When Jesus was in the judgment hall of Pilate, He was asked a number of questions by Pilate. For example, in John 18:33 Pilate asked Jesus, “Art thou the King of the Jews?” Jesus replied, “Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me?” (vs. 34). Then, Pilate replied by saying, “Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?” (vs. 35). To which Jesus replied in verse 36 by saying, “My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.” Pilate then asked in verse 37, “Art thou a king then?” and Jesus said, “Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice” (vs. 37). Finally, Pilate asked  “What is truth?” and then Pilate exclaimed to the Jews, “I find in him no fault at all.” (vs. 38).

There are varying conclusions made by Bible commentators on this section of scripture and the intent of Pilate’s question to Jesus, “What is truth?” Some comment that Pilate may have asked this question to mock Jesus and his walking out just after asking this question was and indication that he did not ask this question with the intention of seeking an answer. Regardless of Pilate’s intention in asking this question, the Bible clearly answers this question in a manifold way! So, “What is truth?”

(1) The Truth is the Word of God! Jesus told His disciples, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” (Jn. 17:17). The word of God found in God’s book, the Bible, is the Truth! Since God is our creator and we are created in His image, he has give us an “owners manual” so to speak. It tells us of the history of man, our mission here on earth and what our future will be! This manual, the Bible, tells us all we need to know to guide us through this life with all its hazards and the varied trials we will face! This is evident by simple statements of inspired men of old–Jeremiah wrote, “O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps” (Jer. 10:23). The Psalmist said, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Ps. 119:105). The wisdom writer wrote, “For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life” (Prov. 6:23). Yes, God’s word gives us ample instructions for this life! But more importantly, it tells us how to prepare for the life to come–eternity! Paul wrote, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad” (2 Cor. 5:10).

(2) The Truth is “settled in Heaven!”  The Psalmist wrote, “For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven” (Psa. 119:89). Jesus said “... and the scripture cannot be broken” (Jn. 10:35). Unlike writings of men, which are frequently revised and altered, the Truth cannot be changed or altered; it is forever binding. If it is changed or altered, then it is perverted and not the truth. Throughout the ages of time, evil men who reject the Truth have made failed attempts to change it. They have added, subtracted, perverted, rejected, and denied the Truth of God’s word! But they will meet their doom on the last great day (Rev. 22:19-19; Duet. 4:2, 12:32; Prov. 30:6)!

Attempts at perverting the Truth begin in the garden of Eden–“And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Gen. 2:16-17). The serpent added one little three letter word and perverted the command of the Lord, telling the woman, “...Ye shall not surely die” (Gen. 3:4). The Bible tells us that the warning of the Lord was the Truth–“And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died” (Gen. 5:5, emphasis mine). No, Adam and Eve did not become sick and die in the sense of the forbidden fruit being poisonous like one would become sick and die after eating a death cap mushroom or rat poison. After eating, they were able to know good and evil and felt the guilt of their actions and tried to hide themselves from God in the midst of the garden. Even though the Serpent deceived Adam and Eve, they suffered the consequences that God said would come! For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.”

(3) The Truth cuts to the heart; it pierces and divides! On Pentecost, the Jews were smitten in the heart (mind) when Peter and the apostles declared, “Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain...Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:22-23, 36). The reaction of the Jews to the Truth is stated in vs. 38– “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Peter then commanded “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Act 2:38).

Concerning this nature of the Truth, the Hebrew writer wrote, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Heb. 4:12). The Divine Truth is able to reveal the deepest, darkest, inner feelings and thoughts of man, often which are in conflict with the Truth, and exposes them for what they really are–sin! This is exactly why the prophets of old, Jesus, Steven, the apostles and Godly men of all ages have be persecuted and slain (2 Chron. 36:16; Matt. 23:34-37; Acts 3:17; 7:51-53; 1 Thess. 2:15)!

(4) The Truth Terrifies! When Paul was before Felix and Drusilla, “...as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee” (Acts 24:25). Felix had every reason to tremble! Religious historians tell us that Felix and Drusilla were living in adultery. When Paul discussed “righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come” the Truth evidently frightened Felix causing him to tremble. Felix could have pardoned Paul, but Paul was more interested in the souls of Felix and Drusilla than his own release. Paul did not hem-haw, he did not avoid seizing the opportunity to instruct Felix and Drusilla. He did not compromise or gloss over and sugar coat the Truth as many religionist and some compromising “gospel preachers” do. Rather, Paul declared “all the counsel of God” (Acts 20:20, 27). No one who promotes, condones adultery or lives in adultery, as were Felix and Drusilla, will be judged to be righteous in the last great day (Heb. 13:4; 1 Cor. 6:9-10; Gal. 5:19-21; Eph. 5:5; 1 Tim. 1:9; Rev. 21:8; 22:15).

(5) The Truth Frees! Jesus told his disciples, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (Jn. 8:32). Paul wrote at length about the freeing power of the Truth! Said he, “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace” (Rom. 6:14). Paul further explained, “But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.” (Rom. 6:17-20). The “form of doctrine” is the pattern or mold of the gospel of Christ. This is a transformation–from sinner to saint, from serving sin to serving God, from damnation to salvation; made possible by obedience to the Gospel, thereby freeing them from the law of sin and death (Rom. 8:2; 12:2). James called the Truth or the gospel of Christ “the perfect law of liberty” (Jas. 1:25; 2:12). It breaks the sinner free from the guilt and power of sin and it freed the Jews from commands and ordinances of the law of Moses, which could not take away sins (Heb. 10:1-10; Gal. 5:1-4). The Truth is powerful and enlightening, freeing mortal man from the doom of sin and darkness; and Paul called it the “the power of God unto salvation to everyone that beliveth...” (Rom. 1:16; cf. Acts 26:18; Col. 1:12-13)!

(6) The Truth is Understandable! Many have the idea that we cannot know the Truth. The Catholic church would have one to believe that you cannot understand the Bible unless a priest explains it to you. Some of my own brethren have said that the Bible “lacks clarity” on some controversial subjects! The Bible refutes this false notion! Jesus told his disciples,  “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (Jn. 8:32). He reminded them that, “Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you” (Jn. 15:3). Also, he said, “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me” (Jn. 6:44-45). Notice the words underlined in verse 45–“taught, heard, learned, cometh.” Those who come to Jesus by answering the gospel call (2 Thess. 2:14), have been taught and they heard, they learned and then answered (obeyed) this call, because they could understand the message!

Paul taught the Ephesians that God’s word could be understood! Said Paul, “Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is” (Eph. 5:17). In chapter 3 Paul wrote, “For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit” (Eph. 3:1-5).

Peter stated that some things were hard to understand–“As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction” (2 Pet. 3:16). Notice that he did not say that it was impossible to understand the hard things. Peter tells why it was hard for some to understand some things–the reason given is that they were “unlearned and unstable” and therefore “wrest (twist) as the do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction” (2 Pet. 3:16). Have you ever known of those who twist such scriptures as Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:38; 1 Peter 3:21 that command water baptism for the remissions of sins? Have you ever known of those who try to twist and pervert the teaching of Jesus on divorce and remarriage found in Matthew 19:9 by adding additional exceptions to the one and only one exception Jesus made–that one can put away their unfaithful mate and marry again without committing adultery “except it be for fornication” or for the cause of fornication on the part of their mate! These scriptures can be understood, but are often resisted, twisted and perverted to the destruct of those who refuse to accept, teach and obey the Truth! Dear reader, believe the text of scripture!

(7) Finally, the Truth will Judge All Men of All Ages! Since thy word of God is the Truth, as proclaimed by Jesus in John 17:17, all will be judged by it, Paul wrote, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad” (2 Cor. 5:10). Christ will be the righteousness judge and jury of every man (Acts 17:31). Jesus said in John 12:48, “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.” In John 5:24-25 Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. Only those who are obedient to “the word of the truth of the gospel” will obtain the heavenly hope (Col. 1:5; cf. Eph. 4:4; 2 Tim. 4:8; 1 Pet. 1:3-4).

Sadly, many have a false hope! A “hope” that will never happen, but will end in eternal damnation by God. Paul encouraged the Thessalonians to remain faithful, even though they would suffer persecution. But, he also spoke of the doom and destruction coming to any and all who do not obey the Truth–“And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power (2 Thess. 1:7-9).

If you have not answered the gospel call by hearing God’s word (Rom. 10:17), by believing the Gospel message (Jn. 5:24), by repenting of your of your sins (Lk. 13:3, 5; Acts 17:30), by confessing that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God (Acts 8:37), by being baptized in the “in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:28; cf. Gal. 3:26-28; 1 Pet. 3:21), and living faithfully according to the will of God “unto death” (Rev. 2:10b), then you cannot have the hope that the apostles spoke of and promised to the faithful (Heb. 13:4; 1 Cor. 6:9; Rev. 21:8)!

There are numerous points that could be mentioned but this short article must be brought to and end. Remember, if and only if  you obey the “the word of the truth of the gospel” can you have the heavenly hope (Col. 1:5). Heed the words of the apostle Peter who exclaimed to Cornelius and his house, “...In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. ‘But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him’” (Acts 10:34-35-NKJV). Hear, believe and obey the Truth, the word of God; not the words of men (Acts 5:29)! - tgmc