SELLING
"Buy the truth — and sell it not" (Proverbs 23:23).
There are three things to be attended to in those words.
First, a needful act to be performed — "buy";
second, an invaluable object to be acquired — "the truth";
third, a solemn prohibition to be observed — "sell it not."
The first two have already been before us; the third is now to engage our attention. As many distinct things are implied and imported in the "buying" of a spiritual object, so a number of different things are included in the figure of "selling." As the "buy" is a figurative term to express desire, to seek, and make your own; so "sell it not" signifies despise it not, value it not lightly, grow not tired of it, and do not part with it — no matter how you may be induced by temptation to do so.
At first sight, such an prohibition may strike us as strange and unnecessary: if the truth was valued and sought by us, surely we shall not now disesteem and discard it. Alas, the human heart is very unstable, and its affections fickle. First-love is easily lost. When the novelty of a thing wears off, enthusiasm usually wanes. Moreover, Satan hates the truth and fiercely assails those who buy it. The Jews "were willing for a season" to rejoice in John the Baptist's light (John 5:35). Even Herod revered our Lord's forerunner, and listened to him — "and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly" (Mark 6:20) — yet soon after, consented to the beheading of him. When the truth became incarnate (John 14:6), what crowds first attended His preaching, yet later they cried, "Away with him, away with him, crucify him" (John 19:15)! Nor was it any better with those who became His regular attendants and adherents, for we are told, "Many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him" (John 6:66).
Scripture contains many pertinent examples and solemn warnings for us to heed. Paul had to lament: "Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world" (2 Timothy 4:10); and to the Galatians, who had turned against him, the apostle wrote, "For I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me. Have I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?" (Gal 4:15-16). What a sad picture is presented in Isaiah 59:14: "And judgment [discretion] is turned away backward, and justice stands afar off: for truth is fallen in the street." How accurately that portrays present-day conditions: Truth sold — rejected, cast away as worthless, trodden underfoot!
If we compare other passages of God's Word where "selling" is in view, it will the better enable us to understand the meaning and scope of the word "sell" in our text. Thus, "He [Esau] sold his birthright unto Jacob" (Gen 25:33), valuing it so lightly that he bartered it "for one morsel of food" (Heb 12:16). Alas, how many preachers do likewise, sacrificing the truth, for personal considerations: "In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up." (2 Peter 2:3). Elijah made this charge against Ahab: "You have sold yourself to work evil in the sight of the Lord" (1 Kings 21:20). Lusting after Naboth's vineyard, he listened to the evil counsel of his wife Jezebel and lost his soul in securing a piece of ground. In the days of Ahaz, the children of Judah:
"And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil" (2 Kings 17:17) — that is to say, they gave themselves up willingly to Satan to be his slaves. Judas, the betrayer, sold his Master for thirty pieces of silver. From the case of Esau, we see how that some esteem divine things so lightly, that they prefer the gratification of their carnal appetites. From the case of Ahab, we learn that others allow the spirit of covetousness to make them blind to their own interests and ready to listen to the advice of the wicked, and so call down upon themselves the judgment of God. From the case of the children of Judah, we behold how that following the ways of the heathen, issues in a fatal sale, which brings completely under the power of the devil. From the case of Judas, we are warned that even those who have enjoyed the highest spiritual privileges, and received the truth from the lips of Christ Himself — are in danger of betraying their trust.
In addition to these examples, it should be pointed out that many have been guilty of selling the truth through a desire to maintain peace at any price. They rightly dislike controversy, but they wrongly preserve silence when it is their duty to "earnestly contend [yet not bitterly] for the faith" (Jude 3). The wisdom which is from above is "first pure, then peaceable" (James 3:17). Peace, like gold, may be bought too dearly. That unity which is bought by the sacrifice of any part of the truth is worthless.
None boasts so loudly of her unity, such as it is, as Rome, yet it is a product of selling the truth — taking the Bible away from the people, prohibiting the right of private judgment. While no real Christian will sell the truth in the absolute sense, yet he is prone to sacrifice "the present truth" (2 Peter 1:12). There is some particular aspect of truth which the enemy more especially assails in each generation; and it is those controverted portions of it, those articles of the faith which are being opposed, that we most need to be on our guard against selling or renouncing.
Again, any professing Christian who continues knowingly to listen to false doctrine is guilty of selling the truth and of disobeying its Author, for He expressly bids him, "Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causes to err from the words of knowledge" (Proverbs 19:27). He who is indifferent to what he hears from the pulpit, places no value on the truth! Then "take heed what you hear" (Mark 4:24).
Thus, "sell it not" includes that we "henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine" (Eph 4:13); but rather that we "ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein," and then "we shall find rest for our souls" (Jer 6:16).
It remains to point out, that the negative implies the positive: thus, when it is said of Christ, "a bruised reed shall he not break" (Isa 42:3), it also intimates the tender care with which He supports and nourishes it. The sword of the Spirit is two-edged: where any evil is forbidden, the opposite good is to be understood as being enjoined. As on the other hand, where a duty is commanded — everything contrary to it is virtually forbidden. Hence, "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain" (Exo 20:7; Deut 5:11) also imports, You shall hold it in the utmost honor and reverence. And "You shall not kill" (Exo 20:13; Due 5:17) comprehends, You shall do all in your power to preserve life. Consequently, "Buy the truth, and sell it not" (Proverbs 23:23) signifies "stand fast, and hold the traditions [oral ministry] which you have been taught, whether by word [of mouth], or our [first] epistle" (2 Thessalonians 2:15). "Continue in the faith grounded and settled" (Col 1:23). No matter what be the temptation to compromise, to be cowardly, or to act from selfish ends, "that which you have already hold fast until I come" (Rev 2:25).
In conclusion, let us offer a few comments upon our text as a whole: "Buy the truth, and sell it not." Go to some pains in making sure that what you obtain is "the truth," and that involves our praying with David, "Teach me your statutes" (Psalm 119:12), and an emulating of the noble Bereans who searched the Scriptures daily to ascertain whether what they heard accorded with that holy Standard (Acts 17:11). One reason why God permits so much error and confusion in the religious world, is to test souls, and make it evident who are the ones who honestly desire, highly value, and diligently seek the truth. "Truth is that with which the heart must be girded and governed, for without it, there can be no good works" — Matthew Henry (1662-1714).
It is those who acquire truth cheaply — second-hand, from others — who part with it readily; as the old adage says: "Easy come — easy go." In reality, we possess no more truth than that which actually possesses us, which has become part of ourexperience and practice, our "shield and buckler" (Psalm 91:4). Those who suffered Mark tyrdom rather than deny the faith, refused to sell the truth! "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good" (1 Thessalonians 5:21) supplies a parallel with our text.