What are some ways people still “fudge” today? Workplace? Relationships? Personal goals? Commitments?

Matthew 5: “You have also heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not break your vows; you must carry out the vows you make to the Lord.’ But I say, do not make any vows! Do not say, ‘By heaven!’ because heaven is God’s throne. And do not say, ‘By the earth!’ because the earth is his footstool.

And do not say, ‘By Jerusalem!’ for Jerusalem is the city of the great King. Do not even say, ‘By my head!’ for you can’t turn one hair white or black. Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Anything beyond this is from the evil one.

Matthew 23: “Blind guides! What sorrow awaits you! For you say that it means nothing to swear ‘by God’s Temple,’ but that it is binding to swear ‘by the gold in the Temple.’ Blind fools! Which is more important - the gold or the Temple that makes the gold sacred? And you say that to swear ‘by the altar’ is not binding, but to swear ‘by the gifts on the altar’ is binding.

How blind! For which is more important - the gift on the altar or the altar that makes the gift sacred? When you swear ‘by the altar,’ you are swearing by it and by everything on it. And when you swear ‘by the Temple,’ you are swearing by it and by God, who lives in it. And when you swear ‘by heaven,’ you are swearing by the throne of God and by God, who sits on the throne.

Abuses of Oath Taking -Frivolous -Evasive

Matthew 26: But Jesus remained silent. Then the high priest said to him, “I demand in the name of the living God - tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.” Jesus replied, “Yes, It is as you say. And in the future you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

2 Corinthians 1:23 - Now I call upon God as my witness that I am telling the truth. The reason I didn’t return to Corinth was to spare you from a severe rebuke.

Jesus said, “Let your yes be yes and your no be no.” He calls us to honesty and integrity in our words. Who is one person you know who lives a life with this kind of habitual honesty? How has his or her example and lifestyle influenced your life?

- We’ll get together for lunch some time soon. - Can’t talk, I’ll call you back later. - I’ll pay you back tomorrow. - I’ll respect you in the morning. - I’ll be praying for you. - Just give me a call if you need help. - I’ll be there for you.- - The check is in the mail. - I’ll hand it in soon. - As long as we both shall live.

What is one area that comes to your mind where you need to grow in your commitment to let your yes be yes and your no be no?

What are some practical steps you can take to become a consistent truth-teller?