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The expression, The Love of the Truth can be seen in at least two different ways. Grammatically, it could mean the love for the truth, or it could just as easily mean the love which the truth produces. It is this writer’s opinion that the latter meaning is the one that Paul intended when he wrote about some people being deceived because they failed to receive “…the love of the truth.” (see 2 Thessalonians 2.10). If that was, in fact, Paul’s intention, this corresponds both with Jesus’ words and His deeds.

First, it corresponds with Jesus’ commandment to “…seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matthew 6.33). Secondly, it corresponds with His actions as recorded in Matthew 8 (as further explained herein). “Then a certain scribe came and said to Him, ‘Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.’ Then another of His disciples said to Him, ‘Lord, let me first go and bury my father.’ But Jesus said to him, ‘Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.’” (Matthew 8.19-22).

The scribe in the story just cited was probably seeking some physical reward and/or notoriety through his actions; Jesus let him know that His mission had no such promises and that his motives were ill-founded. The second man (a disciple of Jesus) was also mistaken in some of his priorities. Commentators are divided on exactly what the man was requesting; some think that his father was dying from a protracted illness and the man meant that he needed to go to his side to await his death (however long that might be) and to subsequently bury him. Other commentators think that the man wanted to go home and participate in the extended grieving period that was frequently customary in the culture (some times this period extended up to a year but more commonly was for a month or two). Whatever the meaning, Jesus let it be known that his priorities needed to change! In expressing this, Jesus used a figure of speech that should likely be interpreted as follows: “Let the [spiritually] dead bury the [physically] dead!”

The love which the truth produces in the hearts of true believers is a love which places all earthly longings in subjection to the wishes of the Master. Neither the scribe nor the mistaken disciple possessed that love at the time the story was penned. Moving to this “next level” of love is essential to discipleship. A recent example of such a conflict may help our understanding. A man and a woman enter into a marital arrangement that may not be scriptural. Before discussing whether or not it is actually scriptural, it might be well for each of them to take a spiritual inventory and to ask themselves, “What am I willing to give up in order to go to heaven?” If the answer is less than everything, the question about their marriage is a moot point so far as their souls are concerned! This is a hard truth so to speak, but it is the truth.

This is exactly what Jesus meant when He said, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate [love less] his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.” (Luke 14.26). This is the love which the truth produces, the love that is essential to discipleship!

Questions:

1. According to John 6.60, does Jesus have some “hard sayings”?

2. Would you say that Luke 14.26 is a hard saying? Why or why not?

3. When Jesus said that the dead should bury the dead, was He saying that undertakers do not have a legitimate place in society? Why or why not?

4. Concerning the burying of our dead, were there any special circumstances involved in this situation which should influence our answer to the same question if asked today?

"Word from Scotland" from Sandy Shaw

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