“Do not trust in these deceptive words: ‘This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord.’”
—Jeremiah 7:4
“But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.”
—Luke 6:35
“For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.”
—John 13:15
“Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.”
—John 17:17
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
—Philippians 4:8
Many seemingly-complicated questions come down to a single choice about what to honor, prioritize, and seek: advantage or truth.
The serpent in the garden took advantage of Eve, saying to her words that were not guided by truth, but by the desire to influence her actions. Ahab tried to take advantage of Jehoshaphat's presence against Syria at Ramoth-Gilead. He wanted Jehoshaphat to enter the battle dressed as a king, while he planned to appear only in disguise. The Syrians, who planned to target their attack on the king of Israel, would be deceived into attacking Jehoshaphat instead of Ahab. All manner of deceit and self-serving behavior was in the air, including the false prophets who—unlike Micaiah—said whatever the king wanted to hear.
David pondered poetically who would be acceptable to dwell with the Lord. But the answers in that song are not abstract figures of speech, they are concrete behaviors. And truth appears twice. Speaking truth in the heart implies that it is not mere lip-service, but heart-felt attachment to truth. A few lines later, the song makes clear that this loyalty to truth is even willing to pay a price. Telling the truth even when it costs to do so is exactly the opposite of deception that only seeks advantage.
The great psalm that praises the Lord's instruction anticipated a statement that Jesus prayed in the upper room: the Lord's word is truth. The Word that came to us is Way, Truth, and Life, the truth that provides freedom.
Truth
O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent?
Who shall dwell on your holy hill?
He who walks blamelessly and does what is right
and speaks truth in his heart
...
who swears to his own hurt and does not change
—Psalm 15:1-2, 4b
The sum of your word is truth
—Psalm 119:160a
“Do not trust in these deceptive words: ‘This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord.’”
—Jeremiah 7:4
“But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.”
—Luke 6:35
“For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.”
—John 13:15
“Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.”
—John 17:17
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
—Philippians 4:8
Many seemingly-complicated questions come down to a single choice about what to honor, prioritize, and seek: advantage or truth.
The serpent in the garden took advantage of Eve, saying to her words that were not guided by truth, but by the desire to influence her actions. Ahab tried to take advantage of Jehoshaphat's presence against Syria at Ramoth-Gilead. He wanted Jehoshaphat to enter the battle dressed as a king, while he planned to appear only in disguise. The Syrians, who planned to target their attack on the king of Israel, would be deceived into attacking Jehoshaphat instead of Ahab. All manner of deceit and self-serving behavior was in the air, including the false prophets who—unlike Micaiah—said whatever the king wanted to hear.
David pondered poetically who would be acceptable to dwell with the Lord. But the answers in that song are not abstract figures of speech, they are concrete behaviors. And truth appears twice. Speaking truth in the heart implies that it is not mere lip-service, but heart-felt attachment to truth. A few lines later, the song makes clear that this loyalty to truth is even willing to pay a price. Telling the truth even when it costs to do so is exactly the opposite of deception that only seeks advantage.
The great psalm that praises the Lord's instruction anticipated a statement that Jesus prayed in the upper room: the Lord's word is truth. The Word that came to us is Way, Truth, and Life, the truth that provides freedom.
And He calls His children to follow His example.