16. “Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gold of the temple is bound by that oath.’ 17. You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred? 18. You also say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gift on the altar is bound by that oath.’ 19. You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? 20. Therefore, anyone who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. 21. And anyone who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it. 22. And anyone who swears by heaven swears by God’s throne and by the one who sits on it.”
Jesus was upset with the certain formulas by which people think they do not have to keep their promises or commit perjury. Many people tell lies but excuse themselves from wrongdoing if it wasn’t under oath.
One non-religious lawyer discovered that he had terminal illness. A friend of his was surprised to see him in hospital reading a Bible. He said “I'm just looking for loopholes". Legalism seeks to condemn and justify our behavior based on what we do and don’t do according to man’s laws.
I'm afraid that some people who disregard God's law, continue in sin and someday think can work their way out of it. We are a culture so lawsuit happy that many do not take responsibility for our own actions. There are no loopholes with God, the perfect judge. Sin is sin whatever psychologists, churches, or books might tell you. We cannot renegotiate with the Supreme Judge. Once judgement is declared it is too late to call upon Jesus to save us. God will not change the rules, but today but He can give you a new heart. God will not be mocked. “What a man sows that shall he also reap" One of man's first sins was to evade the responsibility for his own actions in Genesis. God holds each person liable for his transgressions.
Jesus is saying His followers don’t need oaths. Before God, truth and pure actions do not need such things - formulas to make oaths like swearing by heaven that's His throne; earth is His footstool or even your own head can't do anything about it. All things belong to God so indirectly you are swearing by God in all the words you utter, so some formula will not let you get out of it. We must be honest and forthright in all our words.
This leaves us with a modern-day question. Does Jesus mean that we should not take any public oaths? Quakers and Amish are most known for refusing to sign or swear to anything. They say whoever cannot be believed without swearing is already condemned. Yet we recognize that Paul took an official oath in II Cor. 1:23 "I call God as my witness that it was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth." or Gal.1:20 "I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie."
Perhaps even more significant is that before the court Jesus was put under oath in Matthew 26:63-65. I do not think Jesus here is referring to the secular realm but once again pointing to the heart. Live honestly before God and do not use oaths to manipulate doing and saying what is wrong.
Application: Say what you mean and do what you say. God is our final judge and cannot be fooled.
Prayer: Jesus, you are the law giver and knows our very thoughts.
