What Does the Bible Say About Truth?

Many people wonder what the Bible has to say about truth. Truth is authenticity and the opposite of lying. Truth has many benefits, including freeing you from the power of sin. God's people have a responsibility to speak the truth, even when others don't want to hear the truth. You should always speak the truth in love. Suppressing the truth can incur the wrath of God.

Identification

Truth is authenticity. God wants people to be truthful about how they are feeling and what they are thinking. In return, God is truthful about who He is and what people need to do in order to lead a better life. God wants people to speak the truth from their hearts (Psalm 15:2). God wants you to be truthful from the inner parts of your heart (Psalm 51:6). Walking in truth is the key to repairing a divided heart (Psalm 86:11).

Significance

The Bible says that truth is very important to God. God wants you to love truth and peace (Zechariah 8:19). Truth goes hand in hand with "wisdom, discipline and understanding" (Proverbs 23:23). God commands people to "Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts" (Zechariah 8:16). The Bible says that the way to choose truth is to set your heart on God's laws (Psalm 119:30). We must follow God's laws to find truth.

Considerations

Telling the truth is not always easy. In fact, telling the truth often means telling people something that they do not want to hear. However, truth is what sets people free (John 8:31), so you need to tell people the truth, whether they want to hear it or not. You should always tell the truth in a loving way (Ephesians 4:15). Jesus provided an example, saying the phrase, "I tell you the truth" around 25 times in the Bible as he shared many truths that people did not want to hear.

Benefits

The Bible says that truth offers people many benefits. Truth can protect you (Psalm 40:11). Truth can guide and lead you to God (Psalm 43:3). Truth can guide and teach you, bringing you to hope in God (Psalm 25:5). Truth has the power to set you free from the bondage of sin (John 8:31). The Bible even says that God is near to those who call on Him in truth (Psalm 145:18).

Warning

Failing to tell the truth can lead people astray. The Bible says that some people were lead astray from God as a result of others distorting the truth (Acts 20:30). Man's wickedness can suppress the truth and result in incurring the wrath of God (Romans 1:18-19). The Bible says in Romans 2:8 that "... for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger."

Resources

• Truth will set you free