Love is frequently exalted in biblical texts, celebrated as the highest and most noble attribute a person can embody. However, not all who claim to love do so genuinely. The Bible warns against ‘fake love,’ seen through the actions and intentions that do not align with the sincere love that God teaches. This article explores Bible verses that highlight the difference between true love and fake love, allowing us to discern sincerity in the relationships around us and within us.
Bible Verses about Fake love
1. Matthew 15:8 – Lip Service
“‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.’” – Matthew 15:8
Cross-References
Isaiah 29:13 – “The Lord says: ‘These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.'”
Titus 1:16 – “They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him.”
Revelation 3:1 – “I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.”
2. 1 John 4:20 – Love for a Brother
“Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.” – 1 John 4:20
Cross-References
1 John 2:4 – “Whoever says ‘I know him’ but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.”
James 2:14-17 – “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds?”
Matthew 22:39 – “And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'”
3. Romans 12:9 – Genuine Love
“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” – Romans 12:9
Cross-References
1 Peter 1:22 – “Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.”
1 Corinthians 13:6 – “Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.”
Philippians 1:9-10 – “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best.”
4. Proverbs 26:25 – Deceptive Words
“Though their speech is charming, do not believe them, for seven abominations fill their heart.” – Proverbs 26:25
Cross-References
Psalms 55:21 – “His talk is smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart.”
2 Samuel 15:6 – “Absalom behaved in this way toward all the Israelites who came to the king asking for justice, and so he stole the hearts of the people of Israel.”
Jeremiah 9:8 – “Their tongue is a deadly arrow; it speaks deceitfully.”
5. 1 Corinthians 13:1 – Love as a Noisy Gong
“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.” – 1 Corinthians 13:1
Cross-References
1 Corinthians 14:7-8 – “Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds…how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes?”
James 2:17 – “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”
Matthew 6:7 – “And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.”
6. 2 Timothy 3:5 – The Appearance of Godliness
“Having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.” – 2 Timothy 3:5
Cross-References
Matthew 23:27-28 – “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean.”
Titus 1:16 – “They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him.”
James 1:26 – “Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.”
7. Proverbs 27:6 – Wounds of a Friend
“Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.” – Proverbs 27:6
Cross-References
Psalm 141:5 – “Let a righteous man strike me—that is a kindness; let him rebuke me—that is oil on my head.”
Job 5:17-18 – “Blessed is the one whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.”
Matthew 26:49 – “Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, ‘Greetings, Rabbi!’ and kissed him.”
8. Mark 7:6 – Hypocrisy Condemned
“He replied, ‘Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.’” – Mark 7:6
Cross-References
Isaiah 29:13 – “The Lord says: ‘These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.’”
Matthew 15:7-9 – “You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.'”
Luke 11:39-40 – “Then the Lord said to him, ‘Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.'”
9. James 2:26 – Faith without Deeds
“As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” – James 2:26
Cross-References
Matthew 7:21 – “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
James 1:22 – “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
1 John 3:18 – “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”
10. Galatians 5:22-23 – The Fruit of the Spirit
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” – Galatians 5:22-23
Cross-References
Ephesians 5:9 – “For the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth.”
Colossians 3:12-14 – “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”
John 15:8 – “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”
11. Proverbs 20:6 – Many Proclaim Love
“Many claim to have unfailing love, but a faithful person who can find?” – Proverbs 20:6
Cross-References
Proverbs 19:22 – “What a person desires is unfailing love; better to be poor than a liar.”
1 Samuel 20:17 – “And Jonathan had David reaffirm his oath out of love for him, because he loved him as he loved himself.”
Matthew 24:12 – “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.”
12. Luke 11:43 – Pharisees Love Praise
“Woe to you Pharisees! Because you love the most important seats in the synagogues and respectful greetings in the marketplaces.” – Luke 11:43
Cross-References
Matthew 23:6 – “They love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues.”
Mark 12:38-39 – “As he taught, Jesus said, ‘Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplaces.'”
John 12:43 – “For they loved human praise more than praise from God.”
13. Psalms 55:21 – Smooth Talk
“His talk is smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart; his words are more soothing than oil, yet they are drawn swords.” – Psalms 55:21
Cross-References
Psalm 28:3 – “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.”
Proverbs 5:3-4 – “For the lips of the adulterous woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil; but in the end, she is bitter as gall, sharp as a double-edged sword.”
Isaiah 30:10 – “They say to the seers, ‘See no more visions!’ and to the prophets, ‘Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions.'”
14. 2 Corinthians 11:13-14 – Disguised as Apostles
“For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.” – 2 Corinthians 11:13-14
Cross-References
Galatians 1:6-7 – “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— which is really no gospel at all.”
Matthew 24:24 – “For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.”
1 Timothy 4:1 – “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.”
15. John 12:43 – Loving Human Praise
“For they loved human praise more than praise from God.” – John 12:43
Cross-References
Matthew 6:1 – “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.”
1 Thessalonians 2:6 – “We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else.”
Romans 2:29 – “No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.”
16. Matthew 6:24 – Two Masters
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” – Matthew 6:24
Cross-References
Luke 16:13 – “No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.”
1 Timothy 6:10 – “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”
James 4:4 – “You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God?”
17. Titus 1:16 – Professed Knowledge of God
“They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.” – Titus 1:16
Cross-References
1 John 2:4 – “Whoever says, ‘I know him,’ but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.”
James 3:13 – “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.”
Matthew 7:21-23 – “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
18. Isaiah 29:13 – Honour with Lips
“The Lord says: ‘These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.’” – Isaiah 29:13
Cross-References
Matthew 15:8 – “‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.'”
Mark 7:6 – “He replied, ‘Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.'”
Ezekiel 33:31 – “My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to hear your words, but they do not put them into practice.”
19. Jeremiah 17:9 – The Deceitful Heart
“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” – Jeremiah 17:9
Cross-References
Genesis 6:5 – “The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.”
Proverbs 4:23 – “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
Romans 8:7 – “The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.”
20. Matthew 23:28 – Whitewashed Sepulchres
“In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.” – Matthew 23:28
Cross-References
Luke 11:44 – “Woe to you, because you are like unmarked graves, which people walk over without knowing it.”
Romans 2:1 – “You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself.”
Psalm 26:4 – “I do not sit with the deceitful, nor do I associate with hypocrites.”
21. 1 Corinthians 13:13 – The Greatest is Love
“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” – 1 Corinthians 13:13
Cross-References
1 John 4:7 – “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.”
Galatians 5:14 – “For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'”
Colossians 3:14 – “And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
22. Psalm 36:3 – Deceit in Speech
“The words of their mouths are wicked and deceitful; they fail to act wisely or do good.” – Psalm 36:3
Cross-References
Psalm 10:7 – “His mouth is full of lies and threats; trouble and evil are under his tongue.”
Proverbs 12:17 – “An honest witness tells the truth, but a false witness tells lies.”
Jeremiah 9:3 – “‘They make ready their tongue like a bow, to shoot lies; it is not by truth that they triumph in the land.'”
23. Matthew 7:15 – Beware of False Prophets
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.” – Matthew 7:15
Cross-References
Acts 20:29 – “I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.”
2 Peter 2:1 – “But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you.”
1 John 4:1 – “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God.”
24. Luke 18:9 – The Pharisee and the Tax Collector
“To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable.” – Luke 18:9
Cross-References
Luke 16:15 – “He said to them, ‘You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts.'”
Isaiah 65:5 – “Who say, ‘Keep to yourself, do not come near me, for I am too holy for you!'”
Matthew 5:20 – “For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.”
25. Romans 16:18 – Deceptive Talk
“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.” – Romans 16:18
Cross-References
Philippians 3:19 – “Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things.”
2 Peter 2:3 – “In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories.”
Colossians 2:4 – “I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.”
26. 2 Peter 2:3 – Making Merchandise
“In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.” – 2 Peter 2:3
Cross-References
Jude 1:16 – “These people are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage.”
Micah 3:11 – “Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets tell fortunes for money.”
Matthew 23:14 – “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers.”
27. Jude 1:16 – Flattering People
“These people are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage.” – Jude 1:16
Cross-References
Psalm 12:2-3 – “Everyone lies to their neighbor; they flatter with their lips but harbor deception in their hearts. May the Lord silence all flattering lips.”
Daniel 11:32 – “With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him.”
2 Timothy 4:3 – “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.”
28. Colossians 3:5 – Earthly Nature
“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.” – Colossians 3:5
Cross-References
Ephesians 5:3 – “But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.”
Galatians 5:19-21 – “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.”
1 John 2:15 – “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.”
29. Ephesians 4:14 – Tossed by Tricks
“Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.” – Ephesians 4:14
Cross-References
1 John 4:1 – “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God.”
2 Corinthians 11:3 – “But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.”
Matthew 24:11 – “And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.”
30. 2 Timothy 4:3 – Itching Ears
“For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.” – 2 Timothy 4:3
Cross-References
Titus 1:10 – “For there are many rebellious people, full of meaningless talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision group.”
Jeremiah 5:31 – “The prophets prophesy lies, the priests rule by their own authority, and my people love it this way. But what will you do in the end?”
Isaiah 30:10 – “They say to the seers, ‘See no more visions!’ and to the prophets, ‘Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions.'”
31. Proverbs 11:9 – Ruthless Tongue
“With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors, but through knowledge the righteous escape.” – Proverbs 11:9
Cross-References
James 3:6 – “The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body.”
Proverbs 15:4 – “The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.”
Psalm 34:13 – “Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies.”
32. 2 Thessalonians 2:10 – Wicked Deception
“And all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.” – 2 Thessalonians 2:10
Cross-References
Matthew 24:24 – “For false Christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.”
Romans 1:28 – “Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind.”
John 3:19 – “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.”
Final Thought
Throughout Scripture, the chasm between genuine love and superficial displays of affection is underscored time and again. Fake love is a dangerous facade that leads people astray, preventing them from experiencing the profound and transformative love that comes from God. Genuine love, as defined in the Bible, is characterized by selflessness, sincerity, and action. Fake love, on the other hand, thrives on deceit, selfishness, and superficiality. As believers, it is imperative that we remain vigilant in recognizing fake love in our own lives and in the influences around us.
By immersing ourselves in Scripture and aligning our hearts with God’s truth, we build relationships that truly reflect the unconditional love that He offers us. Let us be guided by these teachings and strive to embody sincerity not just in words, but more importantly, in acts of true love and kindness, reaffirming our commitment to live as disciples of Jesus Christ. Without true love, all the eloquence and actions are as empty as the clanging cymbal.