Matthew 5:33-37 • Jesus & Truth
-
Matthew 5:33-37
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.’ 34 But I tell you, do not swear an oath 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. 37 All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
yubikiri (指切り, - "finger cut-off"
All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’
The antitheses are six micro-teachings unpacking how it is that Jesus - and his way of life - fulfill the law (or Torah) of God.
Oaths
Isaiah 66 - The sovereign Lord says, “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool.”
Psalm 48 - 1 Great is the Lord, and most worthy of praise, in the city of our God, his holy mountain. 2 Beautiful in its loftiness, the joy of the whole earth, like the heights of Zaphon is Mount Zion, the city of the Great King. 3 God is in her citadels; he has shown himself to be her fortress.
Philo, Decalogue - “For an oath is an appeal to God as a witness on matters in dispute, and to call Him as a witness to a lie is the height of profanity”
Oaths ≠ Embodied Honesty
Matthew 26:62 - 62 Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” 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 Messiah, the Son of God.” 64 “You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
The Name
Deuteronomy 6:13 - Fear the LORD your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name.
kin-nu-yim - substitutionary words for God that protected them from profaning God’s name (words like Adonai, the Almighty, Hosts, He who is merciful and gracious).
Nasa (naw-saw’) - to lift up, or carry.
Spiritual Warfare
37 All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
John 8:42-45 - 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. 43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me!
John 8:31b-32 “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
-
Each Sunday we come together we offer an open invitation into the way of Jesus. An invitation to enter into sacred rhythms - to draw near to God through singing, giving, learning, and praying.
As a community that desires renewal in Des Moines as it is in Heaven, we recognize that we cannot offer what we ourselves do not have. We cannot lead where we ourselves have not been led; in turn, these questions aim at reflection. Reflecting on God’s word and making space for his leadership.
After watching or listening consider the following discussion questions as a large group or in groups of three to four:
What stood out from the teaching?
What does it look like to receive Jesus’ words in a post-truth culture?
How can a local church embody honesty? What personal practices do we need to examine if we’re going to become honest people?
What stands in opposition to honesty in 2022?