Proverbs 23:23 Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding. When the wise man counselled his pupil to "buy the truth," he had the whole range of truth before his mind: truth in history, in science, in social economics, in morals, and in religion. It is a slander that revelation, or the religion which accepts revelation as its guide, seeks the shade of ignorance and demands to lead its devotees blindfolded through the universe. Revelation demands light, and ever more light. The words of the text are a warrant for all investigation that has truth for its object. But it more especially refers to moral and religious truth. I. THE TRUTH IS AN EMINENTLY DESIRABLE POSSESSION. Truth is capable of becoming much more intimately and inseparably the possession of a man than any of those things which men usually call their possessions. The truth bought secures to men the great end of all possessions — blessedness. The truth restores conscience to an active and undisputed sovereignty, harmonises the will and the reason, and casts out the foreign elements which have disturbed the movements of the inner life. II. IT IS OUR DUTY TO SECURE THE TRUTH AS OUR POSSESSION. "Buy." Do not stand chaffering about it; promptly make it your own. 1. We must go in quest of it. A man must be assiduous, painstaking, persevering in his search. And he must be cautious. 2. We must approach Truth, and live with her, trustfully. The intellect may assent, while the soul remains sceptical, and stands aloof. 3. The truth must be obeyed. She enters the soul as a queen. She demands to dictate every action, to shape every plan, to control every feeling. There is, perhaps, no utterly conclusive evidence of what is strictly moral or religious truth, but that of the inward witness, which speaks in the soul of the man who is living in the truth; that is, cordially and spontaneously obeying it. 4. We must be ready to make sacrifice for the truth. Prejudices must be sacrificed. Tastes, appetites, and passions, which the truth cannot sanction, must be sacrificed. If we are to get and hold the truth we must search, trust, obey, and make sacrifice. (Alex. Hannay, D.D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.WEB: Buy the truth, and don't sell it. Get wisdom, discipline, and understanding. |
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