Oaths,  Matthew 5:33-37

This post concerns what Jesus taught about oaths and telling the truth.

Oaths describes what the scribes and Pharisees taught about swearing versus what Jesus taught, Matthew 5:33-37. “…you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, … the throne of God, or by the earth, …his footstool, or by Jerusalem, … the city of the great King. And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.”

The scribes and Pharisees instructed people not to pronounce God’s name supposedly for fear of mispronouncing it. They substituted other words—heaven, earth, and Jerusalem—for God’s name when they uttered oaths. They would say, “I swear I will repay or do this thing by ______ and substitute another word for God’s name.  Then, when called upon to keep their word, they would say “I did not swear by God. So, I do not have to pay or keep this oath.”

Jesus dismissed all such swearing. Instead, people should always tell the truth. Thus, when called upon, they would do what they promised to do. So, we should always tell the truth. Then, the need for oaths disappears.

This prohibition also fits what God had said in the Old Testament, Leviticus 19:12. “You shall not swear by my name falsely, and so profane the name of your God: I am the LORD.” To not do something or not pay would constitute a lie.

God has never been pleased with lying, Proverbs 6:16-19. “…six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.” Lying finds itself listed with six other horrible sins.

So, what did we learn?

1.Always keeping your word negates oaths.

2.Speaking the truth characterizes disciples.

3.God hates lying.

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#alwaysTellTruth #OathsNotNecessary #SwearNot