I’ve watched enough cop shows to know that when someone goes on trial before the judge, the first thing they do is put their hands on the Bible and swear to “tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.” I have no idea if that’s actually how it plays out in the real world, but it makes for great entertainment.
But what exactly is the difference in those three statements? You can parse them out however you want, but generally, the agreement is to be honest (“the truth”), not leave anything out (“the whole truth”) and not add any fluff (“nothing but the truth”). The person promises to disclose everything he knows—nothing more, nothing less, and nothing else.
Promising these three items is the only way that real justice can proceed. Otherwise, the judge and jury are getting only a piece of the picture, which is hardly enough to create a valid verdict.
But you know as well as I do that some people will look for loopholes in everything. They’ll promise to answer the questions that are asked, but deftly refuse to volunteer information—especially if it’s incriminating to themselves or someone else.
God defines honesty as not just answering the questions that you’re asked, but saying what you know as it pertains to the situation at hand. If you know something, say something, in other words. To “omit” the truth from the conversation is not only dishonest, but could hurt someone else.
You may think that you’ve gotten away with something by picking and choosing what type of information you disclose. You may even have saved yourself and those you love in the process. But God knows the truth and will hold you and I accountable. In fact, Leviticus 5:1 specifically says that “he will bear his guilt.”
Let that be a lesson to all of us. With God, justice reigns supreme. When we know what to do and don’t do it, that’s a sin, plain and simple (James 4:17). That applies whether we’re sitting in a courtroom or teaching a Bible study. That silence could cost someone their soul.
