Power of Promise

Review

Previously we learned about divorce.

We were challenged to tell someone we care about them.

Did you do it?

Update Scoreboard

Introduction

Today we are going to learn about what Jesus taught about swearing oaths.

Story regarding its importance...

Handouts

Passage

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 5

TELL THE TRUTH

33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to our ancestors, You must not break your oath, but you must keep your oaths to the Lord.,

34 But I tell you, don’t take an oath at all: either by heaven, because it is God’s throne;

35 or by the earth, because it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King.

36 Do not swear by your head, because you cannot make a single hair white or black.

37 But let your ‘yes’ mean ‘yes,’ and your ‘no’ mean ‘no.’ Anything more than this is from the evil one.

Main Points

1) Promises are powerful and important to God.

In Gen. 9:11, God promised Noah that He would never flood the earth again.

Has there been a global flood since?

In Gen. 18:19, God promised Abraham and Sarah a child.

And Isaac was born unto them!

In Lev. 20:24, God reminded Moses of His promise to give a land for His people.

And Joshua and the Israelites conquered the land of Canaan!

In Isa. 53:4-6, God promised to send a Savior to pay for the sins

And Jesus died for us all!

In Mark 8:31, Jesus said that He would rise three days after death.

And He did!

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 28

The angel told the women, “Don’t be afraid, because I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified.

6 He is not here. For he has risen, just as he said.

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 28

Just then Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” They came up, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him.

10 Then Jesus told them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there.”

If God keeps His promises, we should too.

2) Christians should not make a promise they cannot keep.

Can you think of a time when someone broke their promise to you? How did it feel?

Because broken promises damage trust, we should be careful not to make unrealistic ones.

“I promise to give you $1M!”

Do you even have that much money?

“I promise that we will be best friends forever!”

What if they marry your crush and move to Hawaii?

“I promise it won’t rain on your birthday!”

Can you control the weather?

Perhaps it is better to promise smaller things:

“I will bring you a cookie when I visit later.”

“I will take out the trash after dinner.”

Unlike the former examples, these are generally within our control.

3) Christians should mean what they say.

Words are powerful and have meaning.

How did God create the universe?

CSB Study Bible: Notes Chapter 5

Jesus taught that swearing oaths is wrong since oaths call for the destruction of an object or person if the oath is broken. Thus, swearing by heaven … earth … Jerusalem, or even one’s own head is inappropriate because it implies that we have the authority to destroy things over which God alone has authority.

We should not use language such as, “I swear to God” or anything similar.

Jesus says to keep it simple: yes or no.

Application

The principle of this passage is not to over-promise.

This week I will keep my promises and choose my words wisely.