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Satan distorts the truth

In a discussion with some Jews, Jesus poses the question: “If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?” These people are not just hesitant about whether they should believe His claims, but they actively oppose Him. Jesus even says: “You seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God.” That is a serious accusation, but it turns out to be true. Apparently, these people cannot bear to hear the truth Jesus is preaching.

Jesus explains why they are so hostile: they want to follow their “father”, the devil. He is “a liar and the father of lies”, and his followers prefer his lies over the truth of God. This problem pops up early in the third chapter of the Bible, where Satan intrudes on God’s good creation and tempts Eve into sin by telling lies. He says that disobeying the Lord will turn out to be beneficial for Adam and Eve and that their Creator begrudges them to “be like God, knowing good and evil”. Satan’s lies have disastrous consequences, and yet people keep believing him! As long as they do, they are controlled by the devil and his destructive purposes.

Who is your spiritual father? Is it God or Satan?