LIBERTY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
What does the Bible say about bribery?
Submitted to Dr. James Sulfridge
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of
DSMN 500
Discipleship Ministries
By
Anthony Bean
A bribe is money, favor, or other consideration given in exchange for one’s influence
against what is true, right, or just. The Bible is clear that giving or receiving a bribe is evil. God’s
Law, given to Moses for the people of Israel, forbade the taking of a bribe, “for a bribe blinds
the discerning and perverts the words of the righteous” (Exodus 23:8). The same rule is
repeated in Deuteronomy 16:19: “You shall not pervert justice; you shall not show partiality,
nor take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous.”
The negative effects of taking a bribe are clearly outlined in these two passages. Bribery
perverts justice. It is a blinding influence upon wisdom and discernment. It clouds the truth and
perverts or twists the words of those who would be righteous in the sight of God.
The Law went even further in the case of a bribe involving the killing of an innocent person.
A judge who takes a bribe to condemn to death an innocent person was as guilty as a paid
assassin—he was to be “cursed” (Deuteronomy 27:25). There were incidents where this law
against bribery was broken, to disastrous effect. The two men who testified against Naboth (1
Kings 21:4–16) and those who testified against Stephen (Acts 6:8–14) were probably bribed; in
both instances, an innocent man was killed. When high officials give and receive bribes, it
causes evil in a society. “The king establishes the land by justice, but he who receives bribes
overthrows it” (Proverbs 29:4). Bribery is one characteristic of a corrupt society.
Isaiah prophesied against the evil of Israel when they had turned from the one true God
and His laws. Isaiah likened the city of Jerusalem to an unfaithful harlot; the city was once full of
justice, but it had become a place of rebellion, murder, and thievery. Her leaders were those
who loved bribes and chased after the money bribery brought them (Isaiah 1:2–23). The people
of Israel were not to follow the ways of evil but were to emulate God in their dealings with one
another: “For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and
awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe” (Deuteronomy 10:17).
The most heinous example of a bribe in the Bible is the thirty pieces of silver that Judas
received to betray the Lord Jesus. A direct result of Judas’s treachery was that Jesus was
arrested and crucified. Eventually, even Judas realized that his acceptance of a bribe was evil.
But when he tried to return the money to the chief priests and elders, they refused it, calling it
what it was—“blood money” (Matthew 27:3–9).
Delilah was bribed to entrap Samson (Judges 16:5). Samuel’s sons disrespected their office
by taking bribes (1 Samuel 8:3). The wicked Haman bribed King Ahasuerus in an attempt to
destroy the Jews in Persia (Esther 3:9). Felix left Paul in prison, hoping to receive a bribe from
Paul (Acts 24:26). And the soldiers charged with guarding Jesus’ tomb were bribed by the chief
priests and elders to spread a lie about the disappearance of Jesus’ body (Matthew 28:12–15).
In each case, those receiving the bribes cared nothing for truth or justice.
Bribery
A common practice in business, as well as in government, is the payment of bribes.
A bribe is defined as “anything, especially money, which is given, or promised to cause a
person to do something illegal or wrong.” Sometimes business officials will not grant a person
the help he is entitled to have unless the person pays a sum of money. This payment is in
addition to the fees charged by the business man for his services. Or, perhaps a man might
want to build a building in his backyard, however, he knows this is against the city ordinances.
In order to get around (break) these rules, the man will offer a sum of money to the inspector,
in hopes that the inspector can pocket the money and overlook his crime. Both are guilty. One
is guilty of taking illegal money, the other is guilty of offering money for illegal gain.
Indeed, he has committed the sin of bribery, which is stealing (1 Corinthians
6:9,10; Ephesians 4:28). The Bible strongly condemns the evil practice of bribery. God
commanded Israel: “And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth
the words of the righteous.” (Exodus 23:8). In the book of Job, it is written: “... and fire shall
consume the tabernacles of bribery” (Job 15:34). The writer of Proverbs says: “A wicked man
taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.” (Proverbs 17:23).
Extortion
Another sinful practice which is related to bribery is extortion. The meaning of extortion is:
“taking money from someone by violence, threats, or the misuse of authority.”
The one who demands a bribe, and is prepared to take it by force is an extortioner.
For example, several years ago, some Christians had to travel through a certain nation on
their way to preach the gospel. The government officials of that nation were known for their
corrupt practices. The Immigration and Customs officials with whom they dealt demanded
money to let them pass through their nation. They had armed soldiers with them. It was clear
they were willing to use force to take what they demanded. Even though the amount they
demanded was far higher than the small fee required by their government, the driver paid it.
He had no other choice. His two fellow Christians rebuked him afterward. They accused him of
paying a bribe. He replied, “No, it was not bribery. It was extortion!” He was forced to give the
money, or else their lives could have been in danger!
The New Testament has some very strong statements against extortion. Paul wrote to the
Corinthian Christians: “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?
Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of
themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers,
nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9,10). In Chapter 5 of First
Corinthians, Paul deals with church discipline. He mentions certain sinful individuals: members
of the church, who were not to be received into fellowship unless they repented. He said: “But
now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a
fornicator, or covetous, or an idolator, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an
one no not to eat. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge
them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among
yourselves that wicked person.” (1 Corinthians 5:11,13).
The Bible teaches that God’s people are to be honest. They must not lie, steal, take bribes
or use extortion. Any Christian who is guilty of doing any of these things must repent if he
hopes to go to Heaven. If he does not repent, the church must refuse to fellowship him as a
brother in Christ until he does repent.
The Holy Spirit commands: “Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour,
working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.”
(Ephesians 4:28).
