John 18:32-38 “What Is Truth?” 1
John 18:32-38 “31 Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death: 32 That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying what death he should die. 33 Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews? 34 Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me? 35 Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done? 36 Jesus answered, 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. 37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, 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. 38 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all” 2
Introduction Pilate found himself in the middle of a controversy between the Jews and Jesus He replied to the Jews asking… What Jesus was accused of Making Himself the Son God - Luke 23:2-33 Judge Jesus according to your law They said the could not put a man to death - vs. 31 Pilate asked Jesus… “Art thou the King of the Jews?” - vs. 33 “…what hast thou done” - vs. 35 Jesus replied by emphasizing “truth” and said - “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.” “What is truth?” - vs. 38. We will let God’s word answer this question! 3
“What is Truth?” The Bible clearly answers this as did Jesus! - vs. 37 “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” John 17:17 “And now, O Lord GOD, thou art that God, and thy words be true, and thou hast promised this goodness unto thy servant” 2 Samuel 7:28 “Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth” - Psalms 119:142 “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever” - 1 Peter 1:
Truth cannot be determined by what seems right! “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” - Proverbs 14:12 Naaman - 2 Kings 5:1-12 Saul of Tarsus - Acts 26:9-12; 1 Timothy 1:12-13 We cannot trust our hearts alone! Self deception is possible - Galatians 6:3; Romans 12:3;James 1:26 Suppositions may be tragically wrong! Luke 2:44; Acts 16:27; John 20:15; 1 Timothy 6:3-5. Is Truth Determined by Imagination? 5
Is Truth Determined by Accommodation? Many think truth must accommodate existing conditions! Acts 19:25-28 True on some subjects such as: The work of the church, Salvation, Marriage Truth must determine situations - not situations determining truth Many think truth must accommodate existing thinking! This is formed by following longstanding traditions - Matthew 15:9 Colossians 2:18-22; Titus 1:14 Formed by relying on emotions rather than facts - Acts 21:27-40; 22:22-23 Formed by relying on “political correctness” - John 12:
The Truth Came by Divine Revelation? God’s word is truth! John 17:17; Psalms 119:89,160; John 14:6 The Holy Spirit Guided the Apostles into ALL truth! John 14:26; 15:26; 16:13 We can read what they wrote - Ephesians 3:1-5 We believe through their word - John 17:20 We must search the scriptures for the truth! Acts 17:11; John 5:39 We must let God be true and men liars! 1 John 1:6; Romans 3:4. 7
Conclusion May we seek truth at any cost - buy it and sell it not! Proverbs - 23:23 Let us love the truth above all else! 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 Let us determine the truth by the facts! Let us ask… “What saith the scripture?” 8