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 (17)
Thank you for this great article. Can I ask your interpretation of Thomas’ remark, Let us go with Him {to Jerusalem} that we may die also! (See John 11:16.) Is he being sarcastic, or is he that hyped-up to die?
You are welcome, Gabi. Please, ask this question in the ASK DR. Eli section. Thanks in advance!
Thank you as always Dr. Eli. I am enriched by and enjoy these nuanced studies. When I consider the context of Matt 10:33/Luke 12:9/John 12:42-43 and also 2 Timothy 2:12, I understand it as a stern admonition against an ongoing denying of Jesus for comfort and status’ sake as opposed to “lying” about Jesus’ Lordship for the preservation of life as you’ve alluded to. How do you see these passages in light of your study? I’ve also surmised that you enjoy good cinema. If that’s a true assertion, I implore you to watch Silence from Martin Scorsese in light of this thought piece. Blessings.
Thank you, I think you have framed the distinction well. These texts warn against settled, self-protective disavowal of Jesus, especially when love of human approval, security, or status becomes stronger than allegiance to Him. John 12:42–43 is particularly clear on that point.
At the same time, Scripture does not treat a fearful failure under acute pressure as necessarily final apostasy. Peter’s denial was real, grievous, and public, yet Jesus restored him. That should keep us from making easy judgments about believers facing threats to life or to their families.
Matt 10:33 and 2 Tim 2:12 still leave us with a solemn warning: discipleship cannot be built on a continuing pattern of denying Christ whenever it costs us something. The question is not merely, “What words did I say in one moment of terror?” but, “Whom do I ultimately confess and serve?”
Thank you also for recommending Silence. It is indeed a profound and unsettling exploration of precisely this tension.
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!
This conversation is possible because friends and family choose to support this ministry (Thank you so much!). If my teaching has helped you read the Bible more deeply in its Hebrew and Jewish world, and if you are in a position to do so, please consider joining my support team or giving again if you did in the past. Your monthly gift, no matter the size, helps me continue teaching, writing, and engaging with pastors, priests, Bible teachers, and serious students of Scripture worldwide. To support my work, click HERE.
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!
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!!!
This conversation is possible because friends and family choose to support this ministry (Thank you so much!). If my teaching has helped you read the Bible more deeply in its Hebrew and Jewish world, and if you are in a position to do so, please consider joining my support team or giving again if you did in the past. Your monthly gift, no matter the size, helps me continue teaching, writing, and engaging with pastors, priests, Bible teachers, and serious students of Scripture worldwide. To support my work, click HERE.