Pilate saith unto him, what is truth?
&c.] That is, in general, or that which Christ then
particularly spoke of: many things might be observed in answer to
this question, as that there is the truth and faithfulness of God
in his word and promises; the truth of grace in the hearts of his
people; Jesus Christ himself is truth, he is true God, and true
man; the truth of all covenant transactions, of all types,
promises, and prophecies; whatever he said and taught was truth,
and the truth of all doctrine comes from him. The Gospel is truth
in general; it comes from the God of truth; lies in the
Scriptures of truth; Christ, who is truth itself, is the
substance of it; the Spirit of truth has an hand in it, leads
into it, and makes it effectual; the whole of it is true, and
every particular doctrine of it; as the manifestation of the Son
of God in human nature, his coming into the world to save the
chief of sinners, justification by his righteousness, pardon by
his blood, atonement by his sacrifice, the resurrection of the
dead The same question is put in the Talmud F16,
(tma hm) , "what is
truth?" and it is answered, that he is the living God, and the
King of the World: we do not find that our Lord gave any answer
to this question, which might be put in a scornful, jeering way;
nor did Pilate wait for one; for when he had said this, he
went out again unto the Jews:
as soon as he had put the question about truth, having no great
inclination to hear what Christ would say to it; nor did he put
it for information sake, or as having any opinion of Christ, and
that he was able to answer it; he directly goes out of the
judgment hall, taking Jesus along with him, and addresses the
Jews after this manner: and saith unto them, I find in him
no fault at all;
and indeed how should he? there was no sin in his nature, nor
guile in his lips, nor any iniquity in his life; the devil
himself could find none in him. This confession is both to the
shame of Pilate and the Jews; to the reproach of Pilate, that
after this he should condemn him; and of the Jews, that after
such a fair and full declaration from the judge, they should
insist upon his crucifixion; it shows, however, that he died not
for any sin of his own, but for the sins of others.