Sorcery, also known as magic, divination, spell-casting, and witchcraft, is mentioned many times in the Bible. God’s Word makes it clear that sorcery is sinful and forbidden. Here is an overview of what the Bible says about sorcery:
Sorcery is condemned in the Old Testament
In the Old Testament, God commanded the Israelites not to practice sorcery or divination. He considered it an abomination:
“There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord.” (Deuteronomy 18:10-12)
The punishment for sorcery under the Mosaic Law was death:
“A man or a woman who is a medium or a necromancer shall surely be put to death. They shall be stoned with stones; their blood shall be upon them.” (Leviticus 20:27)
God did not want His people to be defiled by the occult practices of the surrounding pagan nations. He commanded them to trust in Him alone and avoid sorcery of any kind.
During the divided kingdom, King Manasseh of Judah practiced various forms of sorcery and led the people astray:
“And he burned his son as an offering and used fortune-telling and omens and dealt with mediums and with necromancers. He did much evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger.” (2 Kings 21:6)
Because of this, God finally judged Judah by sending them into exile.
Sorcery is forbidden in the New Testament
In the New Testament, sorcery is included in lists of sinful acts that flow out of the flesh and prevent people from inheriting the kingdom of God:
“Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:19-21)
Those who practice sorcery cannot repent and receive salvation while continuing in it:
“And many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all.” (Acts 19:18-19)
Sorcery has no place in the life of a Christian. We are to avoid every form of it and trust in God’s sovereign will and power instead.
Examples of sorcery in the Bible
There are various examples of sorcery mentioned in the Bible, including:
- The magicians and sorcerers in Pharaoh’s court who mimicked Moses’ miracles but then acknowledged, “This is the finger of God” (Exodus 8:18-19)
- A sorceress who was consulted by King Saul and summoned the spirit of the dead prophet Samuel, which led to Saul’s downfall (1 Samuel 28)
- Simon the sorcerer, who bewitched the people of Samaria with his magic arts until Philip’s preaching exposed him (Acts 8:9-24)
- Elymas the sorcerer, who opposed Paul and Barnabas but was blinded by the power of God (Acts 13:6-11)
These examples demonstrate that sorcery is real but has no power against God and those who trust in Him. God’s servants exposed the futility of sorcery time and again in victorious encounters.
God condemns sorcery because it involves idolatry and demonic forces
At its core, the problem with sorcery is that it relies on sources of power separate from God. Practitioners of magic look to spirits, astrology, charms, potions, and occult knowledge instead of solely trusting in God’s sovereign authority.
Sorcery often involves idolatry by ascribing power to created things rather than the Creator. It feeds human pride and the desire to control one’s destiny apart from God.
Witchcraft and sorcery also frequently involve invoking demonic forces. Scripture warns us that Satan masquerades as an angel of light and deceives people through sorcery (2 Corinthians 11:14, Revelation 18:23). Demons can perform signs and wonders, but this power is not from God (Matthew 24:24, 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10).
For all these reasons, the Bible condemns sorcery as an abomination. God wants His people to find their sufficiency in Him alone.
God’s people must avoid and oppose sorcery
Based on the clear teachings of Scripture, Christians should have nothing to do with any form of sorcery. Temptation comes in many forms, but we must resist it, regardless of how “harmless” it may seem.
As believers, we have the full counsel of God’s Word to guide us, the Holy Spirit to convict us, and the promise of Christ’s return to purify us.
Rather than turning to counterfeit sources of knowledge and power, we can boldly approach God’s throne to receive mercy and grace to help in our time of need (Hebrews 4:16). We have all we need for life and godliness in His precious promises (2 Peter 1:3-4).
Not only should we avoid sorcery ourselves, but we also have a responsibility to oppose it and expose it as fruitless and dangerous.false As servants of our gracious Savior, we must shine the light of God’s truth into the darkness.
May we cling to Jesus alone while steering clear of all occult practices for the glory of God and the good of our neighbors who need the liberating gospel.
Key Bible passages on sorcery
Here are some key Bible verses that speak against sorcery and witchcraft:
“There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer.” (Deuteronomy 18:10-11)
“Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:19-21)
“Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.” (Revelation 22:15)
“For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry.” (1 Samuel 15:23)
“Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead.” (Deuteronomy 18:10-11)
These and other verses clearly portray sorcery in all its forms as an evil that God’s people must shun. Magic, witchcraft, spiritism, fortune-telling, spell-casting, and the like have no place in the life of Christian faith.
Jesus Christ has complete authority over sorcery and the demonic
As the Son of God, Jesus Christ wields absolute power over satanic forces and magic spells. During His earthly ministry, He displayed this authority by casting out demons and overturning sorcery:
They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones. When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!” Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” (Mark 5:1-9)
Jesus cast the demons out of the man and into a herd of pigs, displaying His mastery over the spiritual forces behind sorcery and magic. Christ has decisively defeated Satan through His death and resurrection (Colossians 2:15).
Believers can take confidence that we serve a sovereign Lord who has supreme power over every principality and spiritual wickedness. Sorcery is no match for the name that is above every name – Jesus Christ!
Sorcery will be judged and destroyed when Christ returns
On that great day when Jesus returns to judge the world, all sorcery and occult practices will be justly condemned and abolished from the earth. The book of Revelation gives us a glimpse of God’s future victory over the demonic deception that fuels magic and witchcraft:
The light of a lamp will never shine in you again. The voice of bridegroom and bride will never be heard in you again. Your merchants were the world’s important people. By your magic spell all the nations were led astray. In her was found the blood of prophets and of God’s holy people, of all who have been slaughtered on the earth. (Revelation 18:23-24)
Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus! Until that day, may we live as children of the light, having no fellowship with witchcraft but instead exposing it as part of this present darkness. Sorcery has no future in God’s kingdom of perfect righteousness and truth.
As we eagerly await Christ’s return, let’s hold fast to the Scriptures and continue building each other up in the faith, leaving no room for mystical deception and godless sorcery.
