In the Fulness of Time/Part 17
| By: Dr. Thomas O. Figart; ©2007 |
| Dr. Figart examines what Scripture has to say about honesty, particularly in the Sermon on the Mount. A call to integrity as much needed today as it was back in the first century. |
Abraham Lincoln, our sixteenth President of the United States of America, had such high moral and ethical standards, that he became known as “Honest Abe.” How sad that our President today has become known as “Slick Willie” and has had perjury added to the list of accusations against his character. What did Jesus teach about the sin of perjury? Following are His words from Matthew 5:33:
What the Law of Moses Said
- Matthew 5:33 “Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old. Thou shalt not perjure thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths.”
This admonition of the Lord does not cover all the Old Testament verses dealing with vows, but it does summarize what was taught by the Jews. The first part of the verse, “Thou shalt not perjure thyself” probably refers to Leviticus 19:12, “Ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.” Any Jew taking an oath in God’s Name was bound to fulfill it or he would be breaking the Third Commandment, taking the Name of the LORD in vain (Exodus 20:7). To avoid this, the Pharisees would take oaths in the name of other things, but such oaths were not binding, so it became an occasion for lying. They were literally perjuring themselves by these oaths. In Matthew 23:15-22 Christ discusses these very things by which they “swore” and denounces them as hypocrites. The Law of Moses distinctly commanded that vows were to be made in the name of Jehovah (Deuteronomy 6:13), yet these Pharisees were deliberately by-passing this law so they would not have to keep their vows.
What Christ Said: Negatively. Matthew 5:34-36
- Matthew 5:34a “But I say unto you, Swear not at all.“
Do not use God’s Name to make promises you cannot keep, and by all means, do not make any promises if your motives are not honorable. This statement of Jesus does not eliminate the possibility of taking oaths; if this were so, it would contradict Scripture. Indeed, God Himself swore with an oath to Abraham in Genesis 22:16-18; Luke 1:73; Hebrews 6:13-17. The point Christ makes is that oaths should not be made hypocritically no matter what the basis of the oath may be. He then lists four examples.
- Matthew 5:34b “neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne.“
You will violate the very presence of God by doing so. In Matthew 23:22 Christ denounced the hypocrisy of the Pharisees in this very matter by reminding them that if one swears by heaven he “sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth on it.” Thus, there is no way of swearing by heaven and not involving the Name of God in their hypocrisy! They are violating not only the presence of God, but His Person as well!
- Matthew 5:35a “Nor by the earth, for it is His footstool.“
The entire creation involves the power of God as well as His Person. You cannot get away with hypocritical vows, thinking that swearing by the earth does not include the Name of God, for it does. You are violating the work of God!
- Matthew 5:35b “Neither by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.“
Whether this refers to the Father or to the Son, the application is the same. In Psalm 48:1-2 it is ascribed to Jehovah: “Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised in the city of our God . . .Mt. Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.” In Psalm 2:5-12 God Himself says, “Yet I have set my king upon my holy hill of Zion . . The LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee . . . Ask of me and I shall give thee the nations . . .the uttermost part of the earth for thy possession.” Thus, to swear by Jerusalem is to violate the Persons of both the Father and the Son.
- Matthew 5:36 “Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.”
Even making promises on the authority of your head is related directly to God, since you cannot change one hair in color; only God can do that, and He has numbered each hair, according to Matthew 10:20. In swearing by your head you are implying that you are in charge of God’s plan for you, thus you are violating the program of God.
What Christ Said: Positively. Matthew 5:37
- Matthew 5:37a “But let your communication be Yea, yea; Nay, nay“
Just be honest! What is needed is a re-evaluation of oath taking. Why is it necessary to do anything more than to say yes or no? In some cases taking an oath may be construed that your simple, honest words are not to be trusted. A godly person can be trusted to mean what he says. Do not be afraid to say no, if there is any doubt about your ability or motivation to fulfill a responsibility. Some people say yes too easily and too frequently for their own good. On the other hand, do not hesitate to say yes when it is in the power of your hand to do good (Proverbs 3:27).
- Matthew 5:37b “For whatever is more than these cometh of evil.“
The words, “cometh of evil” can be translated, “cometh of the evil” or “cometh of the evil one.” Greek grammar will allow for either emphasis. Both things are true; we are living in an evil world controlled by the Evil One. There are times when we must take oaths since we are living in this evil world. Something more than a simple yes or no is necessary for official documents. We must be in subjection to legal oaths in a well-ordered society, to avoid controversy, as Hebrews 6:16 indicates. But on a personal level, as James 5:12 admonishes, we are not to swear; rather let our yea be yea and our nay be nay.
In the kingdom of heaven which Jesus is offering to the Jews, He will not allow for lying nor perjury such as the Pharisees practiced. Therefore, if your righteousness is not any better than the righteousness of the hypocritical, lying Pharisees, you will in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven, which will come “in the fullness of time.”
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