Pastor Terry Cheek Th.D.

January allows us to resume our study of the Sermon on the Mount. Before we resume I would like to welcome any new readers to the Blue Ridge Christian News or the Inspiring Word Ministry. If you would like to access the series, you may contact BRCN or visit our website at sermonaudio.com/pastorterry and click the blog tab.

We begin 2016 with a very timely and interesting passage. Matthew 5:33-37 tells us “Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:(34) But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:(35) Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. (36) Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. (37) But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

This practice of taking an oath was deeply rooted in Pharisee practice, influence and tradition. In the first century a man took an oath to affirm his word, testimony or witness when his character or reputation was questioned. Taking an oath also involved accepting a curse that he placed on himself if his word, testimony or witness were not true or his promise fulfilled. This was exampled in the Apostle Peter when he was confronted in the courtyard of the high priest during the trial of Jesus. We read the account in Matthew 26:69-74.

Oaths were permitted under the law; for example, Exodus 22:10-11 tells us “If a man deliver unto his neighbor an ass, or an ox, or a sheep, or any beast, to keep; and it die, or be hurt, or driven away, no man seeing it: (11) Then shall an oath of the LORD be between them both, that he hath not put his hand unto his neighbor’s goods; and the owner of it shall accept thereof, and he shall not make it good.” Likewise, Abraham made is servant take an oath; Genesis 24:2-3 tells us “And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh: (3) And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:”

During the Lord’s day men would take an oath calling heaven or the city of Jerusalem or even the temple to witness the veracity of their words; see verses 34 & 35. This gave the Pharisees a warrant for permitting yet avoiding any obligation of the oath. This was a very superficial formality, because to the Pharisee’s it meant they would not be guilty of perjury and would not be put under any obligation by affirming as true that which they may know to be false!

This did not mean the practice of an oath was a bad thing. Like anything God puts before man we have a tendency to defile it. Do you realize Christ Himself was put under an oath? Matthew 26:63-64 tells us “But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God. (64) Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.” When the high priest stated “I adjure thee” he asks an oath of the Lord. We can conclude that Jesus did not forbid His hearers to put themselves under an oath.

The Lord’s emphasis is placed on our character, reputation, honesty and word being true, undefiled and without question to the point that no one would think it necessary to put us under oath. In other words, no one should have legitimate reason to suspect us of deception.

Unfortunately, the Pharisees took oaths that affirmed things that could be understood in more than one way. There were moral and ethical reservations about what they were affirming.

Christ closes this passage by telling us to let our yes be yes and our no be no. In other words, right is never wrong and wrong is never right. Likewise, a true child of God understands right and wrong are determined by the infallibility of God’s word.