What does it mean to buy the truth and not sell it (Proverbs 23:23)?

Then comes weighty counsel, and in particular at the start of public life. "Buy the truth, and sell it not, — wisdom, and instruction, and understanding." No money, it is true, can buy the truth, but the heart's desire and waiting on Him who gives freely and upbraids not. But there are many temptations to sell it for fleshly and worldly attractions, from which He alone can preserve. We may observe how truth leads to and is shown in the practical shape of wisdom, instruction, and understanding.

"Buy the truth and do not sell it" (v. 23). It may cost a little diligence, but whatever the cost, it will certainly be worth it. To sell the truth, on the other hand, is folly, of which Esau was guilty when he sold his birthright to Jacob for a little food (Gen. 25:29-34). Wisdom, instruction and understanding are here added, as properties to be bought and not sold.

Well might we be admonished, "Drink water from your own cistern, and running water from your own well." (v. 15). How important to make the truth of God our own! — and not to borrow from others what may be contaminated and harmful. "Buy the truth, and sell it not" (Proverbs 23::23). If we buy it, it becomes our own, not merely borrowed. It may cost us our own pride or our own fleshly comfort. Our fountains must certainly be for our own benefit to refresh our own souls in communion with the Lord (v. 16). Only when the truth becomes in reality our own shall we be fitted to use it also for the true benefit of others. "Streams of water in the streets" is a misuse of that with which God entrusts us, similar to casting our pearls before swine. For "strangers." that is, unbelievers (v. 17) are in no condition to enjoy the precious truth of God as are those redeemed by the blood of Christ. This is like Hezekiah showing all the treasures of his kingdom to the visitors from Babylon (2 Kings 20:12-18).

"Buy the truth, and sell it not:" no price is too great for its purchase — no gain sufficient to repay its loss. This is no direction for this world's marketing: but it tells us plainly why so few obtain what so many profess to seek. "Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart for it?" Albeit the fool of Scripture is this world's wise man. To him, then, who would advance in the knowledge of the truth, Paul's direction to Timothy must not stand in the letter only: "Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all." And he adds, "Take heed unto thyself and unto the doctrine: continue in them; for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself and them that hear thee."

It had been said of old, "Buy the truth, and sell it not" (Prov. 23:23); but is has ever been found, that few attach much value to 'the truth.' The Lord Himself, 'the truth,' was valued at thirty pieces of silver, a goodly price — the price of a slave; and therefore we must not be surprised to find, that the most inestimable treasure, 'the word of salvation,' is prized at but a low rate. Men of the world pay highly for their pleasures and amusements; and men will also pay for outward religion. But 'the truth,' that which comes from God to show to man his real condition in reference to God, and the way of reconciliation with God, man values not. But the apostle found, that even real Christians did not estimate the value of the ministry of the word at all adequately. And he exhorts the Galatians to prove that they appreciated the value of the gospel, and had as much delight in it as the men of the world appreciate and value their pleasures.

Throughout the scriptures there is that which God designates as 'the truth.' It is divine, and above the opinions of men, however wise and pious they may be. In the O.T. the admonition is given, "Buy the truth and sell it not." Prov. 23:23. 'The truth' must refer to God, who is true, but is not called 'the truth:' hence it comprises all that may be known of God, whether declared by creation or made known by revelation. Truth is not simply that which is held as dogma, but must be received in the soul. Paul asked the Galatians who had hindered them that they should not obey 'the truth?' Gal. 5:7. Judgement is coming upon Christendom "because they received not the love of 'the truth' that they might be saved." 2 Thess. 2:10. Truth is the real way of liberty: "the truth shall make you free." John 8:32, 36. Truth cannot be separated from the Lord Jesus, who is "the way, the truth, and the life." This is objectively; subjectively the Spirit is the truth as having come from the glorified Christ. In the three Epistles of John 'the truth' is constantly referred to, and a Christian woman is warned not to receive any one into her house, nor wish him God-speed unless he holds the doctrines taught by the apostles — in other words, 'the truth.'

There never was a time, when there have been on earth so many children of God as in our days, praised be His grace! Huge tidal-waves of Gospel-blessings, carrying numbers of rejoicing pardoned sinners to the shore of safety, have everywhere increased the flock of God. The harvest has been plenteous, indeed, and true-hearted and devoted labourers there have been, not a few, thank God! But when we turn to the present condition of the flock of God, alas! what a different sight do we behold! It is the same as it was in the earthly days of our Heavenly Shepherd, when His loving eye "saw the multitudes, and he was moved with compassion on them." They are "scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd." They "wander through all mountains, and upon every high hill, scattered upon all the face of the earth," and very few true-hearted pastors there are, who, with disinterested devotedness "search and seek after them." Numbers, there are, of gifted and active evangelists, and highly endowed, and enlightened teachers and lecturers. But how thinly scattered amongst the flock of God, are true pastors! Floods of light — precious truths about Christ — poured upon the sheep and lambs of Christ's pasture, but, alas! little, how very little, of Christ Jesus Himself, and therefore how very little real food for their souls! They are starving, and they cry for bread, and you give them — not a stone — but light instead. Light develops, but food produces growth. "Desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby," writes the Holy Spirit by the pen of that faithful pastor, to whom the Chief Shepherd said "Feed my sheep" — "Feed my lambs." Mere "development," without true nourishment and growth, is a dangerous thing — canvas without ballast. — Hence those sad capsizings in private and public testimony, of so many who seemed to be chosen vessels. Going and trading with truth, before it has been bought (not only learnt) at some cost, and before the heart has fed upon, and the conscience been exercised under the power of it, leads but too often to sad bankruptcy! "Buy the truth, and sell it not!" But where truth has not been bought, but embezzled, so to speak, or borrowed, the end will be the selling it for some temporal advantage, or, it may be, the sacrificing it on the altar of the great modern grinning idol, "Light," falsely so called (rationalism and infidelity), or of that smiling idol, "Love," "Philanthropy," so called, or "Brotherly love," falsely so called. Hence, further, the backslidings amongst the flock of God, especially in places, where there has been much blessing in the Gospel, but connected with much excitement.

But in order to this the conscience must be aroused, the heart attracted. To ask the question "What is truth?" and forthwith to turn away, is to evince the fatal unconcern and indifference of spiritual death. If the lie of Satan by which he deceived Eve has brought about all the misery which it has, surely this should teach us not only how terrible a thing it is to disobey God, but it should impress us also with the deepest conviction of the value of Divine truth when brought near to us in grace; for "the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." "The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world, looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." Saved by divine grace, good works should be the fruit. But is the precious truth of God our object? Then, "buy the truth and sell it not." It may cost us something to purchase and to hold it, but it is worth more than its weight in gold: "the law of Thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver." This is the truth as it is in Jess, for He is the truth personally and absolutely, its dispenser to the individual heart in the measure proportionate to the faith of the believer, and to his fidelity to what he has already received; for "to him that hath shall more be given." Unless mixed with faith in the heart it is powerless. Do we desire to be set free as to our conscience before God, and as to deliverance from self, the world, and the enemies' power? It is by the truth, for, as our Lord says (John 8:32), "the truth shall make you free;" yet it is His doing, if effective, for "if the Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed."

We discern the same want of conscience in the next scene. Truly the love of truth is not acquired in a moment. With some there is seemingly a natural love of truth, while others appear to be without it. But the natural love of truth always fails when tested in the things of God. To buy the truth and sell it not is only by the Holy Spirit working in grace upon the heart, and without Him there is no true love.

We must also have a deep conviction that nothing is more precious than the truth as it is in Jesus, and be made willing to buy it at any price, and not to sell it for any consideration. Whatever we let go, friends, wife, children, house or lands, name, fame or character, we must never give up the truth of God. To do so would be to prove that we never received it from God’s mouth (Proverbs 2:6), but were taught it by the precept of men (Isaiah 29:13).