Does God punish for repeated lying?

Often a person who lies repeatedly either is not aware that his or her behavior is a violation of God’s commandment (Exodus 20:16) not to lie and is, therefore, committing a sinful act, or is so used to lying that he or she has rationalized the behavior to the point of guiltlessness. In either case, the degree of accountability that God holds against the individual is directly related to the individual’s knowledge of right and wrong and also his deliberate intent to deceive. 

Ultimately, whether now or in the age to come, lies will be revealed “for we will all stand before God’s judgment seat” (Romans 14:10) so that “each of us will give an account of himself to God.” (Romans 14:12) Sins must be made right by asking for forgiveness from God and from the people who were sinned against. 

There are many scriptures that show how much God disapproves of lying. We will cite but a few. Proverbs 6:16-19 tells us six things that God hates. Two of them are “a lying tongue” (verse 17) and “a false witness who pours out lies” (verse 19). 

“The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in men who are truthful.” (Proverbs 12:22) 

“No one who practices deceit will dwell in my house; no one who speaks falsely will stand in my presence.” (Psalm 101:7) 

Is it then God’s intent to punish a person for lying? We believe that God would rather have a person see the sinfulness of his lies, ask forgiveness, make restitution to those he sinned against, and change his ways. However, if a person continues to lie after he learns how sinful it is, he will have a much more difficult time in God’s Kingdom on earth, yet to come when all sins will be revealed. 

In God’s Kingdom all humankind will be given every opportunity to learn righteousness, practice it and write it on his heart. If, after a reasonable time of mercy and instruction during the Day of Judgment, a person still continues to lie and not comply with God’s laws, he will be taken away in the second death (Revelation 21:8). God will not “punish” the person. That person will simply not exist anymore. “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” (Proverbs 14:12)

To learn more about lying listen to, “Is There a Difference Between Exaggerating and Lying?”

“Should We Ever Lie?”