. The Bible tells us good friends encourage honesty and growth, not deception or leading others off track.

Ephesians 4:25

"Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body."

Ephesians 4:25 says to stop lying. It tells us to always be honest with everyone because we are all connected. This is very important in a world where fake friends and dishonesty are common.

Being truthful helps build trust and strong relationships.

I learned that being honest can be tough but it also sets you free. When we tell the truth, we act as real Christians should, showing true love to others around us. Bible verses about fake friends teach us the value of honesty in our lives and how it strengthens our bonds with people.

2 Corinthians 4:2

"Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God."

Paul in 2 Corinthians 4:2 talks about being honest and clear. He and his friends avoid secret tricks and shameful acts. They don’t change God’s word. Instead, they present the truth plainly.

This shows their true hearts before God.

This verse was important to me when I dealt with fake people. It showed me how valuable openness and integrity are. Standing against deceit requires bravery but earns trust and respect from those who also value truth.

James 3:17

"But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere."

James 3:17 shows true wisdom comes from above. This wisdom isn’t just about smarts. It shapes how we act and treat others—being pure, peaceful, gentle, willing to listen, full of mercy and good fruits, fair, and honest.

Acting kind matters more than winning or expecting something back.

The verse also says bitter jealousy and selfish ambition clash with heavenly wisdom. From experience, genuine kindness leads to peace better than competing or faking who we are. True wisdom makes us consistent in our actions and words and keeps us real.

1 Peter 2:1

"Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind."

1 Peter 2:1 tells us to stop being jealous or talking badly about others. This verse teaches that jealousy and spreading rumors are harmful to both ourselves and people around us. I learned this through a personal experience when my jealousy harmed a friendship.

It took facing the outcomes of what I did to really understand the damage caused by envy and slander.

This scripture serves as advice for acting kindly rather than following negative feelings. By heeding this guidance, we contribute to building stronger, more loving communities. The teachings in 1 Peter 2:1 are valuable lessons on how to get along better with others, a lesson I’ve applied in my life after recognizing its importance.

Romans 12:9

"Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good."

Romans 12:9 tells us to love with truth, no pretending. Fake smiles and words hurt relationships. Real love matches our inner feelings with our actions.

This verse also shows that honest feelings strengthen bonds with others. My own experiences confirm that true affection has to be real. When genuine, it improves everything around it—just as Romans 12:9 says about truthful love.

What Does the Bible Say about Fake People?

The Bible speaks clearly about fake people. It warns to avoid lying company because it ruins good morals, as stated in 1 Corinthians 15:33. Look at actions more than words. Matthew 7:16 tells us actions reveal true friends from fake ones.

Psalm 41:9 reveals a tough truth that even close friends can betray us. The Bible helps spot and deal with dishonest people by teaching discernment—understanding true intentions, especially with false prophets or teachers spreading untrue teachings.

Conclusion

The Bible warns us about fake people. It tells us they can harm us. The advice is clear: stay away from them and choose friends wisely. These teachings show us how to spot who is fake and who is genuine.

They encourage us to be honest, true, and kind in our actions with others. Having good friends improves life and helps keep us on a straight path.