Does Everyone Deserve the Truth?
Explore biblical ethics from three separate Old Testament episodes
The familiar courtroom formula, ‘I swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me God,’ expresses a serious moral ideal. But what if telling the whole truth enables someone to commit great evil?
Samuel’s story
This uncomfortable question stands behind one of the strangest moments, at least to the modern Christian reader, in Samuel’s story. After Saul is rejected as king, God tells Samuel to go to Bethlehem and anoint one of Jesse’s sons. Samuel immediately sees the danger: “How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me” (1 Sam 16:2). God’s answer is remarkable. Samuel is told to take a heifer and say: “I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.”
That is true. Samuel really does sacrifice. But it is not the whole reason he is going. His actual mission is politically explosive: he is going to anoint the man who will replace Saul. God does not tell Samuel to lie. He instructs him to announce a real sacrifice, while the anointing of Jesse’s chosen son remains undisclosed.
Moses’ story
Does truthfulness always require full disclosure? Exodus 1 raises the same question even more sharply. Pharaoh orders the Hebrew midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, to kill newborn Hebrew boys. They refuse. When Pharaoh questions them, they explain that the Hebrew women give birth before the midwives arrive (Exod 1:19). The text does not pause to condemn them. Instead, it tells us that the midwives “feared God” and that God dealt well with them (Exod 1:17, 20–21).
Perhaps the real ethical issue is not simply whether Pharaoh received all the facts. Perhaps the question is whether Pharaoh had any moral right to information that would help him murder children.
Rahab’s story
Rahab pushes the issue further. When the king of Jericho sends men to seize the Israelite spies, Rahab hides them on her roof and tells the king’s agents that they have already left the city (Josh 2:4–6). This is not merely silence. It is deliberate misdirection. Yet later Scripture remembers Rahab as a woman of faith. Hebrews praises her for receiving the spies (Heb 11:31), and James points specifically to the way she protected and sent them out another way (Jas 2:25).
Why? Because the men demanding the truth intended to use it against those she was protecting. The pattern is striking. Samuel faces a king who may kill him. The midwives face a king who is murdering infants. Rahab faces authorities seeking to seize the spies in order to torture them and kill them. In every case, complete transparency would place truth in the service of murderous violence.
Jesus’ story
In the very place, Bethlehem, where Samuel anoints David, Jesse’s youngest son, Jesus, David’s descendant, is born. He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life…” He helps us see the issue more clearly. For example, in John we read:
“…Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people…” (John 2:24).
More importantly, when His enemies are seeking to kill Him, He travels to Jerusalem “not publicly but in private/incognito” (John 7:10). When hostile leaders demand answers designed to trap Him, He sometimes answers with another question (Matt 21:23–27) instead of providing the information they were seeking. Before Herod, He refuses to answer at all (Luke 23:8–9). Then He tells His disciples:
“Be wise as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matt 10:16).
The context is again persecution. Jesus’ actions and words teach wisdom in the presence of evil. Scripture condemns falsehood, manipulation, fraud, and deceit for personal advantage. But these passages suggest that truthfulness is not identical to giving every person every fact they demand or expect. This is especially true when a person’s life is in danger.
Conclusion
Do we owe the truth to God and to people?
Yes.
Are there circumstances in which the “whole truth” is better not to be revealed?
Certainly.
More importantly, do we owe it to violent criminals? Absolutely not.
Truthfulness is a virtue, but it was never meant to be a weapon in the hands of the wicked. The three Old Testament stories are just a few examples of many more that we could have covered. We owe God and our neighbor honesty, but we owe nothing to those who would use truth to destroy the innocent.
Comments (15)
I really enjoyed this article, Dr. Eli. This issue of always being truthful has been a burden on my conscience my whole life. I dreaded betraying God.
Then I read that "The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, They have done abominable works, There is none who does good." (Ps 14:1) As I studied scripture further, it finally dawned on me that I did not have to "answer a fool according to his folly, lest I become like him; but I could also answer answer a fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes". (Paraphrase of Pr 26:4 - 5)
I now do my best to practice discernment. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
Yes, Ramon, it is a hard one. I agree. Thank you, my brother, for your faithful support!
We are commanded never to bear false witness against our neighbour. This is frequently misinterpreted to mean that lying is forbidden in all circumstances.
(Similarly, as a court witness I would not swear whilst holding a Bible in which our Lord is recorded as forbidding us to swear).
Yes, ten commandment's prohibitation is set in the context of a court.
Thank you for the thoughtful comments of other readers & your responses, Dr. Eli.
I learn from both.
Many people write and tell me that they read comments as much as a follow up to the article. Blessings!
These references & Jesus Himself, show a variance in literal understanding & action. Thank you for pointing out this wisdom, Dr. Eli. While I said elsewhere that dishonesty breaks down societies' trust, these Biblical instances consider nuances of circumstances & more discreet ways to address questions, circumstances, and/or actions without direct lies. But does that give rights to the understood idea that Muslims can lie to all considered "infidels"?
No. Neither the biblical examples nor taqiyya provide a blanket right to deceive people outside one’s faith.
In its proper historical sense, taqiyya concerns concealing one’s religious identity or outwardly conforming under serious coercion or danger, especially persecution. Qur’an 16:106 explicitly addresses a person forced to renounce faith while remaining inwardly faithful; Qur’an 3:28 speaks of precaution against tyranny. That is very different from “Muslims may lie to all infidels.” The Qur’an also commands just testimony even toward those one dislikes (Qur’an 5:8). Qur’an 16:106, Qur’an 3:28, Qur’an 5:8
The biblical cases establish a narrow moral principle: one is not obliged to disclose information to a person seeking to use it for murder, oppression, or evil. Samuel’s statement was true; Jesus used silence, questions, and careful timing. That does not authorize fraud, manipulation, false witness, or treating an entire class of people as legitimate targets for deception.
So we should avoid two errors: naïvely demanding full disclosure to evildoers and unfairly assuming that Muslim neighbors are inherently permitted or inclined to lie. Truthfulness remains the norm; wise protection of life is an exceptional responsibility.
Islam as is has too many problems, we don't need new ones. :-)
Excllent examples and conclusion. No doubt we have to seek God´s guidance to know when truth is convenient for his porpouses. God bless you all
THANK YOU for this detailed analysis, for each religion & situation.
It really clarifies possible situations & maybe how I judge a whole class of people.
Thank you, Eric. Let us grow!
I am so grateful to those of you who have decided to help me grow this ministry! May God bless you and keep you! If you are interested in making a contribution of any size, whether one- time or ongoing, please click here.
All of the Stories Dr. Eli laid out in this article hold great lesson for anyone who opens their ears and heart to the messages within the stories. Rahab was not a believer at all but she knew and feared the mighty and powerful God of the Israelite people. Rehab's belief in the mightiness of the God of Israel was unmatched and when Jericho fell Rahab and her family were saved and dwelled amongst gods people for years with Rahab becoming an Ancestress Jesus Christ♥️
Indeed. Thank you, Donita.
Shalom! Great insight! Thank you for your service to our Lord! Loved the lesson, format, and message! May the Lord multiply your reach in Yeshua's mighty name!
Thank you, Gilda! Counting on your prayers!
I always struggle with Rahab’s lie, what would Jesus have done in that situation? I guarantee He would not be deceptive. My opinion, she was still an unbeliever (or not fully acquainted with the God of the Bible) and the Lord allowed this to protect the two spies.
There is no question that in our modern terms she was still "an unbeliever," but the Bible praises her (not just condones her!). To me this means that we have to optimize/adjust our views to that of the Bible, not the other way around (something we do all the time) :-).
"By faith she has welcomed the spies...." (Heb 11:31). In the book of Joshua we read:
Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof and said to them, “I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. 10 We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear, and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below...
“Our lives for your lives!” the men assured her. “If you don’t tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully when the Lord gives us the land.” (Josh 2:8-15)
I agree in a sense she was later viewed in a place of honor. Difficult situation I hope I never encounter, but Jesus is our ultimate model, and I guarantee He would not have answered like that. Not being holier than thou, or claiming I would do any differently even as a believer, just a very complicated incident.
Well, this is where the clear perspective that we are not Jesus is so important. :-) Lord, do not lead unto temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Amen!!!
What about when the persecution is leveled at you, personally? If a terrorist asks you if you are a Christian, does this principle you are teaching apply to him? Could one lie to the terrorist to protect himself and his family, or is this a denial of faith that God will condemn?
Robert, the way I see it is yes, the same principle applies, though this is an even more painful and personal case.
A terrorist who asks, “Are you a Christian?” is not seeking truth for a good purpose. He is seeking information that may enable murder, abuse, or the destruction of a family. A Christian is never required to become an accomplice to his own persecution by supplying evil people with the information they need to harm him.
Whenever possible, one may refuse to answer, redirect, leave, hide, or use careful discretion. But in a true life-and-death moment, I would not tell a terrified believer that God will condemn him for saying what is necessary to protect his wife, children, or himself. God sees the coercion, the danger, and the heart.
This is not a casual permission to deny Christ whenever confession costs us something. Jesus does call His disciples to loyalty and courageous witness. Yet courage is not the same as recklessness, and martyrdom is not something Christians are commanded to seek. Even Jesus sometimes withdrew from those trying to kill Him, because His hour had not yet come.
We should also remember Peter. Under pressure and fear, he denied knowing Jesus. His denial was grievous, but it was not the end of his relationship with Christ. Jesus restored him. The point is not, “Denial does not matter,” but rather, “God’s mercy is greater than our failure under terror.”
A persecuted believer should not be burdened with the fear that protecting innocent family members automatically makes him faithless. In such a crisis, pray for wisdom, protect life where possible, and entrust the conscience and final judgment to the merciful God who knows what was demanded under threat.
Thanks for this article. The very best summary of the entire discussion on this subject is your sentence:
"Truthfulness is a virtue, but it was never meant to be a weapon in the hands of the wicked.”
Also the reference to the story of Samuel is illustrative: Actually, if you think about is, is Gods instruction to Samuel, simply: “Do not Talk about the reason, for your mission to Bethlehem” How many fights in the church are based on the opinion of people the obey the doctrine “The ‘truth’ must be said, where they usually mean that there vision and conviction should be considered to be be the only acceptable one!
If Christians in WW2 Europe have acted according to the line that you address in your article; history could have developed quite diiferently
Thank you, Dr. Eli. This question has troubled me for some time now. It initially appears cowardly, but in reality protecting oneself and his family is critical. However, denial of Christ is not to be taken lightly, and it remains troublesome to me, particularly if I called to proclaim Him in spite of the danger to my life. I'm thinking of Daniel's "even if you don't" in Daniel 3... " But even if He doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”
I also think there is a major difference between whether or not someone has a family. But I agree no matter how you put it, it is a HUGE ethical dilemma. May we never be faced with this choice.
Very true, Arend. Thank you for your comment and faithful support, my brother!
I am so grateful to those of you who have decided to help me grow this ministry! May God bless you and keep you! If you are interested in making a contribution of any size, whether one- time or ongoing, please click here.