“I Tell You The Truth…”

It seems to me that when Jesus says “I tell you the truth…” something of vital importance is about to be made known. For the listener it is an opportunity to pay special attention to what Jesus is about to say, not that whenever Jesus speaks a person should not pay attention, but this emphasis means something of significance is about to be revealed. In the New Testament, Matthew has 29, Mark has 12, Luke has 9 and John has 26 instances of Jesus saying “I tell you the truth…” That adds up to a total of 76 times.

This article records all of those instances. The verses where the words “I tell you the truth…” are found in the Bible have not been fully recorded here, but the chapters and verses are listed.

In New International Versions of the Bible, the four gospels contain a total of 3,778 verses. Of that total, 1,969 verses contain Jesus’ conversations with others, and for me, listening to his words is a priority!

Peter said to Jesus:
“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” John 6:68.

Want to know what is truth? Listen to Jesus!

Jesus testified while standing before Pilate:
“Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” John 18:37.

Unfortunately, in our religious community today, there are many who make claims about their own spiritual condition by saying to others “I tell you the truth about me: I’ve been born again; I’ve been saved; I know that when I die I’m going to Heaven.” It seems it would be better to trust God to read and know everyone’s heart instead of making our own personal claims.

Let God Be God

Allow God the opportunity to decide who will be in Heaven.
Human beings are prone to making countless mistakes.
For sure, God will not make a mistake. Trust God. He knows.

[Matthew]

5:18	until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.
5:26	you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.
6:2	they have received their reward in full.
6:5	they have received their reward in full.
6:16	they have received their reward in full.
8:10	I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.
10:15	it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.
10:23	you will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
10:42	he will certainly not lose his reward.
11:11	among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
13:17	many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.
16:28	some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.
17:20	if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, “Move from here to there” and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.
18:3	unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
18:18	whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
19:23	it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
19:28	at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
21:21	if you have faith and doubt not, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, “Go throw yourself into the sea,” and it will be done.
21:31	the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.
23:36	all this will come upon this generation.
24:2	not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.
24:32	this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.
24:47	he will put him in charge of all his possessions.
25:12	I don’t know you.
25:40	whatever you did for the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.
25:45	whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.
26:13	wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.
26:21	one of you will betray me.
26:34	this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.

[Mark]

3:28	all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemies against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin.
8:12	no sign will be given it.
9:1	some who are standing here will not taste of death before they see the kingdom of God come with power.
9:41	anyone who gives you a cup of cold water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.
10:15	anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.
10:29	no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields – and with them persecution) and in the age to come, eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.
11:23	if anyone says to this mountain, “Go, throw yourself into the sea,” and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.
13:30	this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.
14:9	wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.
14:18	one of you will betray me – one who is eating with me.
14:25	I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God.
14:30	today, yes, tonight, before the rooster crows twice, you yourself will deny me three times.

[Luke]

4:24	no prophet is accepted in his hometown.
9:27	some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.
12:37	he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them.
12:44	he will put them in charge of all his possessions.
18:17	anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.
18:29	no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come, eternal life.
21:3	this poor widow has put in more than all the others.
21:32	this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.
23:43	today, you will be with me in paradise.

[John]

1:51	you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.
3:3	no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.
3:5	no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.
3:11	we speak of what we know, and we testify of what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony.
5:19	the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing because whatever the Father does the Son also does.
5:24	whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.
5:25	a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live.
6:26	you are looking for me, not because you saw the miraculous signs, but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.
6:32	it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven.
6:47	he who believes has everlasting life.
6:53	unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.
8:34	everyone who sins is a slave to sin.
8:51	if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.
8:58	before Abraham was born, I AM!
10:1	the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs up by some other way, is a thief and a robber.
10:7	I am the gate for the sheep.
12:24	unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.
13:16	no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.
13:20	whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.
13:21	one of you is going to betray me.
13:38	before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.
14:12	anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing.
16:7	it is for your good that I am going away.
16:20	you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.
16:23	my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.
21:18	when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted, but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.

Concluding Thoughts

The New Testament contains a total of 2,064 verses that quote Jesus. Any translation of the Bible that has these “red letter” verses that are highlighted provides an excellent and easy way to study and learn Scripture. It is these words that are the vital ingredient to understand what God is all about. Matthew has 650 of these verses, Mark has 281, Luke has 618, John has 420, Acts has 27, Corinthians have 3, Revelation has 65. If you are a Bible student wanting to learn about God, or if you would like a refresher course, allow the words of Jesus, the Son of God and the Son of Man, to penetrate your intellect with the words that Jesus told his disciples and others over two thousand years ago. Those same words are still applicable today.

Jesus, God’s only Son, has given us sufficient evidence as to the character of his Heavenly Father within the pages of his testimony, and He has left it for us to decide if we will accept it or reject it. There is no arm twisting for us to accept it, and there is no threat of punishment if we reject it. Everyone has that Freedom of Choice.

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