We saw the principle of skillful means applied in the story of the man who rescued his children from the burning house by promising them toys if they would leave the house (= say whatever is necessary to save people).
This is consistent with the Mahayana ideal of the bodhisattva, who will do anything to bring others to enlightenment before he will seek enlightenment for himself.
The bodhisattva will adapt his methods to the needs of the people he seeks to help