The Guileless Man

The Guileless Man
Robert Wurtz II

Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! (John 1:47)

Though his hatred is covered by deceit, His wickedness will be revealed before the assembly. (Proverbs 26:26 NKJV)

Someone once said, “God cannot change the person you are pretending to be.” Many people are able to feighn all kinds of personalities in short bursts. They alter their beliefs and convictions depending on present company. Sometimes you want to ask, “Who really are you? What do you really believe?” Sadly, those who have made a practice of such behavior could not tell you. They don’t seem to feel strongly about anything. Moreover, they have put up appearances and play acted for so long, that they don’t even know who they really are. They have no concrete identity. Others say or do whatever is necessary to win a person over to their cause. With so much pretense and fakery in the world, the very foundations of trust are often in shambles. People who live this way are very dangerous and can never be trusted. 

I have chosen two texts to illustrate the meaning of the Greek word dulos, which is translated as “guile” in John 1:47, and “deceit” in Proverbs 26:26 (LXX). The word is first used in Genesis 27:35 (LXX) when Isaac stated, “Your brother, coming with deceit, took away your blessing.” (Genesis 27:35 NETS) Jacob had disguised himself in order to acquire the blessing of the first born. His mother was also a party to the strategy. After this event, Jacob apparently repented of being deceitful and received the name Israel. (Genesis 32:28) Interestingly, a few verses after John 1:47, our Lord called to remembrance Jacob’s ladder experience. (John 1:51) This is the context of the sure statement that Nathanael was an “Israelite indeed, in whom was no guile!“

Nathanael (Bartholomew) was the type of man who called it like he saw it. For example, when Philip came to tell him about Jesus he stated, “Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” (John 1:46 KJV) Nevertheless, being the type of person who would turn on a dime when the evidence warranted it, he became one of the first people to acknowledge Jesus Christ as the Messiah.

The Contrast

Though his hatred is covered by deceit, His wickedness will be revealed before the assembly. (Proverbs 26:26 NKJV)

Unlike Nathanael, there is a type of person who can hate you in their heart, but cover their feelings with guile — so that you cannot tell how they truly feel until it is revealed. We have additional insight into this behavior when we read; “The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever utters slander is a fool.” (Proverbs 10:18 ESV) Think about how this passage contrasts with Nathanael. The word for hatred is translated as enmity in the NETS. When a person conceals their hostility, it is bound to come out. It will often manifest in slanderous acts and other forms of maliciousness and treachery. Where there is competition, there is usually enmity. Where there is enmity, there is likely to be slander and deceit (guile). This is just one progression and expression of the behavior. 

Guilelessness