Pilate's Question

John 18:37–38 NASB95

37 Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” 38 Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and said to them, “I find no guilt in Him.

What is truth?

Psalm 119:142 NASB95

142 Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, And Your law is truth.

John 17:17 NASB95

17 “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.

John 14:6 NASB95

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

Truth: Conformity to fact or reality; exact accordance with that which is, or has been, or shall be. 2. True state of facts or things. The duty of a court of justice is to discover the truth. Witnesses are sworn to declare the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

Things associated with truth

Dependability, Truthfulness, Uprightness of character, Trustworthy, Genuine or valid, Opposed to falsehood

Examples of truth

Hebrews 9:27 NASB95

27 And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment,

Proverbs 14:12 NASB95

12 There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.

1 Corinthians 6:9–10 NASB95

9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.

Romans 5:6–9 NASB95

6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.

Why is truth important?

Psalm 15:1–2 NASB95

1 O Lord, who may abide in Your tent? Who may dwell on Your holy hill? 2 He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, And speaks truth in his heart.

Exodus 18:21 NASB95

21 “Furthermore, you shall select out of all the people able men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens.

Hebrews 10:26–27 NASB95

26 For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries.

John 8:31–32 NASB95

31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

What is half truth?

John 4:16–18 NASB95

16 He said to her, “Go, call your husband and come here.” 17 The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You have correctly said, ‘I have no husband’; 18 for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; this you have said truly.”

How is truth rejected?

Galatians 4:16 NASB95

16 So have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?

Galatians 5:7 NASB95

7 You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth?

What happens when truth is rejected?

Isaiah 59:14–15 NASB95

14 Justice is turned back, And righteousness stands far away; For truth has stumbled in the street, And uprightness cannot enter. 15 Yes, truth is lacking; And he who turns aside from evil makes himself a prey. Now the Lord saw, And it was displeasing in His sight that there was no justice.

Jeremiah 5:1 NASB95

1 “Roam to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, And look now and take note. And seek in her open squares, If you can find a man, If there is one who does justice, who seeks truth, Then I will pardon her.

Romans 1:18 NASB95

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,

Romans 1:25 NASB95

25 For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

2 Timothy 4:3–4 NASB95

3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.

So how should we handle truth?

Proverbs 23:23 NASB95

23 Buy truth, and do not sell it, Get wisdom and instruction and understanding.

John 3:21 NASB95

21 “But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”

Ephesians 6:14 NASB95

14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

2 Timothy 2:15 NASB95

15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.