Matthew 5:34

34          But I say to you, take no oath at all, neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God,

You Have Heard It Said

Exodus 20:7   “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain.

This connection is something that I struggle with at face value. I understand that the original command was to not do or say things in God’s name that deliberately go against God’s will, goodness, and sovereignty. Jesus tells us to not do things by anyone’s name, especially heaven – because it is God’s throne. Now, I recognize that this is a partial quote of what Jesus said. Jesus continues through verse 35 to say that we shouldn’t make an oath with the following: the earth (because it’s the footstool of God’s throne) or Jerusalem (because it’s the city of the Great King.) Overall, I think it’s important to understand what Jesus meant by an oath, and how it’s connected to God’s domain.

REFLECTION CHECKPOINT: How do you interpret the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:34-35? How do you see a connection to Exodus 20:7?

Let Your Actions Match Your Words

Jesus is describing an issue of oaths and the integrity of our word. In the cultural context of time, there was frequent swearing by different entities in order to assert truthfulness. Jesus still wants to be honest and integrity-filled, but without the need of an oath. The goal is for Christians to let their “yes” be “yes” and their “no” be “no.” Now, it was common for the Jewish people to swear by heaven because it was a way to invoke a higher authority without directly using God’s name. They were trying to avoid using God’s name in any way, but Jesus is saying to them, and to us, that it’s inappropriate because it’s still indirectly invoking God’s power. To share that heaven is God’s throne, Jesus is showing us the seriousness of invoking heaven in an oath, because it’s directly connecting to God’s power and presence.

So, I understand Jesus’s teaching is a reminder to us that we should just do what we must because God’s taught us and because we are supposed to. When we are starting to invoke God in our actions, we are diminishing God’s power and presence because when we invoke God to guarantee our actions, we risk making His reliability dependent upon our performance. The goal would ultimately be: “If we say we’re going to do it, we do it.” Don’t build it up or make a show of it but let our actions speak for us. Our words do not need to speak for our actions. We can give a lot of positive words, talk a good game – but until our actions match it, they are just a noisy gong. We can move in the right direction by helping as many people we can with the resources we have. We can move in the right direction by keeping our boundaries firm and resisting any temptation to pull ourselves into a place that we didn’t want to be in.

REFLECTION CHECKPOINT: How can you let your “yes” be “yes” and your “no” be “no?”

Be Wary of Judgment

James takes this action a little deeper by what he says in James 5:12:

12          But above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No,” lest you fall into judgment.

There was much added, but the last five words create our reasoning to abide by the original command: “lest you fall into judgment.”

The Greek Word for judgment in this context is krisis (KREE-sis). It’s described as a holy evaluation of all things by God. His judgment comes from perfect righteousness and is both inescapable and trustworthy. Divine judgment comes from a place of justice and mercy, offering a place of forgiveness before a final judgment.

When our actions don’t live up to our words, we will face judgment. Not just judgment from those around us, but judgment from our ultimate Creator. Our actions and words will be held under God’s righteousness. Go dis the ultimate source of knowing right and wrong, so therefore our words and actions must align to God’s standard and will. When they don’t we start to face the consequences of the justice and mercy that would be served. Sometimes we will lose relationships, tangible items, or opportunities to advance as a result of our actions and everything surrounding them. Sometimes we lose the opportunity of reconciliation. We must be mindful of our actions and words so that we can reflect God to the world as best as we can!

REFLECTION CHECKPOINT: How can your words and actions be best reflected to those around you, so that you can share Christ with all you meet?

Next part: Understanding the Sabbath || You Have Heard It Said || Part 4