Galatians 1:20

I lie not.

Truthfulness; its violation

Untruthfulness is something more than direct and deliberate misstatement, e.g., by the practice of making excuses for faults in conduct which do not fairly admit of them; by exaggeration, which from carelessness or vanity overstates the case; by equivocation, in which the words may be true, but the impression conveyed false; by dissimulation, which by silence or some assumed attitude allows a false impression of our position to go abroad; by the breaking of promises, whether from inability to fulfil a promise rashly made, or from neglect to fulfil one to which we have the power of giving effect; and by falsehood in act, such as is exemplified in schools in “copying” or “prompting.” To inspire even a moderate love of this virtue, it is necessary to set the highest value of it before the child; the teacher must therefore be on the alert to check all its violations.

Truthfulness excites trust

Talent is by no means rare in the world; nor is even genius. But can talent be trusted, or even genius? Not unless based on truthfulness. It is this quality more than any other that commands the esteem and respect, and secures the confidence of others. Truthfulness is at the foundation of all personal excellence. (S. Smiles, LL. D.)

The truth-teller--his reward and work

Honour to the truthful man! Hail to the people with whom veracity prevails! Joy to mankind, when this daughter of light wins the victory over falsehood, and thrusts her back to that kingdom of darkness whence she sprang. (De Wette.)

A solemn declaration of the truth

I. Paul asseverates the truth of definite statements.

II. His declaration of truth was comprehensive.

III. His truthfulness commended itself to the judgment of men, and to the approval of God.

1. Men were invited to witness it. “Behold.”

2. God was the witness of the truth. It had been spoken, and acted in His sight. “All things are naked and open unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.”

Lessons:

1. The best of men are sometimes suspected of wrong-doing, and are liable to misrepresentation.

2. Every Christian man should speak and act as in the presence of God.

3. Very solemn avowals, as oaths, ought to be used only under constraint. (R. Nicholls.)

Perfect truthfulness necessary

Concave mirrors magnify the features nearest to them into undue and monstrous propertions; and in common mirrors that are ill cast, and of uneven surface, the most beautiful face is distorted into deformity. So there are many minds of this description: they distort or magnify, diminish or discolour, almost every gospel truth which they reflect. (Dr. Guthrie.)

Galeazius, a gentleman of great wealth, who suffered martyrdom at St. Angelo in Italy, being much entreated by his friends to recant, replied, “Death is much sweeter to me with the testimony of truth than life with its least denial.”

Lying scorned

The minister of the seminary at Clermont, France, having been siezed at Autun by the populace, the mayor, who wished to save him, advised him not to take the oath, but to allow him to tell the people that he had taken it. “I would myself make known your falsehood to the people” replied the clergyman: “it is not permitted me to ransom my life by a lie. The God who prohibits my taking this oath will not allow me to make it believed that I have taken it.” The mayor was silent, and the minister was martyred. (Foster.)