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Sermon by Jory Leong on 23 Feb 2014 Starting on new sermon series on Hard Sayings of Jesus
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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