What does it mean that there is no truth in the devil (John 8:44)?

Answer

In John 8:42–47, Jesus conducts a spiritual paternity test for Jewish religious leaders. The Pharisees claimed to be descendants of Abraham «They replied, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves to anyone. How can you say we shall be set free?” », (John 8:33,37, 39), but Jesus stated, “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies” «You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies», (John 8:44, NLT).

Jesus exposes the devil as a deceiver. The devil lacks truth because he is entirely deceitful and dishonest. God, on the other hand, embodies truth (Jeremiah 10:10;Psalm 43:3;Psalm 25:5;Psalm 26:3;86:11;Isaiah 65:16). He stands in complete contrast to the devil. It is “impossible for God to lie” (Hebrews 6:18;see also Numbers 23:19), as He only speaks the truth. In contrast, lies flow effortlessly from the devil because falsehood is his “native language” «You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies».Truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” , (John 8:44).

The Pharisees claimed Abraham as their father, but their character was nothing like that of the ancient patriarch. Abraham was “God’s friend” (Isaiah 41:8;James 2:23). He obeyed God and listened to His truth. “If you were Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then you would do what Abraham did. As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. You are doing the works of your own father” (John 8:39-41).

Jesus essentially said that a person’s nature reveals his true paternity. If Abraham is our spiritual father, we share in his character. If Abraham is our father, we will have the faith of Abraham. We will believe in God and obey His truth (Genesis 15:6;Romans 4:3;Galatians 3:6). If God is our Father, then we “participate in the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:1-4) and walk in His truth (Ephesians 5:8-9;2 John 1:4;3 John 1:4). And if the devil is our father, then we share in his evil nature, and there is no truth in us.

The devil is the original liar. Jesus calls him the “father of lies,” referring to Genesis 3:1–13, where the serpent lied to Eve, thereby introducing sin into the world. Satan’s first lie was a contradiction of God’s truth. As the archenemy of God, the devil opposes God and His purposes in this world «But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offense unto me: for thou savorest not the things that are of God, but those that are of men. », (Matthew 16:23).

One of the primary tactics the devil uses against God’s people is to falsely accuse them and distort God’s truth (Revelation 12:10; Job 1:8-11; Zechariah 3:1-2; Acts 13:8-10). Satan’s goal is to separate people from God . The apostle Paul warned, “For Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light” «And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. », (2 Corinthians 11:14). The devil’s lies sound appealing and rational, but they lead people captive to sin and, in the end, death.

Jesus urged the Jewish leaders to hold on to His teachings so they might know the truth, and that truth would set them free (John 8:36), but the devil’s lies keep us in bondage.

Satan’s deception prevented the Pharisees from hearing, understanding, and loving Jesus (John 8:42-44). The devil had blinded their minds and hardened their hearts to God’s truth (2 Corinthians 3:14; 2 Corinthians 4:4). They were sold out to the devil. Jesus told them, “Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God” «He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because you are not of God. », (John 8:47). The Pharisees belonged to their father, the devil.

The devil’s essential disposition is that of a liar. There is no truth in the devil because lying is all he knows. He has been deceiving people since the beginning of time (Genesis 3:4-5; 2 Corinthians 11:3). He is a devious perverter of truth (2 Corinthians 11:14; 1 Timothy 3:7; 2 Timothy 2:26) and a counterfeiter of truth «even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, », (2 Thessalonians 2:9). He is always scheming ways to deceive anyone who will give him an inch of control over their thoughts and lives (Ephesians 6:11; 2 Corinthians 2:10-11; 1 Timothy 2:14; 1 Peter 5:8). But Jesus Christ is “the way and the truth and the life” «Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. », (John 14:6). Knowing Him and abiding in His Word is the only w

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