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“Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.’
But I tell you, Do not swear at all… Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
(Matt 5:33-34, 37 NIV84) [see these verses in their context below]
The problem with oaths.
Years ago, I was summoned for a deposition by the ACLU in a lawsuit against the school district where I pastored. I had given a prayer at a high school graduation, which prompted an injunction against our school district.
It was one of the last times prayer or the mention of God was allowed at a public high school graduation in the state of California.
As the deposition started, I was sworn in with my hand on a Bible. I chuckled at the irony of this and the school district’s attorney told me the ACLU was going after that too.
Nowadays, people are allowed to make an affirmation of truthfulness rather than an oath with their hand on the Bible.
The whole process of someone being sworn in at a court proceeding stirred controversy long before the existence of the ACLU. It may surprise you but it was stirred up by a sect of Christians known as Quakers who believed Jesus mandated that no oaths should be taken.
This can be a matter of conscience or become a legalistic concern. The real question ought to be—Why would Jesus speak against the swearing of oaths?
I remember childhood ways of insisting that we told the truth. Things like, I swear on a stack of Bibles and cross my heart, hope to die.
But why do we do such things? Why should we need to add some type of oath to affirm what we say?
Insights
People make promises. People break promises. Some truly intend to keep their promises but don’t because of circumstances beyond their control.
Then there are those who make promises with no intention of keeping them. This could range from promises to be faithful in a relationship, a warranty, or making some commitment in a business deal.
The end result is the same—broken trust. This broken trust reflects upon the character of the one who made the promise and breeds a general mistrust of others, even when a person might be trustworthy.
When making a promise through some form of an oath sworn to bind us, we appeal to someone or something greater than ourselves. We do so to provide some assurance we will keep our word.
As with other portions of the Law, Jewish rabbis and leaders found a way to get around certain restrictions of the Law. The OT Scriptures make clear that any oath was considered binding and unalterable (Exo 20:7; Lev 19:12; Num 30:2; Deut 23:21-23).
If you make a vow to the Lord your God, do not be slow to pay it, for the Lord your God will certainly demand it of you and you will be guilty of sin. (Deut 23:21 NIV)
So, instead of making oaths by the name of the Lord, oaths were made based on supposed lesser standards to verify a promise. If or when the promise was not kept, it was not deemed as binding as when swearing by the name of the Lord.
This hedging of promises, this attempt to create a legal loophole of oaths, is what Jesus addressed.
Redefining and Fulfilling God’s Law
Trust is hard to gain but easy to lose. Think of who you trust, especially the people with whom you’d trust your life. What makes them trustworthy?
Generally, we trust people who prove themselves worthy of our trust. It’s not just what they’ve done but who they are. They have a quality of character, a sense of integrity. They are honest, good, and reliable. This is what Jesus means when He says—
Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
Anything beyond yes or no indicates our own uncertainty, or worse, our lack of integrity. When we begin to qualify our yes or no, it’s like saying—I’m not sure you can trust what I say.
If someone is evasive and uncertain when they tell you something, or can’t give you a straightforward yes or no, it’s as if they’re telling you—Don’t trust what I say.
Now more than ever, we long for honesty and trustworthiness in people. And others expect and want the same from us.
We live in a cultural climate of duplicity, deception, and cynicism.
Imagine how dramatic a change it would be if those around us, those we interact with in life, and people in leadership were honest and trustworthy!
It starts with you and me. Each of us is responsible to let our yes be yes and our no, no. We—especially followers of Jesus—are called to be an influence for good.
Our example of integrity, our trustworthiness of character will have a ripple effect on the people around us.
Stand firm in your trust in the Lord by simply giving a yes or no without qualification.
Reflection—
Imagine how dramatic a change it would be if those around us, those we interact with in life, and people in leadership were honest and trustworthy!
It starts with you and me. Each of us is responsible to let our yes be yes and our no, no.
Prayer Focus—
When you find yourself wavering on commitments or promises and the need to give direct answers, ask the Lord for confidence and discernment. Ask the Lord to keep you from making promises you can’t or won’t keep and for the integrity of character needed to be honest.
Devo Scripture Text
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.”
“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca, ’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.”
“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.
Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.”
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.”
“It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.”
“Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.’ But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King.
And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.”
(Matthew 5:17-37 NIV84)