In an election year, we hear a lot of promises. But I will admit it is sometimes difficult to know who to trust. Very few politicians have the integrity of Abraham Lincoln. They called him, “Honest Abe.” It was Benjamin Franklin who first wrote, “Honesty is the best policy.”
Truth is an honored characteristic and is required for justice. In a court, people have to ‘swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. So help me, God.’ Even gangs of criminals that use lying and cheating as part of their trade, still demand truth among themselves.
‘There is nothing as powerful as truth and often nothing as strange.’ -Daniel Webster
Jesus dealt with truth and falsehood in the Sermon on the Mount….
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.’ But I tell you, do not swear an oath 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. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one. (Matthew 5:33-37)
Though this is not an accurate quotation of any one law of Moses, it is a summary of ideas based on Leviticus 19:12; Numbers 30:2; Deuteronomy 23:21.
God allowed making an oath by His name (Lev. 19:12). He even commanded it in certain situations (Deut. 10:20; Jer. 12:16-17). Old Testament saints made oaths: Abraham (Gen. 14:22-24), Jacob (Gen 31:44-53), David (1 Sam. 20:16). Paul did (Rom. 1:9; 2 Cor. 1:23; Phil. 1:8; 1 Thess. 2:5,10).
Even God made oaths: Never to destroy earth by a flood (Gen. 9:9-10), send a Redeemer (Lk. 1:68, 73), raise His Son from the dead (Ps. 16:10), preserve and bless Israel (Is. 49:15-18), Jesus before Caiaphas (Matt. 26:63-64).
It appears God allowed swearing an oath for a couple of reasons:
- A sign of our allegiance to Him rather than idols (Deut. 6:13; 10:20).
- As an accommodation to sinful nature. Our inclination to lie causes distrust. In serious situations an oath is permissible to give greater motivation to tell the truth.
The religious leaders of Jesus’ day were abusing oaths. Some were taking an oath that was neither necessary or proper in the name of the Lord. No one ought to voluntarily take an oath unless it be a matter of controversy and the contention can’t be settled any other way (Hebrews 6:16).
Some were not swearing in the name of the Lord because they didn’t want to keep it. People would swear by their own life (1 Sam. 1:26), health (Ps. 15:4), the king (1 Sam. 17:55), head, earth, heaven, Temple, and Jerusalem (Matt. 5:34-36).
But Jesus emphasized God’s premium on truth in every situation. Here are some principles and practices that will help you understand the importance of always telling the truth.
1. God’s standard is absolute truth (Psalm 51:6; Prov. 6:16-17; 12:22; Ps. 119:163; 58:3-4; Jer. 9:3; Rev. 21:8; James 5:12). Whenever the truth is profaned, God’s name is profaned. Every lie is against God regardless of the formula used. A half-truth is still a whole lie and a white lie is really black. An oath, no matter how strong the words used, is only as reliable as the one making it.
2. Life cannot be divided into compartments in which God is and is not involved. There is no church language and work language, church conduct and school conduct. Christianity is a religion that hallows the common things.
3. Use oaths sparingly. The Hebrew shebuah, ‘swear’ is in the passive voice and indicates we should be passive in swearing – only when called on to do so.
“When matters of controversy in men affect peace in society in general or particular and the peace depends on the right determination of them, it is okay for a believer to confirm the truth by invoking God, with the design to end the strife.” – Arthur Pink
4. Honest people do not need to resort to oaths. Many people who are lost the trust of friends, family, and society have to resort to oaths because their word is called into question. Christians should say what they mean and mean what they say. Let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’ be ‘No.’
5. Control your tongue. Our speech often gets us into trouble. Since what you say is a result of what you think and believe, tongue control is achieved only when heart and mind are controlled (Matt. 12:34). Individually people are inclined to truth only when it benefits them. We should be truthful because Jesus lives and controls our lives.
You can read my other Sermon on the Mount articles: Life Redefined: Sermons from The Sermon on the Mount.
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