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The Sermon on the Mount

I Swear

Matthew 5:33-37

Matthew 5:33-37 – 33“Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath,but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’34But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all:either by heaven, for it is God’s throne;35or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King.36And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black.37All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’;anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

Keep It

Matthew 5:33 – “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath,but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’

(oath, swear, pledge, promise, vow)

Leviticus 19:12 – Do not swear falselyby my nameand so profanethe name of your God. I am theLord.

Numbers 30:2 – When a man makes a vow to theLordor takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word but must do everything he said.

Deuteronomy 23:21-23 – 21If you make a vow to theLordyour God, do not be slow to pay it,for theLordyour God will certainly demand it of you and you will be guilty of sin.22But if you refrain from making a vow, you will not be guilty.23Whatever your lips utter you must be sure to do, because you made your vow freely to theLordyour God with your own mouth.

Following Christ is already hard enough without us swearing to Him that we will do more.

It’s All His

Matthew 5:34-35 – 34But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all:either by heaven, for it is God’s throne;35or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King.

(This is not saying that there are not appropriate times to make an oath. As Christians, we do still make formal oaths/vows for things like marriage and in court. In the context of Jesus’ day there was a problem with people “swearing” by different things based on the truth of their statement. Here we see it playing out as “I swear by heaven, I swear by the earth, I swear by Jerusalem and I swear by my own head.”)

It’s all in front of God

Matthew 23:16-22 – 18You also say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gift on the altar is bound by that oath.’19You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred?20Therefore, anyone who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it.21And anyone who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwellsin it.22And anyone who swears by heaven swears by God’s throne and by the one who sits on it.

“I Swear” (“I put that on……”)

If you have to swear that you will follow through or that you’re telling the truth than you’ve probably already lost the strength of your word.

Still Not Yours

Matthew 5:36 –36And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black.

Even your own life isn’t your own.

Word is Bond

Matthew 5:37 – All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’;anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

James 5:12 - Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned.

If we are good for our word than a simple “yes” or “no” are more than enough.

(Am I good for my word?)

Becoming Trustworthy

1.  Start Small

·  Luke 16:10 – “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much,and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.

2.  Even when it hurts

·  Psalm 15:1-4 – 1Lord, who may dwellin your sacred tent?
Who may live on your holy mountain?

2The one whose walk is blameless,
who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truthfrom their heart;
3whose tongue utters no slander,
who does no wrong to a neighbor,
and casts no slur on others;
4who despises a vile person
but honorsthose who fear theLord;
who keeps an oatheven when it hurts,
and does not change their mind;

3.  Put in on your tablet

·  Proverbs 3:3-4 – 3Let love and faithfulnessnever leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4Then you will win favor and a good name
in the sight of God and man.

Good Name

Proverbs 22:1 – A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.

King’s Pleasure

Proverbs 16:13 – Kings take pleasure in honest lips; they value the one who speaks what is right.

God’s Delight

Proverbs 12:22 – TheLorddetests lying lips, but he delightsin people who are trustworthy.