1. Say It If You Mean It
Matthew 5:33-37

2. Matthew 5:33-37 (NIV)
33“Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ 34But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.”

3. “It was said” Statements
v.21 anger
v.27 lust
v.31 divorce
vs.33 truth telling and keeping one’s word
v.38 revenge
v.43 loving one’s neighbor and enemy

4. “It was said” Statements
Their purpose was to highlight the distinction between obedience to the requirements of the law and obedience to the spirit of the law.

5. Surpassing the Pharisees
Didn’t murder (v.21) - starts with a feeling (v.22)
Didn’t commit adultery (v.27) – starts with a mindset (v.28)

6. Surpassing the Pharisees
Gave letter of divorce (v.31) – Not God’s intent & caused adultery (v.32)
Made false vows (v.33) – do what one says

7. Surpassing the Pharisees
Justified revenge by Scripture (v.38) - God’s desire is love (v.39)
Loved neighbors not enemies (v.43) - love like God (v.44)

8. Surpassing the Pharisees
Did good deeds for pride (6:1) - good works are to be felt not “telt” (6:2-4)
Prayed to impress man (6:5) – pray to touch God (6:6)

9. Surpassing the Pharisees
Fasted for others (6:16) - fasting for God
Stored treasures to impress others (6:19) – store treasure in heaven (6:20)

10. “Be Perfect…” (5:48)
Not “perfect”/righteous like the Pharisees (5:20) who often missed the Law’s point
“Perfect” (holy) according to Jesus’ interpretation of the Law

11. Verses 33-36 Oath taking and promise-making are assurances.
“To swear falsely” (KJV, ESV, NASB, RSV) or “to break a sworn oath” (NIV, NLT, CSB)?

12. Which One?
Two issues – one is lying under (an) oath or breaking one’s word
Both relate to one premise - one’s word is not reliable.

13. Levels of Oaths
Greek and Roman contexts
Matthew 23:16-22

15. Verse 37 II. Oath taking and promise-making are unnecessary.
Instead of taking oaths as assurances, do whatever you say.

16. Dangerous Oaths (v.37) Empty promises endanger one spiritually.
NIV = “the evil one”
Anything more than keeping one’s word could end in sin.

17. Dangerous Oaths (v.37)
A person of integrity is truthful and keeps his word. See Ps 15
Integrity = effectiveness in ministry

18. Great Wall of China
13,170 miles long
Built over span of 1,000 years