Though the very concept of truth is challenged in our culture, most people still agree that lying is wrong. And yet, we do it all the time. Why? And does the Bible even teach that it’s acceptable sometimes? The answers to these two questions are related. The motivation for lying appears to have a lot to do with when it might be acceptable. As often happens, difficult biblical passages force us to look deeper into our own hearts.

Answers to the questions: Why does the ninth commandment say “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor”? Does this mean there are exceptions to others of the ten commandments? Doesn’t this create a dangerous situation in which we can break God’s commandments whenever we think it’s right to do so? Is it only OK to lie to save a life, or could lying be acceptable in other situations?

An example of how you might talk your kid through a difficult passage like God’s apparent approval of lying in the story of the midwives in Exodus 1. Rather than panicking, we want to teach our kids to see hard texts as an opportunity to think through hard life questions.

A curated list of some helpful articles, podcasts, and books on this topic for those who want to explore it further.