“For I say unto you, that EXCEPT your RIGHTEOUSNESS shall EXCEED THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES, ye shall in NO CASE ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN…” Matthew 5: 20 (Emphasis mine)
One of the things we often overlook as believers is our integrity lapses. The Scribes and Pharisee who were supposed to be the role model to the people within their community had integrity issues. Therefore, the only way they can attain some credibility in the sight of the people, was to take oaths. Like some of us today, we openly take oaths just to ‘fool’ the masses without thinking of their catastrophic consequences. Sometimes because the effects are delayed, we tend to think it’s all right to take an oath and go scot free.
Before we delve into the subject of oaths and their consequences, let us try to define it in order to give us a broader perspective. We will also look at it from the Ancient Jewish perspective, which will serve as a guide to ascertain why Jesus touched on that subject in relation to kingdom righteousness.
Oath is simply defined as a solemn promise, often invoking a divine witness, regarding one’s future action or behaviour. Usually, it is a formal calling upon God or a god to witness to the truth of what one says or to witness that one sincerely intends to do what one says. Furthermore, the truth or inviolability of one’s words was commonly attested in ancient Israel by oath. It is a self-curse made in conditional form that went into effect if the condition was fulfilled; e.g., “May harm befall me if I do so and so”. The oath might be accompanied by a gesture expressive of the curse. Less often, the self-curse is couched in vague terms (perhaps accompanied by a meaningful gesture).
For instance, when David was mourning about the death of Abner, his comrades tried to convince him to eat but he swore an oath with a self-inflicted curse. Notice how he couched the oath in 2Samuel 3:35 “May God do thus to me and more so, if before sunset I taste bread or anything else!” Oaths were associated with an invocation of God, or some sacred and powerful equivalent, as the king.
In ancient Israel, Oath-taking was very common, occasions for oath-taking ranging from the personal and the trivial to the most solemn public undertakings: e.g., Judges 21:1; I Samuel 14:28; 17:55; 20:3. There are two types of oaths, namely Personal Oaths and Communal or State Oaths. Practical examples of Personal Oaths are when Abraham made his servant to swear when he sent his servant to find a bride for Isaac (Genesis 21:23) and David and Jonathan (1Samuel 20:42). Also, an example Communal or State Oath is, when Joshua made a pact with the Gibeonites (Joshua 9:18) and when King Saul broke that oath years after, there was a catastrophic consequence (2 Samuel 21:1-2).
Jesus knew and understood the gravity of oaths and their negative effects. He knew that humans are gullible and have the tendencies to either forget or will intentionally try to down play the seriousness of the oaths which of the consequence might transcend beyond their immediate generation and affecting innocent people. He also knew that, sometimes our exuberance or pain can make us take certain oaths that we did not actually mean. Like the Pharisees in order to redeem our public image, we take oaths directing negative consequence to our unborn generation. After all, by the time the effects will materialize we would have been long gone and innocent people will pay that price. Therefore, He provided the panacea. Let consider Matthew 5:33-37;
“Again, you have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘DO NOT BREAK YOUR OATH, BUT FULFILL YOUR VOWS TO THE LORD.’ But I TELL YOU NOT TO SWEAR AT ALL: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is His footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor should you swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black. Simply LET YOUR ‘YES’ BE ‘YES,’ AND YOUR ‘NO,’ ‘NO.’ ANYTHING MORE COMES FROM THE EVIL ONE”. BSB, (Emphasis mine)
From the above scripture, Jesus suggests we don’t swear or take any oath at all. Beit out of exuberance or pain. As kingdom believers, we should learn to say yes or no and nothing else. With these answers we don’t inflict curses upon ourselves or the unborn generation. If we want to become men and women of integrity in the kingdom, it is not the oaths that will prove us to be such. But it is rather our ability to say yes or no when necessary.
Beloved, let us stop making promises to people whether we have the ability to fulfill them or not. We may have what it takes to fulfill them but sometimes at the slightest challenge, we lose that ability and put our integrity in question. Let us allow the words of Jesus “…LET YOUR ‘YES’ BE ‘YES,’ AND YOUR ‘NO,’ ‘NO…’ continually resonate in our spirit as we walk with Him. God bless us all.
PRAY WITH ME
Lord Jesus, I thank you this day for my life. From this day forward, I have resolved in my heart to let my communication be either yes or no and nothing more. Holy Spirit, please guide me and help me to achieve this. This I pray in the precious name of Jesus! Amen!
Author: REV. SOLOMON LUTTERODT