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“You are a king, then!” said Pilate.

Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

“What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him. 

John 18:37-39 (NIV)

In the verses above Pilate asks Jesus “What is truth?” I’ve often thought was he looking for an answer, was it a rhetorical question or was he being rude?

Digging Deeper

When you have some time, here is some information on Skip Heitzig’s teaching on these passages.

http://skipheitzig.com/teachings_view.asp?ServiceID=4150

Skip Heitzig is a wonderful teacher.  I learn a lot in listening to his lessons and he has broken down the Bible verse by verse.  In summary, Pilate was in a bad position.  He had already had several fights with the Jewish community and now they wanted him to make a ruling about the life of Jesus. Pilate was backed against the wall and the religious leaders knew it.

I’ve always felt sorry for Pilate. In the Bible accounts he seems to me as a pawn, but he is not a nice person.

How Did Jesus Act?

They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are.

Matthew 22:16 (NIV) emphasis mine

This is how Jesus conducted himself. He paid no attention to who the people were. What their title was, their standing in society, or how much money they had. He could see through all that. He says in the verses below that if you hold on to his teachings you know the truth.

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

John 8:32 (NIV)

Stop, Look and Listen

What is truth? We can read the Bible and look for answers.

If we see or hear something and wonder if it is truthful, we can ask for discernment from the Holy Spirit.

But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.

John 16:13 (NIV)

Before we speak, stop and think is it true?

Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.

Psalm 25:5 (NIV)

“But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.”

John 3:21 (NIV)

I wish that Pilate had hung around for Jesus’ answer, but then again, maybe he didn’t want to know. The truth can be a scary thing and sometimes when faced with it, we turn away.

The truth is that God sees our hearts. Ask him to show you the truth in life and cleanse your heart and thoughts.

 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV)