Does the Bible say anything about cheating in school?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Cheating in school is misrepresenting what you have learned or what you know, and that is dishonest, a lie. Cheating in school may appear to offer a shortcut to learning the information, but eventually the lack of actual learning will be revealed. When we avoid cheating, we represent what we have actually learned and honor God. When we are honest, we represent God well, and God will honor that.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Cheating is lying. Proverbs 6:16–18 lists things God hates. Lying is among them. "There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers."
• Lying is a sin (Leviticus 19:11; Proverbs 12:22).
• When we lie, we injure our character and reputation (Proverbs 10:9).
• Proverbs 1:5 tells us that the wise hear and increase in learning.
• Wise people seek knowledge, and an intelligent heart acquires knowledge. Learning is good (Proverbs 18:15).

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• We are called to glorify God and walk according to His ways as lights to the world (1 Corinthians 3:16; Philippians 2:15; Ephesians 5:8).
• Christians are to resist temptations (Matthew 26:41; 1 Corinthians 10:13) and live life as new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17). When we succumb to the temptation to cheat, we create a false view of who we are and misrepresent God.
• God does not lie, and neither should we (Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:18).

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Every lie is a lie, no matter how big or small. Cheating at school is lying to others, and to yourself, about what you have learned. Not only is cheating a lie, but cheating cheats you out of learning and the integrity we are called to uphold as believers. Although cheating seems like a quick and easy fix that no one will know, God does know. We need work hard and genuinely engage with the material at school, whether we find it important or not, as this reflects our commitment to God, to learning, to honesty, and to excellence. If we do not study, then we need to take responsibility that we were not prepared and deal with the consequences that come with that, like lower grades. Good comes from learning, and we should desire to grow in knowledge and wisdom. We should also seek to honor God in all we do, including studying and not cheating. When we choose not to cheat, we honor God by representing Him well. Ultimately, pursuing knowledge honestly allows us to grow as individuals and shine as lights in a world that often values shortcuts over integrity.

UNDERSTAND

• Cheating is lying and misrepresents what you have learned.
• Cheating harms our character.
• Cheating misrepresents God.

REFLECT

• How can we cultivate a habit of integrity in our academic work, even when the pressure to succeed is high?
• How have you seen dishonesty, like cheating, affect your personal growth or relationships with others?
• What drives your desire to learn and to honor God with your learning?

ENGAGE

• What are some practical steps we can take to avoid the temptation to cheat, especially in school?
• How does our understanding of God's character influence our decisions regarding honesty and integrity in school?
• How can we create a culture of honesty and hard work among our peers?