Fake friends are those who masquerade as allies but ultimately betray and deceive us, yet the Bible offers wisdom and guidance for discerning true friendship from false. Join us as we explore verses that address the issue of fake friends, offering insights and warnings for guarding our hearts, cultivating genuine friendships, and finding refuge in the faithful friendship of God and His Word.
Also Read: Bible Verses About Consistency
Bible Verses About Fake Friends
Proverbs 13:20 – Choosing the right companions is crucial for our growth
“Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.”
Proverbs 27:6 – True friends offer honest criticism, while fake friends flatter
“Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.”
Psalm 41:9 – Even those closest to us can betray our trust
“Even my close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned against me.”
Proverbs 16:28 – Dishonest people destroy relationships with their words
“A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.”
Matthew 7:15 – Beware of those who are deceitful in their intentions
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.”
2 Timothy 3:5 – Some will appear godly but deny the power of true faith
“Having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.”
1 Corinthians 15:33 – Bad associations can corrupt good character
“Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.'”
Proverbs 18:24 – There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother
“One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”
Psalm 55:21 – Beware of those whose words are smoother than butter
“His talk is smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart; his words are more soothing than oil, yet they are drawn swords.”
Proverbs 12:26 – The righteous should choose their friends carefully
“The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.”
Galatians 2:4 – False friends come in to spy out our freedom
“This matter arose because some false believers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves.”
Psalms 28:3 – Do not be dragged away with the wicked who speak cordially
“Do not drag me away with the wicked, with those who do evil, who speak cordially with their neighbors but harbor malice in their hearts.”
Romans 16:18 – Deceptive individuals serve their own appetites
“For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.”
Micah 7:5 – Trust should not be extended frivolously
“Do not trust a neighbor; put no confidence in a friend. Even with the woman who lies in your embrace guard the words of your lips.”
2 Corinthians 11:13 – False apostles masquerade as apostles of Christ
“For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.”
Jeremiah 9:4 – Everyone needs to be on guard against their friends
“Beware of your friends; do not trust anyone in your clan. For every one of them is a deceiver, and every friend a slanderer.”
Proverbs 14:7 – Keep away from fools to avoid harmful consequences
“Stay away from a fool, for you will not find knowledge on their lips.”
Matthew 26:48 – Fake friends may appear loyal at crucial times
“Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: ‘The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.'”
James 3:16 – Where there is jealousy and selfish ambition, disorder thrives
“For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.”
Proverbs 20:19 – Avoid those who go about spreading gossip
“A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid anyone who talks too much.”
Romans 12:9 – Let love be sincere, not hypocritical
“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.”
1 John 4:1 – Test the spirits to see whether they are from God
“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
Titus 1:16 – They claim to know God, but their actions deny Him
“They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.”
Proverbs 22:24-25 – Do not make friends with hot-tempered people
“Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared.”
Psalm 55:12-14 – It hurts most when deceit comes from those we once trusted
“If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were rising against me, I could hide. But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend, with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship at the house of God, as we walked about among the worshipers.”
Proverbs 26:23-24 – Enemies disguise themselves with their lips
“Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware are fervent lips with an evil heart. Enemies disguise themselves with their lips, but in their hearts they harbor deceit.”
Matthew 10:36 – A man’s enemies will be members of his own household
“A man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.”
2 Peter 2:1 – False teachers will secretly introduce destructive heresies
“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.”
1 Corinthians 11:19 – Differences can show who has God’s approval
“No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval.”
Colossians 2:8 – Don’t be taken captive by deceptive philosophy
“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.”
Jude 1:4 – Certain individuals have secretly slipped in among you
“For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.”
Matthew 24:24 – False messiahs and prophets will appear and deceive
“For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.”
Luke 22:47-48 – A fake friend will betray you with a kiss
“While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus asked him, ‘Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?'”
2 Timothy 4:10 – Fake friends will abandon you for worldly desires
“For Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.”
Proverbs 25:19 – Trusting unfaithful people is like using a broken tool
“Like a broken tooth or a lame foot is reliance on the unfaithful in a time of trouble.”
Proverbs 22:10 – Removing mockers get rid of strife and insults
“Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife; quarrels and insults are ended.”
Proverbs 1:10 – Do not consent when sinners entice you
“My son, if sinful men entice you, do not give in to them.”
Job 19:19 – Even close acquaintances may reject you
“All my intimate friends detest me; those I love have turned against me.”
Psalms 36:3 – Fake friends speak deceitfully and act wrongful
“The words of their mouths are wicked and deceitful; they fail to act wisely or do good.”
Isaiah 48:22 – True peace is absent for the wicked
“‘There is no peace,’ says the Lord, ‘for the wicked.'”