you think Christ deceived them? that He began His ministry with a lie?
I believe the Bible teaches that there is righteous deception and bad deception.
Bad deception involves flat out lies, and good deception does not.
While most dictionaries give us the negative understanding of the word "deception," there is one that gives us a more broad term.
Cambridge English Dictionary
- Deception: “The act of hiding the truth, especially to get an advantage.”
Righteous Deception as Concealment without Falsehood
- Deception, in its broadest sense, involves causing someone to believe something that may not represent the full truth. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean stating something untrue. One can truthfully present part of the information or focus on a particular aspect while concealing other truths.
- This type of deception doesn’t require a direct lie. Instead, it relies on selective disclosure, where the truth that is presented is accurate but incomplete. For example, highlighting one truth might give a specific impression while leaving out information that would change that impression.
Are there examples of this in Scripture? Yes, the battle of Ai.
In Joshua 8, we learn of an example of Deceptive Warfare Tactics. Joshua uses an ambush strategy to capture the city of Ai. Here’s how the strategy unfolds:
- Setting an Ambush: Joshua positions a group of soldiers behind the city at night, hidden and ready to attack. This ambush force would wait until the main Israelite army drew Ai's defenders out of the city.
- Feigning Retreat: The next day, Joshua leads the main force toward Ai, as they did in their first unsuccessful attempt. When the men of Ai see the Israelites, they assume it’s a repeat of the initial failed attack and pursue them.
- Drawing Out the Defenders: As the men of Ai chase Joshua and his troops, they leave the city defenseless. Every man leaves the city, making it vulnerable.
- Springing the Trap: At God’s command, Joshua signals the ambush force, who enter the unguarded city, set it on fire, and then position themselves to block any return of Ai’s defenders.
- Surrounding the Enemy: Seeing the smoke, the men of Ai realize they’ve been trapped. With the ambush force now attacking from the rear and Joshua’s main force turning to fight, Ai’s army is surrounded and defeated.
This tactic of deception—feigning a retreat to lure the enemy out and then launching an ambush—is a classic military strategy. It showcases not only Joshua’s leadership but also how Israel relied on God’s guidance to ensure victory after repenting of earlier sins.
In another story in the book of Joshua, Joshua even sends in two spies into the city of Jericho.
To be a spy involves the art of deception.
The Righteous Deception of Jesus in John 10:
(where no Lie is Told):
In John 10, Jesus interacts with the Jewish leaders in a way that is both strategic and wise, choosing His words to reveal one truth while concealing another. This moment, where Jesus states,
"Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?" (John 10:34, KJV), reflects a type of “righteous deception.” Rather than openly declaring His divine identity, Jesus presents an alternative truth from Scripture, directing His audience’s understanding without denying His true nature.
This approach serves a larger purpose: it allows Jesus to protect the timing of His mission, ensure the fulfillment of prophecy, and give His audience the opportunity to ponder His identity without forcing an immediate confrontation.
1. Jesus’ Wisdom in Avoiding Premature Accusation
The Jewish leaders accuse Jesus of blasphemy, saying,
"because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God" (John 10:33). They understood His statements as an assertion of divinity, but rather than affirming this directly, Jesus responds with a reference to Psalm 82:6, which states,
"I have said, Ye are gods." By using this Scripture, Jesus presents a truth that focuses on humanity's honored role in God's eyes, thereby addressing their accusation without fully disclosing His divine nature.
This tactic doesn’t negate Jesus’ divinity but rather deflects the accusation in a way that prevents an immediate charge of blasphemy, which could lead to His stoning. Jesus knows that His mission—to die on the cross for humanity's sins—requires precise timing, according to God’s plan. In using this selective revelation, He chooses wisdom over confrontation, thus protecting His ministry’s ultimate purpose.
2. A True Statement that Conceals the Fullness of Truth
When Jesus says,
"Ye are gods," He is referencing a truth from the Scriptures that was already familiar to the Jewish leaders. In Psalm 82, the term “gods” refers to judges or rulers whom God had appointed to carry out His justice. By highlighting this, Jesus subtly shifts their attention to a different understanding of divinity, one that they could accept without viewing Him as a threat. This redirection is a form of righteous deception, where Jesus uses an existing truth to shield the fullness of His divine nature.
This concealment does not amount to a lie but serves as a measured and strategic response. The Jewish leaders, through their unbelief, were not prepared to grasp Jesus’ divine identity fully, so He wisely redirects them to a related scriptural truth. His intent is not to mislead maliciously but to reveal Himself progressively, guiding them toward the full understanding of His identity in a manner aligned with God’s plan.
There is also truth masked by implication. Meaning, the words are entirely true from the speaker's perspective but carry a subtle ambiguity, allowing the listener to interpret it incorrectly if they don’t pay careful attention or listen more closely. I believe this is a tactic that Abraham and Rahab had employed. Most in Christianity just believe they lied, but I don't believe this is the case. Only those who are looking to defend the righteous will see it. Most who are quick to pick up stones to cast at others or slander them will not understand the truth of what I say here. Scripture is deep many times, and it requires looking at things carefully by prayer many times. For example, I am sure many Christians started out in their faith believing that they had to follow entirely both the Old Covenant laws, and the New Covenant laws. But with further study, this is simply not the case. We are New Covenant believers and we follow primarily the New Testament or New Covenant.
I hope this helps, and may God bless you.
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the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, 
