Sorcery in the bible is a sinful practice. The apostle Paul warned that this is one of the things that will stop you from inheriting the kingdom of God. And witchcraft, too, is “detestable to the Lord.” (Deuteronomy 18:9-12). In this post, you’ll learn why God forbids sorcery and the reason it’s considered a sin.
Why is Sorcery in the Bible Considered a Sin?
The Lord thy God warned the children of Israel not to follow the abominable ways of life of the nations surrounding them. We read in Deuteronomy 18:9-12 that anyone who useth divination is an observer of times.
It is detestable in the sight of the Lord. The passage also mentions those who make their daughter pass through the fire. It’s a reference to human sacrifice that is often accompanied by magical arts and pagan religions.
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It’s important to note that God’s laws were not just ceremonial. They were also meant to protect Israel from becoming entrapped in such practices that led to much evil and separation from His covenant. The people of Israel, however, disobeyed Him. Instead, they followed the abominations of those nations. As a result, God’s judgment came swiftly.
Sorcery in the Bible is condemned, specifically in the Old Testament. You can see it in Acts 8. That is when Simon amazed people with his use of magic spells. He claimed to be someone greater. Then, he encountered the name of Jesus Christ and the power of God through Philip. His magic paled in comparison to him.
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This is a great example of a major issue with sorcery. It only imitates God just to manipulate others. The biblical context shows us that if we attempt to bypass His will by using supernatural powers, then it’s considered rebellion.
Revelation 21:8 states that those who engage in this kind of thing are destined for the lake of fire. It’s also known as the second death.
Works of the Flesh
Galatians 5 lists sorcery as one of the works of the flesh. It’s written alongside sexual immorality, fits of anger, selfish ambitions, and outbursts of wrath. These are sinful practices. They oppose the fruit of the Spirit. Living in just such awful practices is considered walking apart from the word of God.
As mentioned, doing one of those sinful practices would mean that you won’t inherit the kingdom of God.
The biblical term for sorcery in Greek is indeed pharmakeia. This is also the root word for pharmacy. But this ties sorcery to drug use, substance abuse, and use of drugs in ancient rituals meant to invoke altered spiritual experiences or contact the spirit world.
Sorcery and Its Connection to the Demonic
The prophets consistently warned us against false visions, lying divination, and practices of falsehood. These weren’t seen simply as misguided acts. Rather, they were seen as the work of Satan, the father of lies. Sorcery distorts the truth. It also brings spiritual confusion.
During the time of Moses, the magicians of Egypt attempted to replicate the miracles of God. And we all know that they all failed. God hardened Pharaoh’s heart to demonstrate that his power was nothing compared to God’s.
The contest between Moses and the wise men of Egypt wasn’t just a miracle showdown. Instead, it was a demonstration of how powerful God is. He showed us that God was the only one with authority over His creation.
King Manasseh was known for his abominable practices and these practices are written in Israel’s history. These would include useth divination, consulting familiar spirits, and sacrificing his sons in the valley of the son of Hinnom. Furthermore, the practices filled the land with guilt. As a result, they provoked the wrath of God.
2 Chronicles 33 narrates how he did evil in the sight of the Lord. He indeed repented. But the damage of his reign left a stain on the nation. His story reminds us that even great men of the earth can easily fall when we embrace sorcery and its related practices.
The Role of Sorcery in the End Times
You can see a grim picture associated with sorcery in the Book of Revelation. The fall of Babylon, for instance, is a symbol of the corrupt world system. It’s described as:
“The light of a lamp shall shine no more in you, and the voice of the bridegroom and bride shall be heard no more.” Revelation 15:23.
It was described that way because all nations were deceived because of their magical arts.
Sorcery’s effects aren’t limited to ancient times. Rather, it’s a prophecy of the end of times. Furthermore, the fate of those who rejected the truth also suffered the same destruction.
Because of these effects, sorcery has become a symbol of rebellion and spiritual corruption in the Bible.
Sorcery was a common practice in many religious rituals. Ancient nations relied on fortune tellers, the spirit of divination, and rituals to manipulate fate. These practices may still appear today but under modern names, like astrology, tarot, channeling, fortune telling, psychic readings, and new-age spiritualism.
The forms might have changed. But the abominable things they promote are still the same. The context does not treat these lightly. Seeking supernatural power outside of God is rebellion. It’s rebranded. But it’s still rebellion.
That’s God’s command. Holiness means separating from abominable ways of life of the nations. The standard is higher for us believers. We’re invited to walk in the spirit and avoid the acts of the flesh. The word sorcery must not be associated with the life of a believer.
Those who came to Christ in Ephesus publicly burned their books of black magic and spells. They declared allegiance to the name of Jesus Christ. This act was an utter rejection of darkness. It was also a commitment to the word of God.
Full Measure of Evil
All such things will face God’s judgment. The Lord of hosts will be a swift witness against those who practice sorcery, falsehood, and rebellion.
Revelation 22:15 says:
“Outside are the dogs and sorcerers… and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.”
The full measure of evil will be met with the weight of divine justice. There’s no gray area in the Bible when it comes to sorcery.
Unfortunately, the modern world temps us to take shortcuts and embrace forbidden knowledge. As believers, we must remain grounded in the word of God. We must resist the abominable practices of those nations.
It’s true that sorcery and witchcraft offer power. But the power isn’t the power of God. They do promise insight. But not the truth.
The call remains even if we’re living in the modern world. We must reject the works of darkness. Instead, we must walk in the light of Christ.
We must remember that Jesus has conquered death. No spell can match the glory of the risen Christ. That’s why we’re called to live by the Holy Spirit and the truth that sets us free.
Rejecting the Sovereignty of God
As mentioned, the core of sorcery and witchcraft represents a rejection of the sovereignty of God. The reason for this is that they control what only God controls, like life, death, destiny, truth, and justice. That’s why Christ hates these practices. They change the image of God in humanity. Furthermore, they undermine the lordship of Christ over His creation.
When you use magic spells or invoke familiar spirits, you’re attempting to rewrite reality apart from the word of God. You’re denying that the power of God is not enough.
Sorcery is an idolatrous act. You’re setting yourself as God.
Communicating the Spirit World
Sorcery and witchcraft involve communication with the spirit world. They invoke evil spirits or demonic spirits. Practitioners in ancient times used substance abuse to induce altered states and channel spirits. And we all know that it’s a spiritual danger and not just superstition.
Remember the slave girl in Acts 16? She followed Paul and proclaimed the truth but it was mixed with manipulation. Paul, however, recognized the deception. He cast the spirit out in the name of Jesus Christ. The girl was exploited spiritually.
And the apostle Paul saw it. Jesus never tolerated this kind of manipulation. That’s why He tossed out demons with authority and condemned false prophets. They led others astray with lying divination and false visions.
Spiritual Deception
Sorcery in the Bible is a deception. God detests sorcery and witchcraft because they are disguised as truth or light. But in reality, they just imitate the divine even though they appear wise, healing, or good. However, this false light blinds people to the truth of the gospel.
Remember that Satan presents himself as an angel of light. That’s why these practices draw people away from Jesus Christ.
The common practice of combining new moons, spells, charms, and rituals was seen in Israel and Babylon. They were part of religious life. But they were abominable in the sight of God. They deceived people and diverted them from having faith in the Lord.
For that reason, the King of Babylon is portrayed as an enemy of God’s people in Isaiah and Revelation because he was drowned in sorcery.
Using Power for Personal Gain
Many sorcerers in the ancient world used their abilities for their selfish ambitions. They wanted to gain money, influence, or power. As mentioned, sorcery was tied to fortune telling or the use of divination for kings like the wise men of Pharaoh’s court.
However, those practices align with the acts of the flesh. Jesus opposed such manipulation. He lived in perfect surrender to the will of the Father. His kingdom is founded on truth and not deceit. His power is also given to heal and not to control.
Thus, He repulsed these practices.
Power of Darkness
Scripture never treats sorcery as fake. The Bible acknowledges that real power can be accessed. But it’s dark power you’re accessing. It also shows us that there’s real spiritual power outside of God. However, it comes at a damaging cost.
These powers result in the loss of children and separation from God. Prophets condemn those who make children walk through the fire as a horrendous practice. The practices of sorcery are sinful as they bring about the measure of God’s wrath. They caused people to break the covenant and rebel from God.
Competing with Christ
The ultimate offense is that sorcery competes with His glory. It offers alternate sources of hope, healing, and truth. We all know that Jesus is the only way, the only truth, and the only life. And Jesus hates these things because He came to set us free and not to see us re-enslaved by these things.
Opposing the Truth
Sorcery in the Bible is described as a sinful practice. Along with witchcraft, sorcery opposes the truth and power of God. It leads us away from the light of Christ. And to inherit the Kingdom of God, we must reject these things. Instead, we must embrace the Word of God with faith and obedience.
Jane is a Roman Catholic on a journey of re-learning about God and deepening her understanding of the Bible. She has over a decade of experience as a copywriter. Her goal is to blend her passion for writing with her spiritual journey. She writes content that doesn’t just uplift but also connects with people who wish to seek a deeper understanding of God’s word. Follow Jane on LinkedIn or Instagram.
