Untitled Sermon

Before airlines existed, people travelled long-distance by train. During that time, those who are five years old and younger get a free ride. There was a story told of a mother and little Johnny. Little Johnny was six years old, unfortunately. Before boarding the train, the mother told Johnny that he was five years old, not six. Of course, Johnny was not very happy about it and wasn’t very keen on it because no six years old want to admit that they’re five. That’s ridiculous, but his mother threatened him.

(Slide 2) When the conductor came to check the tickets, he asked little Johnny how old he was, and he responds grumpily, “I’m five.” After a while, the conductor came back and asked Johnny, “So, you’re five, right?” Johnny said, “yes, I am five.” The conductor asked him, “When will you be turning six?” And little Johnny responded, “I will turn six by the time I get off this train.”

WORDS

Don’t use your religious devotion to cover up your lies.

We will be talking about Words, and how we use Words to communicate truth, lies, and promises. But let me elaborate on this concept of Words.

Remember your baptism?

(Slide 3) Words are everywhere in our world. We see words on newspapers, magazine, Facebook, YouTube, books, textbooks, signs, logos, your booklet, the Bible, and so forth. What are words used for anyways? Words are used for communicating information.

We get information every single day, and most of the information that we receive are by Words. We hear Words with our ears. We hear what language the person is speaking; we hear Words expressed in different tones, such as happiness, anger, sadness, fear, and more; we hear words from someone speaking as the sentences are being structured grammatically and vocabulary is incorporated into the sentences.

We form words in our mind and in our lips, unconsciously. HOLD UP AN OBJECT (PHONE). When you see this, it’s an information, you are already forming a word in your mind immediately as to what this object and information is.

Furthermore, we use words to communicate information. We either use words to encourage or discourage; we either use words to bring hope or to bring hopeless; we either use words to praise God or to curse God; we either use words to love someone or to hate someone. In the book of Proverbs, it says that words can either bring life to someone or bring death to someone. Boys and girls, this is very information for you to understand. You have to understand that the words you use MATTER. Your words can truly hurt someone.

An important skill that you have to develop is not to carelessly use your words, but you need to learn to think before you speak. That’s is something that all of us need to work.

Truth, Lies, and Promises

Here’s another important truth that you need to know. Words communicate to others who you are.

Most of us tell the truth most of the time. But then there will be those very inconvenient times when telling the truth will cause us trouble. In those times, we find out about our character. We find out that our integrity is being tested. Most people, when the truth hurts them deeply, will resort to lying or compromising. That is why courts impose oaths on people, warning them of dire consequences if they lie. Today, we will learn what Jesus has to teach us about Words: truth, lies and promises

Please Turn To . READ.

Context

Again, let me explain the context of this passage. This is Jesus making a public speech known as the Sermon On The Mount. This occurred sometime after Jesus’ baptism, Jesus’ temptation, and Jesus making disciples.

We are not told how long the sermon was, but it is indeed a very radical and powerful sermon. Because after Jesus finishes preaching this sermon, many people were astonished at his teaching because he was teaching them as one who had authority, someone who is different from the religious leaders of that day.

In one of the many sections in chapter 5, you will notice that Jesus says, “You have heard that it was said” blah blah blah blah. But I say to you, blah blah blah blah.

What was going on? When Jesus says, “you have heard that it was said,” He was making references to what the religious leaders of that day were saying. The religious leaders were supposedly quoting the Old Testament, but they were using false interpretations and false applications. For instance, in 5:43, Jesus says, “You have heard that it was said, ‘you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’” That was the “law” that the religious leaders taught.

However, Jesus’ response to those sayings was, “But I say to you.” When Jesus says that, he’s correcting those sayings. We have to understand that Jesus was not altering the law in any of these passages, nor was Jesus correcting the Old Testament. Rather, Jesus was correcting the misunderstanding, the misapplication, the misinterpretation of the Old Testament law during that time.

Also, when Jesus says, “But I say to you,” He explains the law by heightening the application. For instance, going back to 5:43-44, instead of hating your enemy, you are to also love your enemy. Jesus in this sermon flips the world upside in the way we think about love, hate, anger, lust. Jesus was not only concerned about the outward appearance, but he was also concerned about the heart and the character of the person.

It was not enough to simply not murder someone, but if you are angry at your brother and sister and you insult that person, then you have murdered him or her in your own heart.

Now that you understand the context, we can proceed to studying .

(SLIDE 4) (ANSWER Q1) The heading of this passage may say “Oath.” Oath is a solemn, or a serious, statement made in God’s name. When you are making an oath in God’s name, you are telling people that you are guaranteed speaking the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. By invoking God’s name, you are inviting God to judge your words if in fact they were not true.

Look at verse 33. READ.

(SLIDE 5 – 6) Jesus quotes what the religious leaders say about the Old Testament law. That statement is found in and . (DISPLAY)

Swearing falsely does not mean swear words the way we understand it. Swearing means to make an oath or a solemn promise. To swear falsely means you failed what you promised under oath. Instead of breaking your promises, you are to commit to the Lord what you have sworn.

So far so good. But take a look at verses 34-36. READ.

What was Jesus taking issues with? Was He taking issues with people making oaths? Is making an oath wrong? Don’t misunderstand this phrase, “Do not take an oath at all.” Jesus was not condemning people from making an oath. Jesus was not forbidding people from making an oath.

(SLIDE 7 & ANSWER Q2) There are proper and appropriate uses of oath. For instance, you make an oath when you are getting married. You make an oath at a courtroom. God himself confirmed a promise with an oath (). Christ himself spoke under oath (-63). Basically, you are using oaths in a solemn or a very serious situation. So, what’s the issue that Jesus was taking?

When you have rules and laws, you attempt to find “loopholes” around them or you try to bend the rules. The religious leaders truly believe that when you make an oath under God’s name, you cannot turn back unless it’s a sin. Instead of swearing in God’s name, they swore in the name of heaven, in the name of the earth, in the name of Jerusalem, or you swear by your head. How come they swear by those names? Because those names, such as Jerusalem, come close to God’s name.

The religious leaders used all kinds of tricks to sidestep the truth, and oaths were among them. They used those names with deceptive purposes. They used those names so that they can make others believe what they said were truth, when in reality they are perhaps lying. And these oaths were not made in a sacred place, but they were made in an everyday normal conversation. Because those oaths were not made in a special and sacred place, those oaths do not need to be taken too seriously and they can easily be broken.

(SLIDE 8 & ANSWER Q3) What Christ is forbidding here is the flippant, profane, or careless use of oaths in everyday speech. We do the same in our culture and even in our normal conversations. We use statements like, “I cross my heart and hope to die”; “I swear on my mother’s grave”; “I swear to God”; or simpler “I swear.” If you really think about those statements, what do they mean? Are they simply common expressions in our normal conversation? Or are they just another way of saying, “I’m telling the truth.”

Jesus is teaching us that we should never make improper use of oaths in any normal conversations. We should never make improper use of oaths to cover up for our sins and lies. After doing much studying and research, using oaths or solemn promises or careless words in a normal conversation is a sin.

You may say, “I don’t think it’s a sin. I only use to affirm the other person that I am speaking to truth.” Here’s my question for you, “Why do you need to make an oath or use those statements in your normal conversations?” Your response may be, “I need to let that person know that I am speaking to truth.” My response, “Why do you need to use those statements to affirm what you are saying is true?” Your response, “Because that person does not believe in me.” My response, “Oh, I wonder why that person does not believe in you. Is there something wrong with your character? Were you or are you a dishonest person? Are you using oaths and promises to patch up your poor character?” Your response, “Yes.”

That’s what Jesus is forbidding us to do. (SLIDE 9) Jesus challenges all of us with this regarding integrity: Jesus taught that our conversation should be so honest, and our character so true, that we would not need “crutches” or “oaths” to get people to believe us. In fact, when you use the phrase, “I swear to God,” you are taking God’s name in vain. God’s name cannot be utter carelessly. I know some of you have that sinful expression because I hear that even at church. And some of you don’t even care how you use God’s name. Clean up language! Don’t invoke God’s name or use OMG in an unworthy manner. Only use God’s name in the context of holiness. For instance, use God’s name in worship, use God’s name in Bible lessons or sermons, we use God’s name to have Bible discussions (either in the restaurant, at someone’s home, or at church). But never use God’s name flippantly in a normal conversation lest you be guilty of a heinous sin.

(Slide 10) We should have reputation of integrity that our words can be believed without the need to make an oath. Words depend on CHARACTER, and oaths cannot compensate for a poor character. Oaths cannot patch up your poor character and lack of integrity and dishonesty.

(Slide 11) Listen to what , “When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.” The more words you use to convince me to believe you, the more I would become suspicious of you.

Why do we lie?

(SLIDE 12) We lie so that we can take advantage of the system or the rules around us. We lie so that we can bend the laws and rules. We lie so that we can gain something. We lie so that we can get away from responsibilities. We lie so that we can save ourselves from trouble. We lie so that we can cover up our sins and many other lies. We lie because it works. We lie because others did the same to us.

Boys and girls, your words MATTER. Whatever words you say, it will become part of your profile for people to see. People will interpret and determine whether you are an honest person or not. Our character matters. It doesn’t matter if you’re wealthy; it doesn’t matter how smart you are or how strong you are; it doesn’t matter if you’re going to UBC, SFU, Edinburgh, McGill, Berkeley or Harvard university. Remember the 4 C’s from last night? If integrity and honesty are missing in your character, you will not be dependable, trustworthy, and reliable; you won’t have the power and authority to lead others; you break relationships.

Let’s finish this message with verse 37. READ.

Basically, here’s what Jesus is saying regarding Let your yes be a yes and let your no be a no. Just be honest and speak the truth in your normal conversation. Demonstrate your honesty with your character. Anything more than that comes from evil or from the evil one.

Adam and Eve sinned as a result of being deceived by the lying serpent, Satan. If we are lying, then we are no different from Satan himself, because he’s the father of all lies.

(SLIDE 13) Here’s a simple point for you: To Be A Person Of Integrity Means You Are Honest In Your Speech.

What are the ways for me to become a more honest person?

- Recognize that God is the God of truth. He opposes non-truths.

- Repent of your sin of dishonesty.

- Avoid speaking half-truths and white-lies.

- Learn to speak the truth with love, such as paying attention to your tone and your attitude.

- Speaking the truth with love does not mean sugar coating the facts.

- Avoid making careless promises that you cannot keep.

o If the promise was a serious one and you could not keep it later on, then be honest with the other person by giving him or her the reason and apologize for it.

o If you say “you will” do something, then that is considered making a promise.

o If you say “you might” do something, then remember to let that person know that

(SLIDE 14) Consider these questions before we close:

- Do you ever use expressions like, “I swear to God” and etc.? Why do you use it? Why shouldn’t Christians use those expressions even though they are a common language in our culture? When are you tempted to use those expressions?

- What are other ways for you to affirm others that you are speaking the truth besides making oaths?