The Sermons of Jesus, Part 12

Today we cover the part of Jesus’s sermon on swearing of oaths. People have a tendency to exaggerate the veracity of their statements by swearing an oath. Let’s see what Jesus says about it:

“33 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but perform unto the Lord thine oaths: 34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne: 35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. 36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. 37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.”

That is a total condemnation of the practice of swearing. Jesus tells us that it is evil to try to prove your own veracity by an oath. He points out that the need to swear an oath is not evil of itself, but the evil is in the intent to deceive by assuaging the doubt of the listener with an oath that sounds iron-clad. Fact is if what we have to say requires any external proof of veracity, we really ought not bother with saying it.

The Greek word rendered oath, ͑́όρκ͂ος, denotes a limit. And the Greek word rendered swear, ͐ομνύω, denotes the declaration of that limit. These words, used in this context map quite well to the English words with which they are rendered. We use the same concepts in our modern language as the ancients did two thousand years ago.

Jesus goes on to give several examples of oaths sworn the people in His day. The reasons He gives for each oath being withheld are applicable to this day. But the most important message is that the entire concept of swearing to the veracity of your words is based on the intention to deceive others, and thus it is evil. When we are truthful in everything we say, without exaggeration or understatement, then people will notice, and their belief in our veracity will be based on their own experience of prior truths.

So when you have something important to say, follow the admonition used in court to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

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