Proverbs 23:7,  “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.”

The context of Proverbs 23:7 is about a pretentious but unhospitable person inviting you to a meal while begrudging every bite you eat. The person is not sincere and has been described by some as perhaps a miser. I remember as a college student visiting with a friend in a couple's home post-Christmas and being invited (I thought) to have a piece of their homemade fruit cake (which happened to be my favorite). During the snack the lady of the house commenced to tell me that she had accidently broken some glass while baking and that she would appreciate it if we would let her know if we found any pieces in our slices. The delicious dessert quickly became a sickening experience. Not that I expected any glass as much as perceiving the hospitality was pretentious and she resented our being there.

The passage indicates that one's thinking and intent can be the opposite of one's behavior. The “real person” is in his/her thoughts. One might be led by this truth to mean that we should question others' motives. However, knowing this should motivate us to improve ourselves through our thinking. The apostle Paul emphasized this in this way:

Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

“THINK ON THESE THINGS.” Think; an imperative verb. IT WILL DETERMINE WHO YOU ARE AS A PERSON.   Who are you? Are you a thinker of true things? Let's study the objective for our thinking that the Spirit commands in this passage.

LESSON #1 - THINK ON “TRUE THINGS.”

THE WORD “TRUE”. The word “true” is an interesting word in the original Greek language. It is a negative.[i] Its prefix is “a-” which translates as “not” in English. “Not” what? The base word is “hidden” or “dark.” Things “true” then are “not hidden” nor “dark” things. One's thinking should be “above board” and not disguised or deceptive. This certainly matches the Proverbs 23 passage on “false” hospitality. But the Bible urges us to have our thoughts “true” on all things and not just hospitality.

THINGS OF THE LIGHT, NOT OF THE DARK.   Obviously, we can say that true is the opposite of “dark.” Things that are true are like a light shining in our darkness. Hence, “true” is light. 1 John 1:5, “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” God is light. Therefore, God is true. John 3:33, “He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.” 

TEACHINGS FROM GOD ARE INDEED “LIGHT” for mankind.    1 John 2:8,  “Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.”    1 John 2:27b, “But as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.”  The Spirit is the source of God's Light for us (John 17:17). Whereas the Holy Spirit's anointing, His “grace” gifts (1 Corinthians 12 list), John says, had taught them, His writing is what has been left to us—1 John 2:20. That means we must read the Truth, handling it aright. 2 Timothy 2:15, KJV: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” The Scripture is inspired of God and “is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness that the man of God” might be complete (2 Timothy 3:16). John 8:26, “I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.”  

THINK FACTUAL. Vine's Greek Dictionary further identifies our word “true” as primarily, "unconcealed, manifest"[ii]; hence, “actual”, "true to fact." Thinking “true” will result in being actual and to the point of fact. John 4:18 , "truly," lit., "true."  Jesus to the woman at the well: “For you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband. This you have spoken truly."  The woman at the well admitted the truth. She didn't pretend to be married when she was living with a man. Told it like it is. FACTUAL! In 1 Samuel 16, the prophet Samuel was told by God to do two things: (1) sacrifice to the Lord, and (2) anoint David (to replace dishonored Saul). He was told that if questioned by rejected King Saul, he was to tell him about only the first of the two tasks. Like Samuel, truth binds us to admit to what is relevant by the questioner. [If it is his/her business.] Be truthful. Yet, like Samuel, you don't have to tell everything you know. However, the point Paul makes is think always exactly the way things are. Your speech will follow accordingly.

REALITY AND GENUINE.   Thayer defines the word translated as “true”[iii] as being real and genuine. It is the opposite to what is fictitious, counterfeit, imaginary, simulated or pretended. In my youth I was acquainted with a person that was impossible for me to know if he was making up a story or it actually happened. I had to take anything he said with a “grain of salt” as the saying goes. “True” contrasts realities with their semblances. It is the opposite to what is imperfect, defective, frail, and uncertain. It is sincere.

LAW OF CONFIRMATION: the Law of Two (or three). John 5:31,32 ;   “If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.    There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.”  Jesus confirmed the Law of truth in the mouth of two or three witnesses. John 8:17, “It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.”   John 8:13,  “The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true.” Something new is suspect unless corroborated. But Jesus was an eyewitness of Heaven, and His testimony was substantiated by other witnesses, including God Himself. John 8:14,  “Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go.”

REPORTS ON JESUS. John the Baptist is witness of Jesus. John was a reputable person. John 10:41, “And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true.”  John the apostle was an eyewitness. John 19:35,  “And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.”  John the apostle was eyewitness to us (his writings). John 21:24,  “This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.”  JESUS' REPUTATION WAS CONFIRMED. Mark 12:14,  “And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: ...” 

TWO TYPES OF REPORTS: true and false. Believe the true report. 2 Corinthians 6:8 . Paul had both types. “By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true.”  Paul illustrates how one might have both reports, good and bad. His adversaries condemned him by untrue stories BUT HE REMAINED TRUE.

VERACITY.[vii] Accept and judge people righteously. Think respectfully of those that have substantiated good reputation. John 7:24, “Judge not according to the appearance [“superficiously”, A.T. Robertson] but judge righteous judgment.” Examples: 3 John 1:12, “Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true.” And certainly Jesus: Matthew 22:16, “And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men.” Even Jesus' enemies had to admit the obvious of His veracity.

THINK SOUNDNESS: [iv] “the quality of being based on valid reason or good judgment.” Don't accept/repeat gossip and stories unsubstantiated and unfounded. Subjects must be authentic and genuine. Titus 1:12, 13, “One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.”    “This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith.” 

REALITY.[v] VERIFY experiences as being REALITY and not judgment confused by deluded senses. Vine's example of things "true": conforming to reality versus delusion. Was the angel a dream or was he real? Acts 12:9,  “And he [Peter] went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.”  Check if reality. I was told by a lady that she'd been visited by Jesus Himself. When asked about what Jesus looked like, she said that he looked just like His picture. Of course, there are no pictures of the real Jesus nor are there any physical descriptions.

MANIFEST.[vi] TRUE GRACE VERSUS FALSE GRACE. Manifest is to be “clear or obvious to the eye or mind.” 1 Peter 5:12,  “By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand.” 

STEDFAST: OUR THINKING MUST HOLD ON TO WHAT WE HAVE PROVEN. DO NOT VARY OR TURN BACK. 2 Peter 2:22,  “But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.” Accept “true” things that are confirmed to you. Look for corroboration for truth: “evidence which confirms or supports a statement, theory, or finding; confirmation.”

Finally, believe and trust in God. He created us. His Spirit knows what makes us ideal. It is our thinking. The Spirit has characterized the ideal thoughts to be illuminated by the light. Accept and cultivate thoughts manifested to us not as false but as true: that is, things real, proven, sound, factual, and confirmed as truth. Think on these things.

- - Gaylon West 10/22/2021 edited by Janie R. Ward and Mary L. West.