The Sermon on the Mount: Oaths. v33: What They Heard Again you heard that it was said to the ancients “You shall not swear falsely, but you will fulfill.

The Sermon on the Mount: The Sermon on the Mount: OathsOaths

v33: What They Heardv33: What They Heard

Again you heard that it was said to the Again you heard that it was said to the ancientsancients

““You shall not swear falsely,You shall not swear falsely,

but you will fulfill to the Lord your but you will fulfill to the Lord your oaths.”oaths.”

Leviticus 19:12Leviticus 19:12

1212‘You shall not swear falsely by My name, so as to ‘You shall not swear falsely by My name, so as to profane the name of your God; I am the Lord. profane the name of your God; I am the Lord.

• Culturally, swearing by the local deity was Culturally, swearing by the local deity was meant to make the person’s contract or oath meant to make the person’s contract or oath more binding.more binding.– ““As God is my witness...”As God is my witness...”

• This practice brought another party to the This practice brought another party to the agreement so that if you broke your promise, agreement so that if you broke your promise, you were in trouble with the gods as well as you were in trouble with the gods as well as men.men.

• The LORD forbade the typical cultural abuse of The LORD forbade the typical cultural abuse of this practice, bringing a focus on His this practice, bringing a focus on His reputationreputation..

• For Israel to lie in His name was to lie about Him.For Israel to lie in His name was to lie about Him.

The Arrogance AngleThe Arrogance Angle

1.1. The The arrogancearrogance of assuming the prerogatives of of assuming the prerogatives of another person, especially the Creator of the another person, especially the Creator of the Universe, for your purposes is the opposite of Universe, for your purposes is the opposite of God’s plan for your life.God’s plan for your life.

2.2. Idolaters have no trouble saying Ba’al guarantees Idolaters have no trouble saying Ba’al guarantees an oath because they made the idol in the first an oath because they made the idol in the first place.place.

3.3. We are not here to tell God how it is.We are not here to tell God how it is.

4.4. We are here to submit to God’s view of reality and We are here to submit to God’s view of reality and live out our lives in full submission to His plan.live out our lives in full submission to His plan.

5.5. God has already made the promises to which He God has already made the promises to which He has committed Himself. has committed Himself.

6.6. Our task is to communicate those promises to the Our task is to communicate those promises to the world.world.

Numbers 30: The Law of Numbers 30: The Law of VowsVows

   2     “If a man makes a vow to the Lord, or 2     “If a man makes a vow to the Lord, or takes an oath to bind himself with a binding takes an oath to bind himself with a binding obligation, he shall not violate his word; he obligation, he shall not violate his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth. mouth.

• The Law of keeping your obligations meant that The Law of keeping your obligations meant that the Israelite was to be the most trustworthy the Israelite was to be the most trustworthy person of the ancient world.person of the ancient world.

• Intentional deceit Intentional deceit was forbidden.was forbidden.• Not fulfilling one’s obligations Not fulfilling one’s obligations was also was also

forbidden.forbidden.• This is not difficult if you have control of your This is not difficult if you have control of your

tongue and an organized life.tongue and an organized life.

Deuteronomy 23Deuteronomy 23

          21     “When you make a vow to the Lord 21     “When you make a vow to the Lord your God, you shall not delay to pay it, for it your God, you shall not delay to pay it, for it would be sin in you, and the Lord your God would be sin in you, and the Lord your God will surely require it of you. will surely require it of you.

          22     “However, if you refrain from vowing, 22     “However, if you refrain from vowing, it would not be sin in you. it would not be sin in you.

          23     “You shall 23     “You shall be careful be careful to perform to perform what goes out from your lips, just as you what goes out from your lips, just as you have voluntarily vowed to the Lord your God have voluntarily vowed to the Lord your God what you have promised. what you have promised.

Biblical EthicsBiblical Ethics

• There is more going on in your personal integrity than There is more going on in your personal integrity than whether you get into trouble with other people.whether you get into trouble with other people.

• People often liePeople often lie– to avoid trouble with those in authority over themto avoid trouble with those in authority over them– to avoid trouble with moneyto avoid trouble with money– to achieve some perceived benefit to themselves.to achieve some perceived benefit to themselves.

• Often, well-intentioned people fail to fulfill their Often, well-intentioned people fail to fulfill their commitments because they over-commit. Prov 6:1-5commitments because they over-commit. Prov 6:1-5

• The ethical standard is not other people but God.The ethical standard is not other people but God.• Lying gets us in trouble with the God of truth.Lying gets us in trouble with the God of truth.• Failing to fulfill our commitments gets us in trouble Failing to fulfill our commitments gets us in trouble

with the God who keeps His word.with the God who keeps His word.

God’s Reputation is Our God’s Reputation is Our ResponsibilityResponsibility

1.1. As God’s representative people to the world, As God’s representative people to the world, Israel was responsible to be Holy.Israel was responsible to be Holy.

2.2. This was a ministry to the world by example.This was a ministry to the world by example.

3.3. That ministry of distinction was one major That ministry of distinction was one major purpose of the Mosaic Law.purpose of the Mosaic Law.

4.4. We, the Church, are not bound by the Mosaic We, the Church, are not bound by the Mosaic Covenant but by the baptism of the Holy Spirit.Covenant but by the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

5.5. Therefore we are His representatives but not as Therefore we are His representatives but not as a nation under the Mosaic Law.a nation under the Mosaic Law.

6.6. God’s veracity is demonstrated by your honesty.God’s veracity is demonstrated by your honesty.

7.7. A lie from God’s representative agent suggests A lie from God’s representative agent suggests that God is dishonest.that God is dishonest.

Matthew 5v33: What They Matthew 5v33: What They HeardHeard

Again you heard that it was said to the Again you heard that it was said to the ancientsancients

““You shall not swear falsely,You shall not swear falsely,

but you will fulfill to the Lord your but you will fulfill to the Lord your oaths.”oaths.”

What They Were Doing With What They Were Doing With ItIt

DIVIDING THEIR DIVIDING THEIR “HONEST” WORD “HONEST” WORD FROM THEIR WORD.FROM THEIR WORD.

vv34-37: What It Meantvv34-37: What It Meant

3434NowNow I say to you not to take an oath at all; I say to you not to take an oath at all;

Neither by heaven because it is the throne of Neither by heaven because it is the throne of GodGod335Nor by earth because it is the footstool of 5Nor by earth because it is the footstool of His feet;His feet;

Nor by Jerusalem because it is the city of the Nor by Jerusalem because it is the city of the Great King;Great King;3636Nor by your head should you take an oath Nor by your head should you take an oath because you are not able to make one hair because you are not able to make one hair white or black!white or black!

3737But But let your word be yes yes, no no;let your word be yes yes, no no;

FurthermoreFurthermore, anything more than this is from , anything more than this is from the source of evil.the source of evil.

What What CanCan You Control? You Control?

1.1. Nothing you can swear by to evoke its Nothing you can swear by to evoke its faithfulness is under your control except yourself.faithfulness is under your control except yourself.

2.2. Creation is God’s, and to claim authority over it as Creation is God’s, and to claim authority over it as collateral in an obligation is tantamount to collateral in an obligation is tantamount to stealing.stealing.– Example: You don’t mortgage someone else’s Example: You don’t mortgage someone else’s

house to improve your own.house to improve your own.– Example: You don’t steal someone’s property Example: You don’t steal someone’s property

and hock it at the pawn shop to buy groceriesand hock it at the pawn shop to buy groceries– Example: No one has a right before God to Example: No one has a right before God to

enrich one person with the property of another enrich one person with the property of another person.person.

3.3. Jesus makes Jesus makes capabilitycapability the main issue regarding the main issue regarding your word.your word.

4.4. You You cannot cannot control creation!control creation!

5.5. You You cancan control your choices. control your choices.

6.6. There will be no one to blame when you are There will be no one to blame when you are caught in a lie or fail to do what you say caught in a lie or fail to do what you say you will do.you will do.

Of Evil?Of Evil?

3737But But let your word be yes yes, no no;let your word be yes yes, no no;

FurthermoreFurthermore, anything more than this is , anything more than this is from the source of evil.from the source of evil.

• There is no room for division between There is no room for division between statements that are divine viewpoint and statements that are divine viewpoint and statements that are human viewpoint.statements that are human viewpoint.

• Either you have to deal in absolute truth or Either you have to deal in absolute truth or you are deceiving yourself with the world’s you are deceiving yourself with the world’s lies.lies.

All Promises are “to” the All Promises are “to” the LordLord

1.1. There is nothing you can swear by that does There is nothing you can swear by that does not somehow reflect the character of God.not somehow reflect the character of God.

2.2. This is because everything truly good comes This is because everything truly good comes from God.from God.

3.3. Therefore when you say something it is Therefore when you say something it is supposed to be a representation of absolute supposed to be a representation of absolute truth.truth.

4.4. This kind of ethic goes far beyond the world’s This kind of ethic goes far beyond the world’s idea of integrity.idea of integrity.

5.5. Our integrity is bound to the character of God.Our integrity is bound to the character of God.

6.6. The world’s integrity is bound to the character The world’s integrity is bound to the character of an individual—motivated by pride, lust, etc.of an individual—motivated by pride, lust, etc.

7. The culture has no absolute basis for saying 7. The culture has no absolute basis for saying something is right or wrong.something is right or wrong.

8.8. The believer has God as the absolute basis The believer has God as the absolute basis for norms and standards—for norms and standards—and nothing elseand nothing else..

9.9. Knowing God’s character means a life of Knowing God’s character means a life of Scriptural Saturation. Scriptural Saturation. Why?Why?– inner temptation and DECEPTION from inner temptation and DECEPTION from

the Old Sin Naturethe Old Sin Nature– outer temptation and DECEPTION from outer temptation and DECEPTION from

the Kosmos—Satan, his fallen angels, the Kosmos—Satan, his fallen angels, and the world of humans who have and the world of humans who have absorbed his lies.absorbed his lies.

10.10. In Christ you have overcome the world, the In Christ you have overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil.flesh, and the devil.

11.11.But past victories do not guarantee present But past victories do not guarantee present ones. Salvation requires exploitation.ones. Salvation requires exploitation.

12.12. You have the potential to glorify God in You have the potential to glorify God in word and deed because God the Holy Spirit word and deed because God the Holy Spirit indwells and fills you. indwells and fills you.

13.13.Your combat becomes a matter of truth Your combat becomes a matter of truth believed and lived. believed and lived.

14.14.The greatest casualty of your spiritual life The greatest casualty of your spiritual life will be your witness. will be your witness.

Mt 5:38-42: RetaliationMt 5:38-42: Retaliation

38 You heard that 38 You heard that

It was told It was told

““Eye for eye and tooth for Eye for eye and tooth for tooth.”tooth.”

• Ex 21:22-25Ex 21:22-25• Lev 24:20Lev 24:20• Dt 19:18-21Dt 19:18-21

Ex 21:22-25Ex 21:22-25

          22     “If men struggle with each other and 22     “If men struggle with each other and strike a woman with child so that she gives strike a woman with child so that she gives birth prematurely, yet there is no injury, he birth prematurely, yet there is no injury, he shall surely be fined as the woman’s husband shall surely be fined as the woman’s husband may demand of him, and he shall pay as the may demand of him, and he shall pay as the judges decide. judges decide.

          23     “But if there is any further injury, then 23     “But if there is any further injury, then you shall appoint as a penalty life for life, you shall appoint as a penalty life for life,

          24     eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for 24     eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, hand, foot for foot,

          25     burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise 25     burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruisefor bruise

Dt 19:18-21Dt 19:18-21

Dt 19:18-21Dt 19:18-21

          18     “The judges shall investigate 18     “The judges shall investigate thoroughly, and if the witness is a false witness thoroughly, and if the witness is a false witness and he has accused his brother falsely, and he has accused his brother falsely,

          19     then you shall do to him just as he had 19     then you shall do to him just as he had intended to do to his brother. Thus you shall intended to do to his brother. Thus you shall purge the evil from among you. purge the evil from among you.

          20     “The rest will hear and be afraid, and 20     “The rest will hear and be afraid, and will never again do such an evil thing among will never again do such an evil thing among you. you.

          21     “Thus you shall not show pity: life for 21     “Thus you shall not show pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot. foot for foot.

What is the What is the Lex TalionisLex Talionis

1.1. This “eye for eye” law applies to personal injury This “eye for eye” law applies to personal injury only.only.

2.2. The law is for use in court to determine just The law is for use in court to determine just punishments for personal wrongs.punishments for personal wrongs.

3.3. There is no provision for vigilantism in the There is no provision for vigilantism in the statements of “an eye for an eye.”statements of “an eye for an eye.”

4.4. This law was a This law was a limitationlimitation on retaliation. on retaliation.

Ex: Lamech: Gen 4:15, 23-24Ex: Lamech: Gen 4:15, 23-24• God is merciful to CainGod is merciful to Cain• Sinful Lamech makes God’s mercy the Sinful Lamech makes God’s mercy the

basis for his unjust over-killbasis for his unjust over-kill

5.5. The wronged party was not responsible to The wronged party was not responsible to require everything the Law demands! Ex: Mt require everything the Law demands! Ex: Mt 1:191:19

Mt 5:38-42: RetaliationMt 5:38-42: Retaliation

38 You heard that 38 You heard that

It was told It was told

““Eye for eye and tooth for tooth”Eye for eye and tooth for tooth”

39 Now I say to you39 Now I say to you

Do not stand against and evil Do not stand against and evil personperson

ButBut

Whoever is slapping you upon Whoever is slapping you upon the right the right cheek,cheek,

Turn to him also the otherTurn to him also the other

Going Beyond the LawGoing Beyond the Law

40And to the one who wants to take you 40And to the one who wants to take you before the judge and take your shirt, give before the judge and take your shirt, give him your outer coat too.him your outer coat too.

• What direction does “going beyond the Law” What direction does “going beyond the Law” take?take?

• What does this say about your property?What does this say about your property?– Not that it is not importantNot that it is not important– But that God is more important than even But that God is more important than even

your shelteryour shelter

Military ServiceMilitary Service

41 And whoever impresses you into military 41 And whoever impresses you into military service to walk one mile, go with Him two.service to walk one mile, go with Him two.

• There is no draft-dodging in the Sermon on There is no draft-dodging in the Sermon on the Mountthe Mount

• There is no interpretation of this passage for There is no interpretation of this passage for the nation, except that the nation can the nation, except that the nation can expect disciples of Jesus Christ to be good expect disciples of Jesus Christ to be good soldiers.soldiers.

42To the one who asks of you, give!42To the one who asks of you, give!

And the one who wants you to lend to him, do And the one who wants you to lend to him, do not turn him away!not turn him away!

• What does this say about the Kingdom of What does this say about the Kingdom of God?God?– Irresponsible lending practices?Irresponsible lending practices?– NoNo– The Grace of God has to do with the The Grace of God has to do with the

Righteousness of God.Righteousness of God.• What do you have to give?What do you have to give?