Text: Matthew 5:33–37
[33] Again, you have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.’ [34] But I tell you not to swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; [35] or by the earth, for it is His footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. [36] Nor should you swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black. [37] Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ Anything more comes from the evil one.
From today’s reading, there are three important lessons for our lives.
1. Be trustworthy in what you say.
In a world where people often resort to elaborate promises or oaths to prove their sincerity, Jesus calls us back to the simplicity and power of truthful speech. When we say ‘yes’ or ‘no,’ it should carry the full weight of our commitment. People should not feel the need to say, “You swear,” because we are known to always tell the truth.
2. Be known for your truthfulness.
No oath at any level is necessary for a man or woman who is known for their truthfulness. We don’t swear by heaven, or earth, or even God. It may seem unnecessary to say this, but we have been trained to feel the need to enhance our truthfulness. As children, we heard, “I pinkie swear, or cross my heart and hope to die.” That is childish, but Jesus said that we are not to live this way. Our word is always good.
3. Be honest!
Keeping your word is about honesty. As God’s children, we must be honest and be known as someone who tells the truth. There are people in my life who, if they told me something that turned out to be false, my impulse would be to say they did not know at the time. I would not go to “They lied to me.” No, live your life so that others feel that way about you.
Lonnie Davis