On Oath Swearing

Introduction

[Alternate idea: begin from the Third Commandment. Stick a pin in it, our text today is from SOTM]

Most of the Sermon on the Mount is directly applicable

We all experience anger (5:21-27)

We all know what worry is (6:25-34)

We all know that there’s a part of us that wants to judge (7:1-6)

But…most of us don’t have experience swearing oaths. Maybe we say the Pledge of Allegiance to whatever country we are a citizen of, but that’s not quite the same as the kind of oath Jesus is talking about.

Swear Not: Dangerous

Having to invoke some external authority

Swear Not: Unnecessary

A citizen of the kingdom of heaven shouldn’t swear because he needs no other honor other than his own to affirm the authenticity of his words.

Application

While we may not swear oaths today (in the same way as the first century), what do we do today that we treat like an oath? Something that, though starting off as a concession, became something necessary, such that we miss the point entirely?

Source of command; Thou shalt not take the Lord’s name in vain

Don’t wear the Lord’s name lightly: don’t behave in ways that are not in keeping with the character of God (or invoking his name (in baptism) with no intention of living it out)

We don’t need to invoke God’s honor but image of God

Ephesians 4:31 “Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit.” The context is about not lying, not using words that tear each other down - because by any of those actions we would grieve the Spirit.