Truth is Objective
“And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come.” — Matthew 11:14
No one could ever accuse Jesus of teaching that truth is subjective. He taught with authority, affirming that the law of God applies to all people. At first glance, the verse above might seem to contradict this idea. However, a closer look reveals that it is entirely consistent with the rest of Jesus’s teachings in the Gospels.
Truth Is Not Subject to Opinion
Truth does not depend on whether the world—or even the religious world—accepts it. A ball thrown into the air will always come down, regardless of whether the person who threw it believes in gravity. You may dislike the current president, but your personal animosity does not diminish the power of his office. Likewise, God reigns over all things, regardless of the attempts of carnal men to overthrow Him.
The Pharisees could accept or reject the words of John the Baptist, but they would not get another Elijah—he had already come.
Truth Is Not Culturally Relative
Truth never changes to accommodate different belief systems. There is not one truth for Buddhists, another for Muslims, and a third for Christians. When we evangelize, we proclaim the gospel truth to all people, regardless of their religious background or moral standards.
“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” — Mark 16:15
John the Baptist’s prophetic status did not depend on the Pharisees’ or Sadducees’ acceptance of his office. Their interpretation of the Old Testament prophecies concerning the second Elijah was not infallible.
Truth Must Be Received in the Heart
Truth must be received in the heart, not merely in the head. Many people witnessed the miracles of Jesus, but only a small number truly believed the gospel message. Our spiritual eyes and ears must be opened by God before we can rest in the finished work of Christ.
A carnal man can see a thousand proofs of God’s existence, but he will not move until the Spirit enters his heart and binds the strong man within. The Pharisees did not lack understanding—they lacked submission.
A Shared Spirit with the Saints
Embracing the truth of the gospel unites us with the same Spirit that indwelled the believers of the Old Testament. The Pharisees’ refusal to believe showed that they served the Devil, not God.
When they claimed to be sons of Abraham, Jesus replied:
“They answered and said to Him, ‘Abraham is our father.’ Jesus said to them, ‘If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham.’” — John 8:39
Though their sins were different, the spirit of Ahab and Jezebel lived on in the Pharisees. They rejected the truth because their hearts were wedded to this world, while John was looking for an eternal kingdom. Let us pray that God would give us a spirit of humility that submits our lives to his world. Without this, no amount of biblical truth will ever be of profit to us.
Soli Deo Gloria
