Today we will look at the teaching of Jesus on oaths in Matthew 5:33-37.
Imagine gliding down a road, enjoying the thrill of movement when, suddenly and unexpectedly, your skateboard comes into contact with a pebble and you fly through the air to collide with the pavement.
Doesn’t a broken promise feel just like that?
With that feeling in mind on Sunday morning we studied Matthew 5:33-37. In his teaching on oaths, Jesus calls us to a simplicity and sincerity of heart and speech. His message calls us to reflect on the significance of our own words and the impact they have on others.
Rather than participating in the elaborate system of oath-making rules (which we develop to protect our interests) – Jesus asks us to simply yet our ‘yes’ be ‘yes’ and our ‘no’ be ‘no’.
Maintaining that kind of honesty can be difficult due to our disordered desires and our stubborn love of comfort and personal gain over the truth.
God provides the solution through an oath of his own – the gospel of the New Covenant. Through the cross of Christ, the only truly honest man who ever lived, oath-breakers like me can receive a new heart with new affections.
With hearts transformed by our faithful Savior, you and I can be truthful in all our dealings, creating a community where our words are trustworthy and our promises are kept.
Tom Brown is the planting pastor of Vintage Faith Church in Wichita. Tom and his wife, Mandy, have worked together in ministry for 18 years and have four children. More about Pastor Tom Brown