BUY THE TRUTH AND SELL IT NOT
Proverbs 23:23
INTRODUCTION
A. All truth is God’s truth, whether scientific, philosophical, historical, political, or theological.
1. Some truths are self-evident.
2. Some truths are elusive.
2. Some “truths” are falsified—alternate facts.
3. Some “truths” are figments— “My truth, your truth.”
B. When Solomon said, “Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding,” he may have had more than revealed truth in mind, for he said, “I the Preacher have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven” (Eccl 1:12-13).
C. As we seek to understand and apply truth, our search will be anchored in the Holy Scriptures. However, as they touch every facet of life, we may make applications from all disciplines.
D. We will explore the passage in two sermons:
1. We shall explore three truths about truth: One, there is absolute truth. Two, we can know the truth. Three, grasping truth requires diligent effort.
2. In the second sermon, we will explore six ways we may sell the truth.
I. THERE IS ABSOLUTE TRUTH
A. The statement is made that “Truth is absolute and attainable.”
1. We must, however, be cautious that this truth does not become a pharisaic boast: “I (and all who agree with me) have absolutely attained all absolute truth.”
a. The pharisaic mindset is displayed in John 8:31-33.
a. Jesus rebukes this mindset in Matthew 23:1-12.
b. Paul did the same in Romans 2:17-24.
2. Be this As it may, the truth still stands: If we abide in Christ’s word, we are truly his disciples, and we will know the truth, and then truth will set us free (John 8:32)
B. This brings us to our second proposition:
II. WE CAN KNOW THE TRUTH
A. Speaking to the apostles, Jesus said, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you” (John 16:12-14).
B. The apostolic credentials were also given to the apostle to the Gentiles (Gal 1:11-17)
C. Peter affirms that Paul’s writings are Scripture (2 Pet 3:15-17).
D. In the revelation of Jesus that was given to John to pass on to Jesus’ servants (Rev 1:1), he warned about adding to or subtracting from revelation (Rev 22:18- 19).
E. It is unreasonable to believe that this warning is less true for the rest of the “all truth” given by the Holy Spirit. If there is any doubt, hear Paul (Gal 1:6-9).
F. To suggest that the Holy Spirit could not reveal the mind of God to the disciples of Christ in an understandable form is to limit God, not man.
G. On the other hand to simplify the Scriptures into pablum is to deny clear declarations of Scripture.
1. Hear Peter again as he speaks of Paul’s writings: “There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures” (2 Pet 3:16).
2. There is both meat and milk in the word of God (Heb 5:11-13).
H. This brings us to our third point:
III. GRASPING THE TRUTH DEMANDS DILIGENCE
A. When Solomon said, “Buy the truth,” he was not suggesting that the truth was a commodity that could be bought and sold in the marketplace of ideas.
B. Through Isaiah, God invites the hungry to buy without money (55:1-3)
C. We may understand the high cost of that which is free by analogy: When gold was discovered in California and later in Alaska, thousands flocked to the gold fields to dig for gold, which was free, but very costly in time, energy, and sometimes life or limb. So it is with the truth.
1. Jesus used a similar analogy (Matt 13:44).
2. Paul urged Timothy: “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a worker who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth” (2 Tim 2:15)
3. Paul also commended Timothy (2 Tim 3:10-17).
4. The following are named in the New Testament as having died for the truth: John the Baptist, Stephen, James, and the brother of John.
5. Although they are not named, Paul said that he had persecuted “the Way to death (Acts 22:4).
6. When the fifth seal of Revelation was opened, the souls of the martyred cry out, “How long,” and they were told that many more martyrs would follow (Rev 6:9-11).
7. From the time John laid down his pen until today, believers have continued to die for their faith.
D. When we tie all these truths together, it becomes clear that gems of truth and food for the soul come to those who are willing to pay the price of diligent study.
1. This does not mean that we must all become scholars (Jam 3:1).
2. We should all be eager eaters (1 Pet 2:2).
2. We should test all “truths” by Scripture (Acts 17:11).
CONCLUSION
A. Truth is priceless; seek it and never sell it.
B. “The sum of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous judgments is everlasting” (Psa 119:160, NASB)
