Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
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Conscientiousness
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Extraversion
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Oaths
3
We all know we should tell the truth, right?
But to swear an oath is something more.
to swear falsely v. — to knowingly tell an untruth while swearing an oath; or perhaps to break an oath previously sworn.
oath n. — a solemn promise, usually invoking a divine witness, regarding your future acts or behavior; often including penalties for failure within the contents of the oath.
oath n. — a solemn promise, usually invoking a divine witness, regarding your future acts or behavior; often including penalties for failure within the contents of the oath.
To swear an oath is to have God as your witness.
We tend to invoke God as our witness to prove the truth of our statement.
The assumption being that to do so falsely would incur God’s wrath.
Yet even the need to appeal to God to prove our veracity is an admission that we don’t tell the truth.
I’ve even gone so far as to stop using the phrase “To tell you the truth”,
Because it assumes I usually don’t.
So what does all our oath taking say about us?
mt 5 34
But Jesus says we should not swear at all.
Why?
Even the need to appeal to God to prove our veracity is an admission that we don’t tell the truth.
I’ve even gone so far as to stop using the phrase “To tell you the truth”,
Because it assumes I usually don’t.
So what does all our oath taking say about us?
And why does Jesus point out not to swear by heaven?
Is it because to swear by heaven is to swear by God’s throne?
Or is it because you are pledging by something you do not own,
Like getting a bond to insure your honesty.
You are pledging something you could not give if you fail.
Is it because to swear by the earth is to swear by God’s footstool?
Or Jerusalem because it is the city of the King?
Look at all the things people swear by that they do not control.
mt 5
Maybe we shouldn’t swear by our head because we cannot make a hair black or white?
You can’t even control your own body, so how can you swear by it?
In verse 34, Jesus said “do not swear at all”.
Why?
Your words should be all you need.
If you need to invoke the name of God to support your statement, then you are not known for being truthful.
I’m training myself to stop saying “To tell you the truth” because it assumes I don’t always.
The same way that having to get God to “co-sign” your statement assumes that you are not worthy enough on your own.
Is that being salt and light to the earth?
What does it say about the Christian who’s word isn’t good enough on its own?
To invoke anything more than your word is from Satan.
It’s trying to wrap yourself in God to cover up your falsehood.
Jesus paid for our sins, isn’t that enough?
Retaliation
mt 5 38
There are several verses in Jewish law that deal with making the punishment fit the crime:
ex 21 22-
lv 24 19-
The idea is simple.
If you cause unjustly harm to someone else, you suffer that same punishment.
But Jesus says not to retaliate.
If Jesus is the fulfillment of the law, why is He telling us not to follow the law?
Because like so many things, we focus on getting revenge rather than loving our neighbor.
We want someone’s eye as retribution rather than justice.
Then they want retribution against us.
Now look at our so called “justice” system today and tell me?
Are the punishments about justice or retribution?
mt 5 40
So which is more Christlike?
To exact your punishment on those who injure you, or to forgive their debt?
It is not that we do not have the right to our “pound of flesh”,
But it is more Christ-like for you to forgive.
BTW, this applies to individuals, not governments.
rom 13 1,4
Governments hold the sword to punish evil deeds,
But Christians are told to forgo what is owed to us,
Just as through Christ, God forgoes what is our due.
mt 5
Not only are we to avoid retaliation, but we are to be generous.
Generous with our time, our talents and our money.
Since everything we have, even the air we breath, came from the generosity of God,
Shouldn’t we be like Him and as generous as possible?
Love
mt 5 43-45
There were many enemies of Israel, and God poured out His wrath through the sons of Jacob.
But any idiot can hate those who they see as their enemies.
Often acting as if they are not people created in the image of God.
Jesus says love your enemies.
[agapao /ag·ap·ah·o/] - Care for.
Agape
Bless them.
Do good to them.
Why?
So we may act like the sons of God.
The devil hates his enemies, but God sent His Son to rescue His enemies.
Who do you want to act more like?
If you don’t forgive, you are acting more like the devil.
If you forgive, you are acting more like Christ.
mt 5 46-
It’s easy to love those who love you back.
It doesn’t take a new heart to do that, even tax collectors and sinners do it.
If we are to demonstrate that our heart of stone has been replaced with a heart of flesh, we need to act differently.
If you are a new creation in Christ, shouldn’t it show?
Do you want to be perfect?
Then we have to live the perfect life.
If we want to be like our Father in heaven,
Then we must love others,
Especially those who do not deserve it.
Because God loved us, even though we didn’t deserve it.
Conclusion
We often study these from the Sermon on the Mount in isolation, so we don’t see how they are connected.
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