What scriptural connections highlight the importance of truth over falsehood in Matthew 28:15? Setting the Scene in Matthew 28:15 “ So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this report has been spread widely among the Jews to this very day.” The Immediate Contrast: Bought Falsehood vs. Eyewitness Truth • Soldiers: accepted a bribe, knowingly circulated a lie. • Disciples: risked everything to testify to the literal, bodily resurrection they saw (Acts 4:20). • Resulting tension: two competing reports—fabricated deception versus verifiable testimony (1 Corinthians 15:3-8). Old Testament Foundations for Truthfulness • Exodus 20:16 — “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” • Proverbs 12:19 — “Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.” • Psalm 119:160 — “The entirety of Your word is truth, and all Your righteous judgments endure forever.” These verses establish that God’s character demands truthful speech and that lies are short-lived. Jesus as Embodied Truth • John 14:6 — “I am the way and the truth and the life.” • John 18:37 — “For this reason I was born and have come into the world: to testify to the truth.” • John 8:44 — Satan is “a liar and the father of lies.” Matthew 28:15 places the soldiers’ lie squarely in the domain of the enemy, while the resurrection verifies Jesus as Truth incarnate. New Testament Call to Honesty • Ephesians 4:25 — “Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor.” • Colossians 3:9-10 — “Do not lie to one another… put on the new self.” • 1 Peter 3:16 — maintain “a clear conscience” so slander is exposed. The apostles insist that followers of the risen Christ must reflect His truthful nature. Why Truth Matters in the Resurrection Narrative • Credibility of the gospel hinges on historical reality (1 Corinthians 15:14). • God’s plan of redemption is rooted in events “done in a corner” (Acts 26:26) and open to scrutiny. • False reports, like the soldiers’ story, attempt to suppress salvation’s cornerstone. Practical Takeaways for Believers Today • Guard your words—refuse any form of deceit, even when pressured or incentivized. • Stand confidently on the resurrection; it is fact, not fable. • Expose and correct false narratives about Jesus with Scripture-anchored truth. • Let personal integrity reflect the risen Lord, showing a watching world that truth still triumphs over lies. |
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