As my children were growing up, my wife and I reminded them often that… “You are never more like Satan than when you lie.” We told our children that because of part of what is written in John 8:44-45 (The part in bold italics is what we quoted to our children). Jesus is speaking…
You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he (Satan) is a liar and the father of lies.
That applies to everyone (Thus “et al” in the blog title), every time a lie or half truth is told… whether it is a child, parent, Congressman, or the President… they are never more like Satan than when they lie. By contrast Jesus said this about Himself in John 14:6-7…
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also.
Satan is the opposite of Jesus. Satan is a liar and the father of all lies… because Jesus is Truth. Since Satan opposes everything good, all truth, and the Man of Truth (Jesus), he (Satan) lies… deceives… and leads people astray.
Conversely, all those who follow Christ will be people of truth because Jesus is the Man of Truth. Thus we find Jesus prayed a specific prayer for His followers in John 17:15-19…
I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them (“Set them apart”) in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As You sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate Myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.
Paul followed this up by writing that Christians are to “Speak the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15). For a person to be more like Jesus, they will tell and speak the truth… always… in love. At the same time whenever a lie is told… for any reason by anyone… the person is most like Satan when they speak as he speaks.
Very well put. it is easy to excuse a lot of twist on the truth.