Hard sayings of jesus yes or no

By Jory Leong

Matthew 5:33-37

1. Matt 5:33-37 Swearing oaths

2. Matt 5:21-22 Speech

3. Matt 5:43-48 Love your enemies

4. Matt 7:21-23 True or false disciples

Matthew 5:33-37

Matthew 5:33-37

“Again, you have heard that it was said to the

people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but

fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ But I

tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by

heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth,

for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the

city of the Great King. And do not swear by your

head, for you cannot make even one hair white

or black. All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or

‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil

one.”

What is an Oath?

Formal version

of a promise

In Biblical times, oaths are solemn

declarations that invoke God as a witness

of one’s statements & promises

Matthew 5:33-37

The Question

The Teaching

The Lesson

Can Christians make an oath?

What is Jesus saying?

What’s the application?

Matthew 5:34

“But I tell you, do

not swear an oath

at all..”

The Question:

Can Christians make an oath?

Christians can make an oath

because…

• God instituted & swear oaths

Numbers 30

Hebrews 6:13

Acts 2:30

Psalm 110:4

Christians can make an oath

because…

• God instituted & swear oaths

• Jesus testified under oath

Matthew 26:63

Christians can make an oath

because…

• God instituted & swear oaths

• Jesus testified under oath

• Paul swore oaths

Romans 1:9-10

2 Corinthians 1:23

Galatians 1:20

Philippians 1:8

1 Thessalonians 2:5

Christians can make an oath

because…

• God instituted & swear oaths

• Jesus testified under oath

• Paul swore oaths

• Oath-taking part of Greek & Roman culture

• If an oath didn’t expressly invoke the name

of God, it didn’t matter

• Jesus said don’t swear an oath

by heaven – God’s throne

by earth – God’s stool

by Jerusalem – city of the Great King

by your head – God is sovereign

The Teaching:

What is Jesus saying?

I, Barack Hussein

Obama, do

solemnly swear

that I will

faithfully execute

the Office of

President of the

United States …

I, Barack Hussein

Obama, do

solemnly swear

that I will execute

the Office of

President of the

United States

faithfully …

Jesus wasn’t

prohibiting the

taking of all

oaths, but the

misuse of oaths

The Teaching:

What is Jesus saying?

“Jesus wasn’t addressing whether or not we should take an oath. He was talking about whether or not we are truthful…. We don’t tell the truth because we have taken an oath; we tell the truth because we are truthful.”

The Lesson:

What’s the application?

“Heart is used in Scripture as the most comprehensive term for the authentic person. It is the part of our being where we desire, deliberate, and decide.…. The place to which God turns.”

一

言

既

出

驷

马

难

追

Once a sentence goes out

it cannot be overtaken by a chariot with 4 horses

Matthew 5:33-37

The Question: Can

Christians make an

oath?

The Teaching: What

is Jesus saying?

The Lesson: What’s the

application?

Yes, because God the Father, Christ & Paul swore oaths

Don’t abuse oaths Speak the truth

Matter of the Heart