Oath (Matthew 5:33-37) Dr. Joseph Chang 1/11/2015 BOLGPC

Matthew 5: "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.' 34 But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black.

Matthew 5: Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

民無信不立. Nation is built upon the truthfulness of the rulership. 創造我們的主, 祂的話可信嗎 ? Is the word of Creator trustworthy?

I. God’s Word Is Truth A. God through his word created this world. 3 And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. 【 Gen 1:3 】 24 And God said, "Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind." And it was so. 【 Gen 1:24 】

I. God’s Word Is Truth B. God’s word is the scripture. 28 who says of Cyrus, 'He is my shepherd and will accomplish all that I please; he will say of Jerusalem, "Let it be rebuilt," and of the temple, "Let its foundations be laid."' (Isa 44:28)

700 B.C. 539 B.C.

I. God’s Word Is Truth Prophesy that the temple was to be destroyed, and it would also be rebuilt. Prophesy the name of the coming king even before he was born.

I. God’s Word Is Truth C. God’s living word is Jesus Christ. 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 【 John 1:1~3 】

20 神的應許，不論有多少，在基督都是是的。 所以藉著他也都是實在的（實在：原文作 阿們），叫神因我們得榮耀。【林後 1:20 】 20 For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God. 【 2Cor 1:20, NIV 】

I. God’s Word Is Truth God’s Word is powerful—Creation. Written Word = Scripture Living Word = Jesus Christ.

We are created in God’s image, how about our word?

II. Our word is used to bless! %rB barak = bless, praise God blesses his creation 28 God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." 【 Gen 1:28 】

II. Our word is used to bless! %rB barak = bless, praise Man blesses his descendants with words. 28 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father said to them when he blessed them, giving each the blessing appropriate to him. 【 Gen 49:28 】

II. Our word is used to bless! %rB barak = bless, praise Man blesses God with words (16X). 1 Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. (Ps 103:1, KJV) 1 Of David. Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. (Ps 103:1, NIV)

10 你吃得飽足，就要稱頌耶和華 ─ 你的 神， 因他將那美地賜給你了。【申 8:10 】 10 When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which he hath given thee. 【 Deut 8:10, KJV 】 10 When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you. 【 Deut 8:10, NIV 】

Word is truth. It is for creation. It is for blessing. 37 Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one. 【 Matt 5:37 】

III. Do not use the word for cheating. 9 人心比萬物都詭詐，壞到極處，誰能識透 呢？【耶 17:9 】 9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? 【 Jer 17:9, KJV 】 9 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? 【 Jer 17:9, NIV 】

One who makes a vow against the black- haired is forbidden from the bald-headed and the gray-haired, but is permitted from women and from children, for only men are called black-haired. (Tractate Nedarim 3:8).

If one vowed by any one of all the utensils of the Altar, though he did not mention the word קָרְבָּן (offering), this is a vow as if he had uttered the word קָרְבָּן (offering). R. Judah says, If one say, “Jerusalem”, his statement is of no account. (Tractate Nedarim 1:3)

Oath are of two kinds, which are actually four kinds; [they are], “I swear that I will eat, or [I swear] that I will not eat, or [I swear] that I have eaten, or [I swear] that I have not eaten... (Tractate Shevuoth 3:1)

IV. Can I make a vow or an oath? What is an oath/vow? Paul gives an oath 5 You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed--God is our witness. 【 1Thess 2:5 】

IV. Can I make a vow or an oath? Use God’s name for oath is a serious thing. 7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. 【 Exod 20:7 】

IV. Can I make a vow or an oath? It is a life and death issue 16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. 【 Exod 20:16, KJV 】 “Truth, nothing but the truth.”

IV. Can I make a vow or an oath? 1 "'If a person sins because he does not speak up when he hears a public charge to testify regarding something he has seen or learned about, he will be held responsible. 【 Lev 5:1, NIV 】

IV. Can I make a vow or an oath? 63 But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, "I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God." 64 "Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. "But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven." 【 Matt 26:63~64 】

Conclusion Word is used to communicate God’s attributes. It is positive, it is powerful. We, created in the image of God, we need to use the words likewise. 37 Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.