Truthful

Truthfulness (Written by guest writer David Peterson)

Jesus continues His famous Sermon on the Mount with this teaching on being truthful. It is recorded in Matthew 5:33–37:

“Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, ‘YOU SHALL NOT MAKE FALSE VOWS, BUT SHALL FULFILL YOUR VOWS TO THE LORD.’ But I say to you, take no oath at all, neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God, nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, nor by Jerusalem, for it is THE CITY OF THE GREAT KING. Nor shall you take an oath by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black. But make sure your statement is, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; anything beyond these is of evil origin.”

Jesus was not condemning all oaths, but He was condemning the careless use of them. He directs us to speak as if we are always under an oath to tell the truth. In this way, His disciples should live with such integrity that their words are consistently trustworthy and true.

Reverend Billy Graham once wrote:

“Honesty means exactly what it says. We are honest and trustworthy in all our dealings. People can trust our word, because we refuse to lie or shade the truth.”

Graham reminds us that Christian integrity should be marked by this kind of truthfulness.

In 1894, Alfred Arthur Graley wrote the poem “Always Speak the Truth.” The first stanza reads:

Be the matter what it may,

Always speak the truth;

Whether at your work or play,

Always speak the truth.

Never from this rule depart,

Grave it deeply on your heart,

Written ’tis upon your chart:

Always speak the truth.

Graley pleads the case for truthfulness, echoing the command of Jesus.

Let us pray:

Savior and Lord Jesus, teach us to love honesty, truth, and the integrity that comes from dealing with others in truthfulness. Amen.