PROMISES, PROMISES Matthew 5: 33-37
I. THE PERSON OF THE PROMISES Matt. 5: 34-36
A. God hears the promises of the heart
B. He hears the promises of the lips
C. This is not a universal condemnation of all oaths
God Himself confirmed a promise with an oath
(Heb. 6:13–14---For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, 14Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.
Acts 2:30---Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; to David
Christ Himself spoke under oath (26:63, 64----But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God. 64Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
And the law prescribed oaths at times (Num. 5:19, 21; 30:2, 3)
D. Christ is forbidding here is the flippant, profane, or careless use of oaths in everyday speech.
1. In that culture, oaths were often used for deceptively
To make the person believe the truth was being told
2. the Jews would swear by “heaven,” “earth,” “Jerusalem,” or their own “heads” (vv. 34–36), not by God, hoping to avoid divine judgment for their lie.
E. But it all was in God’s creation, so it drew Him in and produced guilt before Him, exactly as if the oath were made in His name. Jesus suggested that all our speech should be as if we were under an oath to tell the truth (v. 37).
II. THE PROBLEM WITH THE PROMISES
A. We don’t know the consequences
1. Esau swears to Jacob his birth right (Gen. 25:33)
2. Herod swears to daughter of Herodias (Mark 6:23)
3. Ananias & Sophia (Acts 5:3)
B. We don’t know who is hurt when broken
1. Our selves Deut. 23 :21-23----When thou shalt vow a vow unto the LORD thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the LORD thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee
2. Our God Deut. 23: 23That which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt keep and perform; even a freewill offering, according as thou hast vowed unto the LORD thy God, which thou hast promised with thy mouth.
C. We don’t realize the pain it causes our flesh
1. Often our spirits to rejoice and we fell good
2. Then the flesh kicks in and causes us to fell bad
III. THE PRESCRIPTION FOR THE PROMISES v. 37
A. Be as good as your word---- let your Yes means Yes
B. Be sure to perform what you promise--let No mean No
C. Be individuals of integrity----Private same as Public
Your Talk Talks And Your Walk Talks, But Your Walk Talks Louder Than You Talk Talks.
Closing: If you have made a commitment to the Lord, perform it
“Count the cost”----then perform your oaths unto the Lord
Have you made a promise to make Jesus the Lord of your life?
He has made promises to us---In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
