Topical Encyclopedia
The concept of being misled is a significant theme throughout the Bible, often highlighting the dangers of deception and the importance of discernment. To be misled is to be guided into error or falsehood, often by deceitful influences or a lack of understanding. The Bible warns believers to be vigilant against such influences and to seek truth through God's Word.
Old Testament ReferencesIn the Old Testament, the Israelites are frequently cautioned against being misled by false prophets and idolatrous practices.
Deuteronomy 13:1-3 warns, "If a prophet or dreamer of dreams arises among you and proclaims a sign or wonder to you, and if the sign or wonder he has spoken to you comes to pass, but he says, ‘Let us follow other gods (which you have not known) and let us worship them,’ you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer." This passage underscores the importance of testing the truth of a message against the known character and commandments of God.
The prophets also speak against being misled by false teachings.
Jeremiah 23:16 states, "This is what the LORD of Hosts says: 'Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They are filling you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD.'" Here, the emphasis is on the danger of accepting teachings that do not originate from God.
New Testament ReferencesIn the New Testament, Jesus Himself warns against being misled by false prophets and teachers. In
Matthew 24:4-5 , Jesus cautions, "See to it that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many." This warning is reiterated in the context of the end times, where deception will be rampant.
The Apostle Paul also addresses the issue of being misled in his epistles. In
2 Corinthians 11:3 , he expresses concern for the Corinthian church: "I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ." Paul emphasizes the need for believers to remain steadfast in their faith and not be swayed by false teachings.
Discernment and TruthThe Bible consistently encourages believers to seek wisdom and discernment to avoid being misled.
Proverbs 3:5-6 advises, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." This passage highlights the importance of relying on God's guidance rather than human wisdom.
The Berean approach to Scripture, as seen in
Acts 17:11 , serves as a model for discernment: "Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true." This practice of examining the Scriptures is crucial for ensuring that one is not misled.
ConclusionThe Bible's teachings on being misled serve as a reminder of the spiritual vigilance required of believers. By grounding themselves in Scripture and seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit, Christians can guard against deception and remain faithful to the truth of God's Word.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
imp. & p. p.) of Misle.
2. (imp. & p. p.) of Mislead.
3. (v.) imp. & p. p. of Mislead.
Greek
4105. planao -- to cause to wander, to wander... wander. 4105 -- properly, go astray, get off-course; to from the correct
path (circuit, course), into error, ; (passive) be
misled.
...3911. paraphero -- to bring to, to carry away
... par-af-er'-o) Short Definition: I turn aside, carry away, remove Definition: I turn
aside, carry away, remove, cause to pass away; pass: I ammisled, seduced....
Strong's Hebrew
2937. taah -- to wander, stray... to wander, stray. Transliteration: taah Phonetic Spelling: (taw-aw') Short Definition:
misled.
... root Definition to wander, stray NASB Word Usage
misled (1).
...5496. suth -- to incite, allure, instigate
... NASB Word Usage diverted (1), entice (2), enticed (1), incited (3), inciting (1),
induced (1), mislead (2), misleading (1), misleads (1),misled (1), moved (1...
8582. taah -- to err
... you astray (1), leading them astray (1), leads them astray (1), leads to ruin (1),
led my astray (2), led them astray (3), led...astray (2),misled (1), reels...
7683. shagag -- to go astray, commit sin or error
... root Definition to go astray, commit sin or error NASB Word Usage because he also
(1), goes astray (1),misled (1), sinned (1), went astray (1)....
Library
How Autolycus had BeenMisled by False Accusations against the...
... Theophilus to Autolycus: Book III. Chapter IV."How Autolycus Had Been
Misled by False Accusations Against the Christians. Nor...
I Would, However, Proceed to a More Searching and Diligent...
... interpreted not "a woman which is a sister," when he said, "Have we not power to
lead about a sister a woman;" but, "a sister a wife." They weremisled by the...
Letter ix. --Danger of Delusion Explained.
... you see him, I beg of you, that I consider him bound in conscience to disabuse in
my name all those persons whom he considers to have beenmisled, and that I...
Twenty Third Sunday after Trinity Enemies of the Cross of Christ...
... with special interest and pleasure his Church of the Philippians, is moved by parental
care to admonish them"lest they sometime bemisled by such teachers...
Twentieth Sunday after Trinity the Careful Walk of the Christian.
... They see as through a painted glass, presuming they do well in following such phantoms
of their reason, until they aremisled and defeated of the devil....
Book viii. The Blessed Apostle Paul in Laying Down the Form for...
... preached. Yet how great an evil to those who hear is foolish preaching, when
they aremisled into foolish opinions by conceit of wisdom!...
Introduction
... If a sinner seek salvation according to the model of modern conversions, he may
bemisled; for his model is fallible at best, and may be erroneous; but if he...
Among Snares
... Rom.10:20, 21. Many who were convinced that Jesus was the Son of God were
misled by the false reasoning of the priests and rabbis....
The Sermon to the Nuns
... BEFORE relating the history of the Master's sermon, it is needful to say a
few words without which many might be perplexed andmisled....
Introductory Notice to Arnobius.
... Oehler's conjecture is true, who supposes that Jerome accidentally transposed his
words from the year 303 to the place where we find them,misled by noticing...
Thesaurus
Misled (7 Occurrences)... Multi-Version Concordance
Misled (7 Occurrences).
... (WEY NAS). Colossians 2:4 I say
this to prevent your being
misled by any one's plausible sophistry. (WEY).
...Misleads (8 Occurrences)
One's (59 Occurrences)
... work; (See RSV NIV). Colossians 2:4 I say this to prevent your beingmisled
by any one's plausible sophistry. (WEY). 2 Thessalonians 3...
Erroneous (1 Occurrence)
... 2. (a.) Wandering; straying; deviating from the right course; -- hence, irregular;
unnatural. 3. (a.) Misleading;misled; mistaking. Multi-Version Concordance...
Deception (24 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) The act of deceiving or misleading. 2.
(n.) The state of being deceived ormisled. 3. (n.) That...
Deceivableness (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) Capability of deceiving. 2. (n.) Liability to
be deceived ormisled; as, the deceivableness of a child. Int....
Mind (615 Occurrences)
... emotional nature. We are oftenmisled by the different renderings in the
different versions, both early and late. Sometimes nephesh...
Misleading (8 Occurrences)
... the lie; (WEY). 2 Timothy 3:13 But bad men and impostors will go on from
bad to worse, misleading and beingmisled. (WEY). 2 Kings...
Mismated (1 Occurrence)
Plausible (3 Occurrences)
... the Spirit and of power, (See RSV). Colossians 2:4 I say this to prevent
your beingmisled by any one's plausible sophistry. (WEY)....
Resources
What does the Bible say about self-deception? | GotQuestions.orgIs missionary dating a good idea? can't God use it? | GotQuestions.orgWhat was the source of Samson's strength? | GotQuestions.orgMisled: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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