September 19, 2021
Buy the truth, and do not sell it, Also wisdom and instruction and understanding. Proverbs 23:23
Initially, it may sound odd to be commanded to buy the truth. But this term “buy” indicates that there is an exchange going on. The acceptance of a particular truth would imply that it is displacing something that is not true. It is often said that no one “has it all figured out.” But God, who looks upon the heart, knows the attitude and inclination of every heart. Two people who possess the very same information, can be moving in opposite directions: one towards the Lord and one away from Him—and all because of an attitude. Failing to esteem God’s truths renders one vulnerable to counterfeits …
Do not sell it! Beloved, your relationship with God—who loves you supremely—is a target for His enemy, who does not love you. The strategy of the enemy is crafty and subtle. He (the devil) tricks people into worshiping him. The selling of truth would be the acceptance of falsehood in its place. During the first century following the earthly ministry of Jesus, the early church grew because of certain Jews whose hearts were tender towards God. They were willing to allow the teachings of Jesus to remove distortions that had slowly crept in, causing misunderstandings about the character of God. They heard teachings from followers of Christ that were strikingly different from teachings they had heard since childhood.
Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. Acts 17:10-11
The teachings of Jesus confirm the Scriptures, and they serve to provide correction for manmade doctrines and traditions. One of the prevalent misunderstandings among the people of God before the Messiah came the first time had much to do with national greatness and prominence in the place of repentance and sorrow over wrongdoing. This idea of national greatness came to overshadow the greater truth that the gospel message of salvation from sin was to be spread to all peoples.
“I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Genesis 12:2-3