What does the Bible say about music and the devil?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible teaches that music is a good gift for God’s praise and for strengthening His people, yet it must be used with discernment in a fallen world. Psalms 150:1-6 calls all creation to praise the Lord with instruments and song, while Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16 commend psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs that let Christ’s word dwell richly among believers. Scripture does not identify a style of music as inherently devilish, but it warns Christians not to love the world or feed sinful desires (1 John 2:15; Colossians 3:5). Believers should test what they hear (1 John 4:1), resist the devil (James 4:7), and choose what promotes wisdom, holiness, and thankful worship.
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Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible
- 1 John 2:15
Don't love the world, neither the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the Father's love isn't in him.
- Ephesians 5:19
speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; singing, and singing praises in your heart to the Lord;
- James 4:7
Be subject therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
- Ecclesiastes 7:5
It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
- Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord.
- 1 John 4:1
Beloved, don't believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
- Psalms 150:1-6
[1] Praise Yah! Praise God in his sanctuary! Praise him in his heavens for his acts of power! [2] Praise him for his mighty acts! Praise him according to his excellent greatness! [3] Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet! Praise him with harp and lyre! [4] Praise him with tambourine and dancing! Praise him with stringed instruments and flute! [5] Praise him with loud cymbals! Praise him with resounding cymbals! [6] Let everything that has breath praise Yah! Praise Yah!
- Colossians 3:5
Put to death therefore your members which are on the earth: sexual immorality, uncleanness, depraved passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry;
- Ephesians 4:26
"Be angry, and don't sin." Don't let the sun go down on your wrath,
- John 6:70
Jesus answered them, "Didn't I choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?"
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