The Importance of Knowing the Truth

Saturday, May 04, 2019

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.”

Matthew 15:12–14

The greatest resistance Jesus faced during His ministry was not from the Romans who ruled Israel or from the common people who gladly received His teaching. Instead it was from those who considered themselves the guardians of the truth. The Pharisees prided themselves on strict adherence to the law of Moses. But in fact they had elevated their own tradition above what God had said, and as a result were walking in darkness rather than light. They did not realize their lack of understanding and were offended when Jesus pointed it out to them. This blind spot had a tragic impact on those they were leading.

Charles Spurgeon said, “We must first obtain for ourselves an understanding of the way of the Lord’s precepts before we can make it plain to others. He who tries to teach, but has never been taught himself, will make a sorry mess of it. He who has no understanding, and yet wants to make others understand, must assuredly fail.”

All of us are teachers in some capacity, whether or not we hold a formal instructional position. We teach our children and grandchildren, our friends and coworkers, our neighbors and fellow church members. Every day we are setting a good example or a bad one. The important thing for us to remember is that we are responsible for our impact on others. If we guide them rightly, there will be blessing, but if we guide them astray, there will be judgment. James warned, “My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation” (James 3:1).

Today's Growth Principle: 

We must know the truth and walk in it to ensure our impact on others is a positive one.