Matthew 5:33-37
Today we come to the third comparison Jesus makes between the Mosaic Law and His teaching and the heart attitude He challenges this time is dishonesty.
In ancient societies oaths were used to resolve disputes, to seal agreements or covenants, or simply to affirm the truthfulness of important declarations. Under the Old Covenant people swore on the name of the Lord as a guarantee that they would do what they said (see Leviticus 19:12, Numbers 30:2, Deuteronomy 23:21).
However, by Jesus’ day the religious leaders had found a way around that. They wanted to appear righteous so they used oaths to add credibility to their statements, but they did it so they would be believed, not because they were telling the truth. They understood that swearing on the name of the Lord was binding, so they swore by other things instead – such as heaven, earth, Jerusalem or even their their own head. They did not intend to keep their promises but planned to take advantage of the fact that they had not invoked God’s name in their oath to avoid accountability for their actions.
Not surprisingly, Jesus challenged their dishonesty. He insisted that they could not fence off areas of their lives from God. He hears every word we speak and we are accountable to Him for them all.
Matthew 12:36-37 “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Dishonesty is common in today’s society. Politicians often break their election promises, the media contains fake news, scam calls and emails are commonplace. On a personal level, many people think nothing of lying to potential employers in order to get a job, or cheating on the spouse they promised to love and cherish for the rest of their life. But, as those in God’s kingdom we are called to be different. God’s kingdom is a kingdom of righteousness where people live in social harmony. Where there is deception there can be no unity. Trust is the bond which ties people together.
God sets us an example of absolute truthfulness. Titus 1:2 tells us that “God cannot lie”, while Psalm 119:160 declares “The entirety of Your word is truth.”
Numbers 23:19 “God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?
Lying is a characteristic of Satan, of whom Jesus said, “When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44). Proverbs 12:22 tells us that “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, But those who deal truthfully are His delight.”
Jesus made it clear that those who are truly godly will speak in such a way that their ‘Yes’ is always ‘Yes,’ and their ‘No,’ ‘No’. As God’s people we should live with such integrity and honesty that people know that our words can be trusted, without the need for any oaths to convince them.
How honest are you? This teaching of Jesus should cause us to look in the mirror and ask ourselves, “Are my words trustworthy or am I deliberately vague or dishonest at times? Do my actions validate what I say or do they contradict my words? Can I be counted on to do what I commit to?”
Ephesians 4:25 “Therefore, putting away lying, ‘Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbour,’ for we are members of one another.”
Prayer
Father God,
I thank You that You are utterly truthful and always keep your promises. I can depend on Your word because I know You will never go back on your promises, or change Your mind. I recognise that, as a citizen of Your kingdom, I should be like You but I know that I have not always been honest in my dealings with others. I ask You to forgive me and to help me to be truthful and trustworthy. And, if there is any underlying root of fear or insecurity in me that causes me to lie, I pray that you would show me how to walk in freedom, so that I can represent You more fully to those around me.
Amen.
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