Deceivers, Liars and Slanderers

As hard as the road to life is (Mt. 7:14), it is even made harder by people who distort the truth and slander for its negative effect on their intended victim! If you have suffered this way, you know what it is like. Deceitful words can be very powerful and have caused great damage, even death. Hence, slanderers, liars and the like will be thrown into the lake of fire for their wickedness. Remember, such persecution will yield a reward for the righteous. Jesus also taught:

Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets. (Luke 6:26)

See also John 15:19,20.

Paul, An Egyptian Terrorist Leader

The Apostle Paul was a consistently holy, zealous, faithful servant of God and soul winner, who certainly had beautiful feet. He suffered much in various ways because he was committed to God to that degree. Among other perplexing events in his spiritual battle, some must have said, Paul was an Egyptian terrorist leader of 4,000, at exactly the wrong time!

“Aren’t you the Egyptian who started a revolt and led four thousand terrorists out into the desert some time ago?” (Acts 21:38)

That was spoken by a commander of Roman soldiers. How he heard that baseless rumor is a Bible mystery, but it certainly wasn’t reality.  Though Paul was a leader and was the cause of multiple riots over the gospel as he traveled about, he maintained a holy and Jesus-glorifying life. If those facts were distorted, he could be misrepresented and smeared as an Egyptian terrorist leader of 4,000! If Paul was really an Egyptian terrorist leader he would be in serious trouble, since he was already incarcerated by Roman soldiers. Perhaps someone wanted Paul dead and lied to that extreme to accomplish it. It is a clear fact that Paul had many enemies who wanted him dead because he taught God’s truth.

Ziba Slandered Mephibosheth

When Absolom was trying to steal the kingdom away from his father King David, Ziba (the servant of Mephibosheth) met David as he was fleeing. Ziba slandered Mephibosheth for land:

The king then asked, “Where is your master’s grandson?” Ziba said to him, “He is staying in Jerusalem, because he thinks, ‘Today the house of Israel will give me back my grandfather’s kingdom.’” Then the king said to Ziba, “All that belonged to Mephibosheth is now yours.” “I humbly bow,” Ziba said. “May I find favor in your eyes, my lord the king.” (2 Sam 16:3,4)

Three chapters later, after Absolom was dead, Mephibosheth meets King David as he returns to Jerusalem:

Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson, also went down to meet the king. He had not taken care of his feet or trimmed his mustache or washed his clothes from the day the king left until the day he returned safely. When he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king asked him, “Why didn’t you go with me, Mephibosheth?” He said, “My lord the king, since I your servant am lame, I said, ‘I will have my donkey saddled and will ride on it, so I can go with the king.’ But Ziba my servant betrayed me. And he has slandered your servant to my lord the king. My lord the king is like an angel of God; so do whatever pleases you. All my grandfather’s descendants deserved nothing but death from my lord the king, but you gave your servant a place among those who sat at your table. So what right do I have to make any more appeals to the king?” The king said to him, “Why say more? I order you and Ziba to divide the fields.” (2 Sam 19:24-29)

Was Stephen A Blasphemer

Stephen was a mighty man of God who was martyred early in his ministry. How did he die? It all started with the false charge that he was an immoral man — a blasphemer:

But they could not stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke. Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against God.” So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin. They produced false witnesses, who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.” (Acts 6:10-14)

The penalty for blasphemy was death by stoning. Though Stephen wasn’t immoral, he was presented as such by others he refuted doctrinally. Stephen’s wicked but religious enemies wanted him out of the way and were willing to mishandle the facts to have him murdered!

Were Jesus and John Demon Possessed

Even the sinless Lord Jesus and John the Baptist were misrepresented and slandered. They both spoke God’s truth and Jesus was love incarnate.  Sin loving false teachers were Jesus’ worst enemies. They were also the established leaders of that day. Their slander was cruel and unjust and designed to hinder and stop Jesus’ vital influences:

For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, “He has a demon.” The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, “Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and ‘sinners.’”  (Luke 7:33,34)

And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, “He [Jesus] is possessed by Beelzebub! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.” (Mark 3:22)

In fact, there was even a point in time when Mary thought Jesus was crazy! Since horrible misrepresentations and beliefs like those are not new, if you are godly don’t be overly disturbed when such comes your way. To be insulted and have your name rejected as evil goes with living holy in this evil and deceptive society (Luke 6:22,23). Liars and slanderers will not inherit God’s kingdom. Don’t follow their example or share in their sins.