A mature and successful life requires a commitment to the truth. This is true of our earthly existence, and is explained in the book “The Road Less Traveled” by Scot Peck. A mature righteous life requires even more, it requires a total and complete commitment to the truth.

When Jesus spoke to the Jewish believer at the festival, He knew he was speaking to many who were immature. They were committed to the Jewish faith, but not so much to the total truth. They recognized that Jesus was speaking with knowledge, but they did not recognize what He taught. They questioned where His knowledge came from. They wanted truth to come with a “certificate of authenticity” from their leaders. Jesus told them that God, His Father was the source of His knowledge.

Jesus told them to look at themselves, and see truth. Moses gave them the law, but they were not keeping the law. They claimed to seek the truth, but they did not respond righteously to the truth they had already received. Jesus told them that when they did what they knew was the Father’s will, God would reveal His truth to them.

Jesus went on to tell them that they would recognize who was speaking the truth by who the speakers were glorifying. He wanted them to look to their spiritual leaders and open their eyes. The Jewish leaders did not glorify God, they glorified only themselves. The leaders were men of deceit, Jesus was a man of truth.

Jesus told them that if they want to be in a right relationship with God. they would have to change the way they were making their judgments. They were only looking at shallow outward appearances. They needed to look with discernment. They needed to stop jumping to easy conclusions and start using reason and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. To believe Jesus they would need to make a total commit to the truth. Everything Jesus said is still true today. God’s kingdom needs fewer immature Christians.