37 Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”
Pilate here landed on Jesus’ claim in the previous verse to be a “king.” He wanted to interrogate Him further about this. The responsibility of the governor was to investigate any possibility of insurrection against Rome.
37 Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?”
Pilate directly asked Jesus if He were a “king.” This was a serious question.
Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king.
Jesus affirmed to Pilate that He indeed was a “king.” However, His kingdom was not a challenge to Rome; it was a kingdom in the realm of truth.
For this cause I was born,
There was a divine purpose behind Jesus’ birth. He did not speak of human affairs in this context. He came as a Savior.
and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness [testify] to the truth.
There was a divine reason behind Jesus’ mission to earth. He came into the world to witness to and establish a different kingdom, a kingdom that dealt in truth.
Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”
Everyone who responds to truth goes positive in volition to Jesus. His word was self-evidencing. Our Lord put Pilate on defense here. Jesus was also a witness to Pilate himself (1 Ti 6:13).
PRINCIPLE:
Truth rules over our mind and aspirations.
APPLICATION:
Truth in the Bible is that which not only corresponds to facts but also integrates truth into one’s life. Truth can rule over our minds and lives. Truth operates in the realm of principle.
There is a way we can know that we are “of the truth” (1 Jn 3:18, 19).
