Title: Lord, Be True (Matthew 5:33-37)
[Matthew 5:33-37]
[33] ♠ And you have heard that it was said to the old man, ‘You shall not swear in vain, and keep your oath to the Lord.’ [35] Do not by the earth, for it is God's footstool; neither by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great king. Say what you say is right, right, no, no, for what goes on from this is of evil.
In today's talk, Jesus is calling us to be truthful and reliable in our words. On the surface, it seems like a saying not to swear, but this is an interpretation that conflicts with other words of the Bible. God said to ‘swear by his name’ (Deuteronomy 10:20) and ‘pay your vows’ (Psalm 116:14). Today, when we get married or receive an office, we make vows before God and witnesses. It's not about 'don't swear', it's about 'be a sincere person who can take responsibility for your words'.
Through these words, Jesus points out the bad habits of the Jews at that time. Those who were reluctant to swear by God had the habit of swearing by something less burdensome than God. It was also binding if it was possible to set its value when swearing by something. At the time, leaders abused their position to make value judgments and used people to deliberately create vague laws. In such a custom, the disciples who know the blessings of God can play the role of light and salt only when they show a new image.
Speaking has a direct relationship with our spirituality. What is the relationship between the truth of words and faith? First, this is the way to receive God's blessing. If you want to be blessed, you must refrain from speaking lies from your lips. (Psalm 34:12-13) God, the source of all things, wants to bless those who come to him. But if we are not prepared to be blessed, it is of no use, like pouring water into a broken vessel. David lived a life where his soul was crushed because of his false appearance, he lost the sense of salvation and was pursued by his son Absalom.
Second, this is the way to express true love. Love rejoices in the truth (1 Corinthians 13:6) and makes it possible to speak the truth. Even if it hurts, the expression of true love is telling the truth that no one else can tell.
Third, this is the way to spiritually arm yourself. The first piece of armor for spiritual warfare is the belt of truth (Ephesians 6:14). Integrity is directly linked to our spirituality. Without sincerity, no matter how many gifts you have, your spirituality will no longer work.
Keeping the truth of the word determines whether it can be a channel of God's blessing beyond the ethical dimension. To this end, I give you my advice to make a decision in your life. First, put away the lies and speak the truth. (Ephesians 4:25) And create a culture of integrity. We need a culture that speaks truthfully with yes and no and takes responsibility for what we say. Finally, be an advocate for life-saving words. Horses have the power to kill and save lives. Called to be people of God, we must speak words that save lives and heal wounds. I bless you all who glorify God through your lips and save many people. (Psalm 19:14)