A Biblical Definition of Flattery

In the Bible, four characteristics of flattery combine into its fundamental rule. The first is insincerity. Flattery involves phony or exaggerated praise (Ps. 12:2-3). The second is selfish motives. Flattery serves not the Lord, but self-serving appetites to gain favor or power (Job 32:21f; Rom. 16:18). The third is manipulation. Flattery deceives and ensnares others in a trap (Prov. 7:21; 29:5). The fourth is destruction. Flattery is a mark of wicked people who ruin others for personal gain (Prov. 26:28).

Thus, the biblical definition of flattery is deceitful speech that disguises self-serving motives under the pretense of praise, leading others into falsehood or harm. Unlike genuine encouragement, which builds up in truth (Eph. 4:15), flattery distorts reality for a selfish spoil that forms an unctuous falsehood. It is false praise for selfish gain. It is insincere speech with double-hearted intentions. It is for all these reasons that the righteous person divests himself from flattery (1 Thess. 2:5).

Dante

Dante places flatterers in Inferno, Canto 18, within the eighth circle of Hell, known as Malebolge. This is the place where those guilty of fraud are punished, emphasizing that flattery is not like simple dishonesty, but a deliberate action of deception. Unlike liars, who mislead through direct falsehoods, flatterers distort reality by manipulating emotions. Flatterers occupy the second bolgia (ditch) and are condemned to wallow in human excrement—a punishment that is not only grotesque but fitting because of their mealymouthed and hollow speech. The imagery highlights how flattery is akin to verbal filth, corrupting both speaker and listener by trafficking worthless words.

Dante’s punishment for flattery is immersion in feces, and of course, he’s right, because flatterers are full of feces. Dante considers flattery a grave moral failing because it distorts the truth and manipulates others for selfish gain. In his vision of Hell, flatterers suffer an ignoble fate that mirrors the foulness of their deceitful words. Their punishment emphasizes the disgusting nature of their sin, equating their false praise to excrement, something repulsive and without value. Just as the flatterer's false praises were once disguised as kindness or admiration, their sins will be exposed and unmistakable in Hell. Dante’s vivid imagery dispels the notion that flattery is just part of social nicety. On the contrary, it is moral corruption that tortures the truth and beguiles others for personal prerogative.

John Bunyan

In The Pilgrim’s Progress, John Bunyan warns against flattery as a dangerous snare that leads pilgrims away from the right path. He portrays flattery as a tool of deception that ensnares the unwary. When Christian and Hopeful are traveling toward the Celestial City, they are deceived by a character called the Flatterer, who appears as a kind and persuasive man but misleads them onto a false path. As a result, they are captured in a net, symbolizing the spiritual entrapment that flattery brings upon the soul.

Bunyan writes, “So they followed him, but he led them into a net, in which they were both so entangled that they knew not what to do; and with that the white robe fell off the man’s back. Then they saw where they were. Wherefore there they lay crying some time, for they could not get themselves out.” Christian and Hopeful’s trust in smooth words leads to their downfall. They cannot enjoy the words of the Flatterer and at the same time continue down the righteous path. The white robe falling from the Flatterer’s back reveals his true nature—a false guide disguised as righteousness.

For Bunyan, flattery is not just insincere praise but a means of spiritual misdirection and destruction. The Flatterer’s guidance represents false teachers and deceptive doctrines that draw believers astray from the truth. Christian and Hopeful’s entrapment serves as a warning to all believers to discern truth carefully (Ps. 120) and not be swayed by pleasant but misleading words.

Bunyan and Dante emphasize different aspects of flattery. Dante focuses on its corrupt nature and filthiness, while Bunyan highlights its ability to lead believers astray. The consequence of flattery for Dante is permanent punishment. For Bunyan, it is ephemeral entanglement. After Christian and Hopeful are caught in the Flatterer’s net, a Shining One—an angelic figure—comes to their rescue, rebukes them, and sets them back on the right path. Bunyan’s accent seems to be that believers may stumble through deception but God provides a way of restoration.

Jesus

“And they came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about anyone’s opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?” (Mark 12:14).

The Pharisees are flattering Jesus with contrived sincerity. We know this because verse 15 calls their actions “hypocrisy.” It is hypocrisy motivated by special interest, in this case trying to trap Jesus. Notice, also, that the things they say in verse 14 are true. So, flattery can use the truth for wrong motives. Flattery is willing to concede some virtues to Jesus to ruin him at another point.

Sometimes the flatterer deceives his victims, amalgamating the victim’s soul with the dark shadows. Sometimes the flatterer deceives himself and the sooty darkness, driven by the howling wind, returns to its origins. When you flatter someone, it’s easy to imagine that you are pulling off the peculiar strangeness of serving another while serving yourself. In actuality, you are lying to them. You are pretending to build them up when you are trying to bring them down.

Maybe you wonder, “What’s the big deal with a little flattery? The things the Pharisees say about Jesus in verse 14 are true. What’s the harm?” The answer is that since flattery is the offspring of deceit, deceit must be its law that limits and modifies all the words that are formed under it. This is why in Matthew 6:7 Jesus critiques those who use the “empty phrases” of “many words” in their prayers that conceal the hypocrisy of their hearts.

When deceitful words go out of your mouth, three things result. First, meaningful words find no place in your heart (John 8:37). Second, you can’t bear to hear the word of Christ (John 8:43). Third, you refuse to obey Christ (John 14:24). When flattery is on your lips, your heart has a hard time hanging onto the words of life. Jesus warned that on the day of judgment, we will give an account for every careless word we speak (Mt. 12:36f). Why? Because “what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart” (Mt. 15:18). When flattery is found on your lips, you are following in the pattern of those whose mission was to ruin Jesus.

We should all be on guard against committing the sin of flattery. A spouse exaggerates their thanks for an expensive gift hoping the excessive gratitude gets them more expensive gifts in the future. A teacher writes recommendation letters for his students and says of each one, “This is the best student I’ve ever taught.” An employee praises their boss’s leadership and accomplishments because they want a raise. A child brown-noses their parents to try to avoid punishment for their bad behavior. Rather than flattering others, we should strive toward affirmation.

Affirmation

A fear of flattering someone should not prevent us from offering sincere words of encouragement that reflect God’s truth about their character, actions, or contributions. Flattery seeks personal gain but encouragement is rooted in truth and a desire to build others up (Eph. 4:29). Encouragement strengthens and uplifts, pointing others toward Christ and His purposes, and it is a vital way to love and edify one another (1 Thess. 5:11).

Rather than criticizing others, complaining about them, or flattering them, we should encourage people in the Lord using affirmation. To affirm others is to build them up in the Lord Jesus Christ. God-centered affirmation refreshes people and honors God. It means recognizing and affirming the character of Christ found in others. Because healthy affirmation is not given independently from Christ, it operates in much greater clearness and a much greater degree of holiness than any praise the world can offer. Christian affirmation not only guards against pride but protects relationships from estrangement, indifference, and resentment. By speaking truth in love, we avoid the pitfalls of flattery while still affirming the good we see in others.

Jason Cherry is an elder at Trinity Reformed Church in Huntsville, Alabama, as well as a teacher and lecturer of literature, history, and economics at Providence Classical School in Huntsville. He graduated from Reformed Theological Seminary with an MA in Religion and is the author of the books The Culture of Conversionism and the History of the Altar Call and The Making of Evangelical Spirituality.