"Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.'
In court, a person stands, places their hand on the Bible and promises to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, “So help me God.” This oath is meant to assure the court and jury, that before God what is said is the honest truth. It is interesting how invoking the name of God, Jesus, or gospel is to make people believe our words.
Jesus refers to an Old Testament Jewish law. Exodus 20:7 "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain." When you use the Lord's name, carry out what you have vowed. Leviticus 19:12 "You shall not swear by my name freely, and so profane the name of your God" Numbers 30"2 "When a man makes a vow to the Lord he shall not break his word." Deuteronomy 23:21 "When you make a vow to the Lord, your God you shall not be slack to pay it." In other words, say what you mean and mean what you say. The only reason people feel the need to take oaths is because lies are so prevalent.
I heard of a survey where 94% of the people admit to lying. I don't know how you can trust that survey wondering if it’s also lying, Oaths are used to prevent perjury. Lying is a big problem that affects us all from a little toddler who swears he didn’t do it, to someone calling in sick to work when they’re not. Pretense, another sin of words, is hypocrisy. One pretends to be something that they aren't. One might make a promise to another and have no intention of carrying it out.
Oaths invoking the Lord's name originated because people failed do what they promised. Therefore, such oaths were a way of assuring others that what was being said was the truth. If there was no evil in man, there would be no need for an oath. If people never committed perjury or profanity or pretense, we would have no need for oaths. Yet it is common to hear, “Will you swear that what you say is true? Will you promise on the Bible using God's name that you will do what you promised to do? "
The purpose of an oath is to keep people from lying. If one lies under oath, then the consequences are more severe. It becomes increasingly more difficult to believe some people. Politicians are considered notorious liars. Most debates now have fact checks after each presentation. There are honest men and women in elected offices. What they may say is true and right, but many people doubt them just because they hold an elected office.
Advertisements cause us also to question various claims. There is a truth-in-advertising law that a product must match its claim.
It is interesting that this command of Jesus to keep our oaths came right after He spoke on marriage and divorce. In a marriage a Christian in a godly marriage, as we mentioned last week, people make a vow. That is a solemn vow, not just when marriage is happy, but as long as one lives.
Application: The law said: Keep your promises and let your words be truthful.
Prayer: Lord, God forgive me for the times I have not been completely truthful and lead me in Your truth always trusting You for the outcome.
