Matthew 5:33-37

Oaths ~

I promise, I swear I'll do such & such.  I'm telling the truth . . .

In the Old Testament people were reminded to keep their oaths.  Don't enter a contract or make a verbal oath that you don't intend to keep.  Yet, Jesus takes it one step further - don't even make the oath.

What can you promise by?  What can you swear by?  Heaven or earth which you have no control over?  On your mother's grave or by the hairs on your head?  What power do you have over those things?  How do these things give you the ability to keep your promise?

How about you not make oaths in the first place.  It occurs to me that the need to make an oath shows that you are an untrustworthy person.  Think about it - if your "yes" can't be trusted, what does that say about your heart - your motivation?  What does that say about you as an individual?

Let's make every effort to be trustworthy Christians.  People who are known to follow through, to get the task accomplished to our best ability.  Let us be people of integrity & worth.  If you find yourself making promises - examine your heart.  What do you need to change?

You may not have power over heaven, or earth, or even the aging of your own body - but you do have power over your actions.  Let's put our focus there.