Making Truth a Commodity
Jesus was brought to Pilate for judgment by the chief priests and the people. The course and outcome of this assembly though foreordained by God nonetheless reveals the willingness of men to sell the truth for gain.
The chief priests wanted Jesus dead, so they lied about his teaching or doctrine. They asserted to Pilate that Jesus was “forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King” (Luke 23:2). This was a lie for the Lord declared plainly “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s” (Matthew 22:21). These men were the spiritual leaders in Israel, yet they held not the truth in their hearts. They schemed and plotted to deliver Jesus to the Romans that he might be put to death. Even Pilate “knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy” (Mark 15:10).
Pilate was just as guilty in this matter as the chief priests and the people. Pilate feared the loss of his position before Rome. The Jews threatened “If thou let this man [Jesus] go, thou art not Caesar’s friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar” (John 19:12). So to maintain peace with the people, Pilate “delivered he him [Jesus] unto them to be crucified” (John 19:16).
Truth was valued cheaply in that day. It was nothing more than a commodity to be traded to secure something more desirable. The chief priests envied Christ and sought to eliminate him as a threat. Pilate feared disfavor with Rome and perverted judgment to safeguard his position. How tragic for them was their contempt for the truth. God was not deceived as King David himself learned many years prior.
David had committed adultery with Bathsheba and sought to hide his sin by arranging the murder of her husband in battle. But God, who sees all, sent Nathan the prophet to confront him with his sin. David testified in repentance “thou desirest truth in the inward parts” (Psalm 51:6).
Truth is essential to a right relationship with God. The Psalmist records, “Lord, who shall abide in the tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart” (Psalm 15:1-2; emphasis added). Jesus told the Samaritan woman, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24; emphasis added). When we surrender truth in exchange for anything, we reveal to ourselves and others the value we place on our relationship with God. Ask yourself, “What is worth more to me than my relationship to Christ?”
Randy Livingston serves as a chaplain for a local police department. He writes devotionals for his ministry which also appear at his blog, From the Chaplain. We republish this post by permission.