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We are reading, and hopefully studying, in Matthew Chapter 5, and we come to this passage beginning at verse 33. We are in what is called the Sermon on the Mount and we have looked at the Beatitudes and Jesus’ speaking about salt and light, and how Jesus came to fulfil the law. We have looked at murder, and settling matters quickly, and adultery, and divorce. These are not ‘easy studies’ but it is Jesus Christ who deals with these topics, when teaching those whom he has called.

Jesus is describing the Christian life – the life of the disciple.

Jesus certainly did not avoid the big moral questions and issues.

Jesus is peeling away many of the misconceptions, misunderstanding and misrepresentations of Scripture.

The rabbis were virtually saying, all you need is a plaster. That will cover it. You certainly do not need the doctor. You are all right! We hear this today in various forms.

We have to work all this out. What does it mean for us? Where are the important areas? Can we do it without offending people – probably not! However, I do not think true disciples will be offended.

Jesus takes three illustrations from the law and three from life, and this illustration is from life, although one could say the ground of this comes from the third Commandment – You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain – but Jesus is not quoting from any specific passage of Scripture.

The rabbis were all about words, and they were saying that you only need to keep the oaths and vows where the Name of God is involved. They wanted to have vows which you could slip out of if you so chose. You could swear ‘by heaven’ – ‘by the Temple’ – ‘by the gold of the Temple’ – ‘by Jerusalem’ – or ‘by the hair of your head’.

You could swear ‘by Jerusalem’ that I will give my neighbour his ox back – or whatever I have taken – but because I have not taken the Name of God then I can slip out of it. That vow or oath or promise was not so binding. They were blind guides!

Check out Leviticus 19:12 and Numbers 30:2 and Deuteronomy 23:21.

Jesus gives disciples a different attitude and way of looking at vital issues in life. Because you follow me – if you are going to go out into the world – and representing me, then you are going to have to be different. Your words matter.

Do not make silly distinctions. The rabbis were looking at things physically or carnally. Jesus was looking at things spiritually or theologically. The world is God’s and everything in it. There are not areas of speech or thinking that God does not have access to. He hears. We cannot rule out situations, where He is excluded.

Verse 35 – “the city of the great king”. If the Church of Jesus Christ taught clearly on that too today, we would not have this massive problem in the Middle East.

The second thing Jesus teaches here is that we should not need special vows and words. What do we hear – “the fact of the matter is” – “to be honest”? These phrases are used to make words more weighty and to try to convince people that what we are saying is true.

What Jesus is teaching here regards our integrity. Our word should be enough.

We should know where we stand with Jo Christian – or Josephine Christian. People should know we are truthful Christians. We do not need to adorn our words. Jesus is teaching us to go away beyond being superficial – and sounding good – and being hypocritical.

We read – “Thus says the Lord” – “The Lord Almighty has spoken”. What we say reveals whether or not we are on God’s side or the other side. “Anything beyond this comes from the evil one.”

God is not affected by profanity – by the taking of the Name of God in vain – it is man who is affected. Many do not realise this significance of this.

The word is an expression of who God is, and what we are. This is what these phrases are all about. This is how we can trust His Word and know that what He says is reliable and true. It is an expression of who He is. There is no wedge driven between Jesus and His Word. There is no disparity.

That is why we are called to bear His image – and be ambassadors for God.

There is to be no disparity between what we are and what we say. We cannot be one thing to one person and another thing to something else.

It rules out speaking about people behind their backs. It rules out speaking about others in hushed tones.

Anything else is from the evil one, because it does not bear His image.

Jesus is challenging and cleaning up the rabbis two faced hypocrisy.

Jesus is dealing with the important matter of integrity here.

To be able to speak and to know that anything we say could be broadcast or heard by anyone is an amazingly strong position to be in. To be trusted, and for people to know that when they speak to us it is not going to be twisted – but that we can be trusted, because of the integrity of Christ in us, through the Holy Spirit – and when we say “Yes” we mean yes and when we say “No” we mean no.

By the way – are we not liars by nature? Is this not one of the reasons why we ask people to swear over a Bible when giving evidence in Court?

We have in some way to be distinctly bound to tell and speak the truth, and we use the Bible because man believed that behind this Word was the character of God before whom we have to appear and stand and answer one day.

The formula of words is not important. You know the type of thing we hear children say – “cross my heart and hope to die!”

Now, this is radical living – to bear His image – and to be completely reliable – and to have a scrupulous conversation – and scrupulous honesty. This will make us markedly different from most other people in the world, as Jesus was different.

That is the challenging calling His disciples are being given here and now.

We live in a world where there is deception and dishonesty. It can no longer be said that a person’s word is his bond, if that could ever be said reliably. Society in Jesus’ day was just as dishonest. When Jesus considers the third Commandment, he is dealing with integrity, honesty and truthfulness.

The intention of the law of God was to prohibit all false swearing and perjury.

Behind all of God’s law is this desire to have a society in which it would be a joy to live – with no wars – no defence budget – no adultery – no keys – no alarms – where everyone could trust their husbands and wives, and neighbours and business partners, and employees and employers. Integrity involves everything we do and say.

These religious leaders were blind guides and they were providing legal loopholes.

Jesus Christ is teaching his disciples to be different – very different.

"The Way" from Kevin Pauley

A World of One