I did a study once on the word "deceived" as it is used in scriptures. It helped in my understanding of why Jesus and the Prophets, and His Apostles spent so much time warning about it.
We all have been deceived at one point or another. The problem is not "being" deceived, as much as it is "staying deceived".
Jesus gives us the key on how to receive the truth so as to expose the deceit in our own minds.
John 14:
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17 Even the Spirit of truth;
whom the world cannot receive, because it
seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
21
He that hath my commandments,
and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him,
and will manifest myself to him.
But here comes the deceiver.
Matt. 24:
4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that
no man deceive you.
5 For
many shall come in
my name, saying, I am Christ;
and shall deceive many.
To Deceive means to convince someone of something that isn't true. Like those who are on the broad path, and those who called Jesus "Lord, Lord, in Matt. 7.. Or the Mainstream Preachers in Christ's time who said God their father.
I think this should be one of the most discussed scriptures in the Bible, but I seldom see any reference to it at all. There is only one "many" who come in Christ's Name, who preach that Jesus is truly the Christ and that is "Christianity". Not the Jews, Islam, Buddha, or Atheists. He is specifically speaking about Christianity here? While this is certainly true, not many people are interested in discussing this or even considering it. Jesus also tells us why this is in John 3., but that is a discussion for another time.
Think about this for a minute. We are told that satan disguises itself as "Apostles of Christ", "Ministers of Righteousness", "angels of light". The only God of Abraham Preachers on the planet in Christ's time were satan,s children. Men who had been deceived into "Teaching for doctrines the commandments of men". They were blind, and those who followed them were blind as well. Jesus gave them the Light, but they refused it, believing they already had the light.
Is this not the perfect disguise for the wolf? A massive world wide religion made up of hundreds of sects and different doctrines whose only thing in common is the preaching that we don't have to obey God anymore for salvation. These religions cloth and feed the poor all around the world. Who raise billions of dollars to help the needy. Who can say these religions don't look peaceful, humble, like a sheep.
Yet, Jesus is specifically warning to take heed we are not deceived by them.
Fascinating thread Billy G.