Country Chatter

When someone says, “I tell you the truth” you have one of two thoughts; either they haven’t been telling the truth and now are or they want you to listen up, this is very important.

There are 76 times in the New Testament Jesus says, “I tell you the truth…” (NIV).  Depending on the translation, it may say “Verily, verily I say unto you…” (KJ) or “most assuredly I say unto you…”  (NKJ). A number of years ago, Bill Iazzi preached a message on some of Jesus’ statements of “I tell you the truth…” This became a challenge to me; I decided to find and write all 76 down. It makes an interesting read. Jesus is telling us to listen up, what I am saying is very important. Let Jesus’ words speak…..

Matthew:

1. (5:18) I tell you the truth, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one title will by no means pass from the law till it is fulfilled.
2. (5:25-26) ….I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.
3. (6:2) So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men.  I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
4. (6:5) And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men.  I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
5. (6:16) When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have their reward in full.
6. (8:10-12) I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel which such great faith.  I say to you that many will come from the east and the west and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.  But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where their will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
7. (10:15) I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.
8. (10:23) When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another.  I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
9. (10:42) And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.
10. (11:11) I tell you the truth:  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.
11. (13:17) I tell you the truth, 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.
12. (16:28) I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.
13. (17:20)  Because you have so little faith, I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, Move from here and it will move.  Nothing will be impossible for you.
14. (18:3) I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
15. (18:18) I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
16. (19:23) I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
17. (19:28) I tell you the truth, 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.
18. (21:21-22) I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, nor 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.  If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.
19. (21:31-32) I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.  For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did.
20. (23:35-36) And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. I tell you the truth, all this will come upon this generation.
21. (24:2) I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another, everyone will be thrown down.
22. (24:33-35) Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.  Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
23. (24:46-47) It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.
24. (25:11-12) Later the others also came. ‘Sir! Sir!’ they said. ‘Open the door for us!’  But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.’
25. (25:40) “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’
26. (25:45) “He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
27. (26:13) I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.
28. (26:34)” I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.”

Mark:

29.  (3:28-29) I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them.  But whosoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin.
30. (8:12) He sighed deeply and said, “Why does this generation ask for a miraculous sign? I tell you the truth, no sign will be given to it.”
31. (9:1) And he said to them, “I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power.”
32. (9:41) I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.
33. (10:15) I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.
34. (10:29-30) “I tell you the truth,” Jesus replied, “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 the present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields-and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life.
35. (11:22-23) “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go throw yourself in the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.
36. (12:43-44) Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.  They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything-all she had to live on.”
37. (13:30-31) “I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things happened.  Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”
38. (14:9) I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.
39. (14:25) I tell you the truth, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God.
40. (14:30) “I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “today-yes, tonight-before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times.”

Luke:

41. (4:24) “I tell you the truth,” he continued, “no prophet is accepted in his hometown.”
42. (9:27) I tell you the truth, some of you who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.
43. (12:37) It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them.
44. (12:43-44) It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.
45. (18:17) I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.
46. (18:29) “I tell you the truth, Jesus said to them, “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.”
47. (21:3) “I tell you the truth,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others.
48. (21:32-33) I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.  Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
49. (23:43) Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”

John:

50. (1:51) I tell you the truth, hereafter you will see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.
51. (3:3) I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless one is born again.
52. (3:5) I tell you the truth, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
53. (3:11) I tell you the truth, we speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness.
54. (5:19) I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.
55. (5:24) I tell you the truth, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.
56. (5:25) I tell you the truth, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live.
57. (6:26) I tell you the truth, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.
58. (6:32) I tell you the truth, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven.
59. (6:47-48) I tell you the truth, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.  I am the bread of heaven.
60. (6:53-54) I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.  Whoever eats My flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
61. (8:34) I tell you the truth, whoever commits sin is a slave to sin.
62. (8:45-47) But because I tell you the truth, you do not believe Me.  Which of you convicts Me of sin?  And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me?  He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore, you do not hear, because you are not of God.
63. (8:51) I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps My Word, he shall never see death.
64. (8:58) I tell you the truth, before Abraham was, I AM.
65. (10:1-2) I tell you the truth, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.  But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
66. (10:7) I tell you the truth, I am the door of the sheep.
67. (12:24) I tell you the truth, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.
68. (13:16) I tell you the truth, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him.
69. (13:20) I tell you the truth, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.
70. (13:21) I tell you the truth, one of you will betray Me.
71. (13:38) Will you lay down your life for My sake?  I tell you the truth, the rooster will shall not crow till you have denied Me three times.
72. (14:12) I tell you the truth, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.
73. (16:7) Nevertheless I tell you the truth.  It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.
74. (16:20) I tell you the truth, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.
75. (16:23) … I tell you the truth, what you ask of the Father in My name He will give you.
76.  (21:18) I tell you the truth, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.