Honesty and candour are lasting character treasures but it is necessary to  evaluate the quality of the resulting freedom. It is necessary because many things are called truth: only one of them is a candidate as saving truth. One reviewing every collection of commands, decrees, and judgments, one thing is certain: it takes more than any created thing to liberate humanity. There is not even a hnt of liberation in the Ten Commandments, and there is no record of anyone being ushered into the glorious liberty of God’s elect because they have kept any covenant. The business of setting people free has never happened on account of compliance with regulations. Something unique has to be brought to bear on our bondage.

He shall send from heaven, and save me [from] the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.

Psalm 57:3

The doublespeak about human performance, accountability, and identity is under the miscroscope. Animals, gold and silver are not liberating elements. For an ancient Israelite there was the lasting impression that money answers to everything. Even the ancient activity of returning (shub) to covenant or Yahweh is not a lifegiving activity. Coming back to worship Yahweh after an idolatrous excursion is not the same as changing one’s mind about the status quo and believing in God for finality. The blood of animals does not affect the source of poor human judgment and behaviour. The consciences of people who were occupied with gold, silver, grain, and animal blood sacrifices remained tainted with destructive desires and rebellion. Truth that liberates does not bring one under the yokes of the past. Christ has a new yoke that does not include any anxiety such as the law introduces with its hundreds of demands. Coming to the Truth, to Christ, brings rest, liberty from death’s terror and from the owners of death’s power, guaranteed.