Jesus Taught the Truth

Lee

Jesus Taught the Truth

Why God Cannot Err

He knows everything so he can’t be wrong about anything.

  • Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure. (Psalm 147:5)
  • the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! (Romans 11:33)
  • He must act and speak in accord with his unchanging nature (Heb 6:17-18)

Hence, he cannot utter falsehoods.

  • 17 In the same way, when God desired to show even more clearly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it by an oath, 18 so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible that God would prove false, we who have taken refuge might be strongly encouraged to seize the hope set before us. (Hebrews 6:17–18)
  • in the hope of eternal life that God, who never lies, promised before the ages began— (Titus 1:2)
  • Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. (John 17:17)
  • By no means! Although everyone is a liar, let God be proved true, as it is written, “So that you may be justified in your words, and prevail in your judging.” (Romans 3:4)
  • if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself. (2 Timothy 2:13)
  • Moreover the Glory of Israel will not recant or change his mind; for he is not a mortal, that he should change his mind.” (1 Samuel 15:29)
  • 25 Long ago you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. 26 They will perish, but you endure; they will all wear out like a garment. You change them like clothing, and they pass away; 27 but you are the same, and your years have no end. (Psalm 102:25–27)
  • For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, have not perished. (Malachi 3:6)
  • Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. (James 1:17)

Why Jesus Cannot Err

The logical reason

  • God cannot err
  • Jesus is God
  • Since Jesus is God then Jesus can no more err than God

The Theological Reason

  • As God, Jesus knows everything
  • One who knows everything cannot err.
  • Therefore, Jesus cannot err. Note: We err unintentionally because we do not know everything. But God knows everything and as a result, he cannot err.

Moral Reason

  • Jesus is morally perfect
  • A morally perfect being cannot deceive (intentionally err)
  • Therefore, Jesus cannot deceive anyone about what he knows
  • As God, Jesus knows everything
  • Hence, Jesus cannot deceive anyone about anything he teaches.

Problem 1.) Jesus is also human, and humans can err. Response: the fact that Jesus is also human does not mean he erred. As God, he could not err, and as man he could but did not err. Jesus had two natures: on divine (which can’t err) and one human (which didn’t err.)

Problem 2.) Why could not Jesus err as a human but not as God? Response: Because Jesus is only one person, and one and the same person cannot both err and not err in the same utterance.

Accommodation View

The Problem: God is infinite, and man is finite. So, it is argued that in order for God to communicate with human beings he must make some accommodations to human error. Likewise, this theory holds that God had to accommodate himself to our level to become a human being [5 Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, 8 he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:5–8)] Therefore, it would seem that Jesus must accommodate human error in order to speak with human beings.

  • Response:
    • First, just because God must adapt to our finitude does not mean he must accommodate to our error. 
    • Second, he adapts himself by use of partial truths but never accommodates to actual errors.
    • Third, there is a condescension to our limits but there is no compromise with our error.
    • Fourth, anthropomorphisms (speaking of God in human terms) are sometimes employed, but myths are never necessary. We did not follow cunningly devised fables [For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty. (2 Peter 1:16)] For example the stork story is false. Telling children babies come from their mother’s tummies is not the full truth.
    • Fifth, Jesus never accommodated to human error in his teaching.  Jesus’ denunciations of the Pharisees were scarcely accommodating. [16 “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the sanctuary is bound by nothing, but whoever swears by the gold of the sanctuary is bound by the oath.’ 17 You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the sanctuary that has made the gold sacred? 18 And you say, ‘Whoever swears by the altar is bound by nothing, but whoever swears by the gift that is on the altar is bound by the oath.’ 19 How blind you are! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? 20 So whoever swears by the altar, swears by it and by everything on it; 21 and whoever swears by the sanctuary, swears by it and by the one who dwells in it; 22 and whoever swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by the one who is seated upon it. 23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. It is these you ought to have practiced without neglecting the others. 24 You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel! 25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may become clean. 27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which on the outside look beautiful, but inside they are full of the bones of the dead and of all kinds of filth. 28 So you also on the outside look righteous to others, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. 29 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous, 30 and you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ 31 Thus you testify against yourselves that you are descendants of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Fill up, then, the measure of your ancestors. 33 You snakes, you brood of vipers! How can you escape being sentenced to hell? (Matthew 23:16–33)] He made a whip out of cords and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; He scattered the coins of the moneychangers and overturned their tables. [15 Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 He told those who were selling the doves, “Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace!” (John 2:15–16)]His enemies said he had integrity in what he said. [So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality. (Matthew 22:16)] Nothing in the Gospel record indicates that Jesus accommodated to accepted error on any topic.
    • Sixth, Accommodation is contrary to the character of Christ. His closest friends found Him impeccable [And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure. (1 John 3:3) Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. (1 John 4:17) for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:9)] The crowds were amazed at his teaching. [for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes. (Matthew 7:29)] Pilate examined Jesus and could not find any fault in him. [Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no basis for an accusation against this man.” (Luke 23:4)] The Roman soldier crucifying believed Jesus was a righteous man. [When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, “Certainly this man was innocent.” (Luke 23:47)] Jesus was the Son of God and as such could not deceive. [in the hope of eternal life that God, who never lies, promised before the ages began— (Titus 1:2) so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible that God would prove false, we who have taken refuge might be strongly encouraged to seize the hope set before us. (Hebrews 6:18) Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. (John 17:17) By no means! Although everyone is a liar, let God be proved true, as it is written, “So that you may be justified in your words, and prevail in your judging.” (Romans 3:4)]

Objection: To err is human. Jesus was human. Hence, Jesus erred.

  • Response: To err is human does not mean that humans always err. The Bible also says Jesus was human but did not sin [For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15) For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21) but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish. (1 Peter 1:19)]  Just because he could have sinned does not mean he did sin. And because he could have erred does not mean he did err.

Reply to Limitation View

Problem: Jesus was human and as such, he had limitations. He grew in wisdom, but he did not know what was on the fig tree nor did he know the time of His second coming.

  • And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor. (Luke 2:52)
  • 12 On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. 13 Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see whether perhaps he would find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. (Mark 11:12-13)
  • 32 “But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

Hence, it is argued that it is possible he did not know the truth about some of the things he taught.

  • Response: First as a human being, Jesus never taught in areas where he lacked knowledge. He did not know the time of his second coming. Therefore, he never taught anything in that area. Hence, he made no errors. For what he did not know, that he did not teach. Second, when Jesus did affirm anything, he did so with divine authority. So, whatever he taught was absolutely true.
    • 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. (Mt. 11:27)
    • So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own, but I speak these things as the Father instructed me. (John 8:28)
    • Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. (Matthew 24:35)
    • And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. (Matthew 28:18)
    • and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)
    • 26 I have much to say about you and much to condemn; but the one who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.” 27 They did not understand that he was speaking to them about the Father. 28 So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own, but I speak these things as the Father instructed me. (John 8:26–28)
    • The one who rejects me and does not receive my word has a judge; on the last day the word that I have spoken will serve as judge, (John 12:48)

Conclusion: It is evident from these texts that whatever Jesu did teach, He taught with divine authority. That is, He spoke only what the Father told Him to speak, and that Jesus’ words, just like God’s, will never pass away. So even what Jesus taught as a human being, was absolutely true. He not only was the truth, but everything he spoke was the truth. As the Son of God, he could not err. And as the son of Mary he did not err. He was both divine and human, but never erred as either.

  • 17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. (Matthew 5:17–18)
  • Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. (Matthew 24:35)
  • Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)