Therefore each of you must put off falsehood …
Summary: The devil is the master of lies. You might say he is the father of falsehood. Paul is guiding us away from Satan’s influence.
There is an interesting exchange between Jesus and the “Jews who had believed in him” (John 8:31) in John, chapter eight. The Jews and Jesus are arguing about whether or not the Jews are really the descendants of Abraham. The underlying question is “Who is your dad?” Jesus bluntly says that their “father” is the devil. (Ouch!)
Then Jesus explains who the devil is and why he says the Jews are like him: “When he (the devil) lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44) When Paul tells us to “put off falsehood,” he is effectively saying, “put off the devil!” Don’t hang around with the “father of lies” because you’ll pick up his bad habits.
To be fair, there is a condition on Paul’s statement. He is talking about falsehoods between members of the body of Christ. He does not tell us to naively blurt out whatever is true to anyone who happens to be around.
Jesus gives us a couple of interesting examples.
In the first example, his disciples ask him, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” (Matthew 13:10) Jesus responds by quoting Isaiah 6:9-10. Isaiah describes Israel as a people who “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.”
Speaking plain truth to such people is asking for trouble. Jesus had plenty of that as it was. When his time came to be crucified, he spoke plainly. Up until that time, he had talked in parables.
Another time, just before his final visit to Jerusalem, Jesus’ brother mocks him as someone looking for attention. When he tells Jesus to go to the Passover festival so he can “show [him]self to the world.” (John 7:4) Jesus’ response is interesting. He says: “You go to the festival. I am not going up to this festival, because my time has not yet fully come.” Later, he does go to the festival (John 7:14).
Did he tell a falsehood?
Some translations add the word “yet,” as in “I am not going yet…” but it is not clear in the original text that this was intended.
So what is Jesus doing?
Twice while Jesus is in Jerusalem before being crucified, he hides himself (John 8:59, 12:36). The world is not the friend of God. This is why Jesus teaches us to “… be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” (Matthew 10:16)
So what is the distinction here?
There is clearly a difference between lying to deceive and being guarded in what we say. Being guarded in what we say is using a parable to convey the truth rather than bluntly telling someone. Being guarded avoids the trap of being manipulated into doing something that is not the right thing at the right time, as we see with Jesus and his brother. Lying to deceive is a form of manipulation for personal gain.
Application: Be shrewd and innocent. Do not lie to deceive.
Food for Thought: What do we give up when we put off falsehood?
When we put off falsehood we are saying no to sin and rebellion and yes to Jesus. We are saying that our sinful habits and manipulation to deal with situations will be sacrificed at the altar where we kneel in submission to a righteous Lord.
Hi Rich!
Nice to have you back!! (I’d be lying if I said anything different! 🙂 )
07-15-2023, What do we give up when we put off falsehood?
It is increasingly common for people to call themselves Christians and yet not believe that the Bible is true and without error, even though Scripture refers to itself as true, perfect, inspired, and eternal.
John 17:17, Ps 19:7, 2 Tim 3:16, 1 Peter 1:23
We must live in the process of giving up everything we have previously placed value in over our true relationship with God through Jesus Christ. We give up a place at the table with liars, thieves, perversion, our life according to the standards of this evil of world.
Mathew16:24, 19:29, Proverbs 3:5-6
The belt of truth holds the full armor of God together and represents our total commitment and zeal for Christ, and His protection as provided by the full armor of God which we must learn to live in.
Ephesians 4:25-28, 6:13-17
Ron,
You point us to a key for having a happy church family!
If one gives birth to falsehood one is bound to it in fear and must watch it grow until it destroys life inside and life in others.
Giving up falsehood means both not creating new falsehood and redemption of old falsehood.
Proverbs 29:25 The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.
Psalm 7:14 Behold, the wicked man conceives evil and is pregnant with mischief and gives birth to lies.
John 8:31-32 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Galatians 5:1 “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”
Most importantly, falsehood is a barrier in our relationship with Jesus and God.
Psalm 101:7
No one who practices deceit
shall dwell in my house;
no one who utters lies
shall continue before my eyes.
Thanks Chris!
That’s like giving up being sick all the time.