Avoid Ambiguity, Not Just Falsehood (Matthew 5:33-37)
This passage is confusing to some; once again, those who are trying to find the simple rule to follow. Some look at what Jesus is saying here, and think that believers cannot swear an oath. That is over complicating things.
An oath is needed where the potential lie is expected. We cause people to swear an oath in an effort to guarantee that a lie won’t be spoken. Jesus, instead, is saying that people of the Kingdom of Heaven should embody truth. Oaths are not just unnecessary, they sort of imply falsehood. We should be people of our word. Our yes should mean yes and our no, no. We want to be people who are showing themselves to be trustworthy, open and honest in all our speech and action. Instead of just avoiding lies, we should make every effort to say what we know and mean.
Bonhoeffer brilliantly points out that this sort of honest lifestyle is only possible for citizens of the Kingdom, those who have become disciples of Jesus. It is only when we are known as the imperfect, flawed, sinners that we are, accepted by God through grace, that we can live without an urge to hide who we are.
If someone wants to force you to swear an oath to honesty, they are not causing you to sin. But our daily speech and behavior should be such that people know that we are who we say we are, and what we say is what we really know. And if asked to commit to a plan, we should not say, “by God,” but rather, “God willing.”
An oath is needed where the potential lie is expected. We cause people to swear an oath in an effort to guarantee that a lie won’t be spoken. Jesus, instead, is saying that people of the Kingdom of Heaven should embody truth. Oaths are not just unnecessary, they sort of imply falsehood. We should be people of our word. Our yes should mean yes and our no, no. We want to be people who are showing themselves to be trustworthy, open and honest in all our speech and action. Instead of just avoiding lies, we should make every effort to say what we know and mean.
Bonhoeffer brilliantly points out that this sort of honest lifestyle is only possible for citizens of the Kingdom, those who have become disciples of Jesus. It is only when we are known as the imperfect, flawed, sinners that we are, accepted by God through grace, that we can live without an urge to hide who we are.
If someone wants to force you to swear an oath to honesty, they are not causing you to sin. But our daily speech and behavior should be such that people know that we are who we say we are, and what we say is what we really know. And if asked to commit to a plan, we should not say, “by God,” but rather, “God willing.”
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