# 11. 2017 Dev. Mt. 5:34-35. Yes, and No! Read verses 33-36. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God by memorizing selected passages of Scripture. Further, to view the passage in context and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living with family, friends and others. All passages are taken from the NIV.
Mathew 5: 34-35
“But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King.”
One wonders why Jesus had to bring up vows when it seems to us to be a less important issue. Obviously, it was a problem in the day as it is today in terms of swearing by God’s name. Vows in biblical times are the defined as: “a solemn promise made to God to perform or to abstain from performing a certain thing” (Smiths Biblical Dictionary). Vows go way back in Scripture; Jacob vowed to tithe to God if he was blessed and protected. Leviticus set the regulations of vows to God. Vows were considered worship to God.
Today we make promises and by biblical standards we are to keep the promises we make, promises are vows we make to others and to God. For followers of Jesus keeping our promises is an act of worship. The second issue is using God’s name to reinforce the things we say. Sometimes we use euphemisms like gee, gosh or heck but they are the real thing; swearing by God or by evil.
What Jesus is saying to us is this: don’t swear by anything, not by God, not by creation, nor by yourself. Simply say “Yes or No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one’”. Using God’s name in vain is a habit and we don’t realize that we are desecrating His name. Jesus is saying; pay attention to the words of your mouth, they are important. Thank you Lord Jesus!
© cgvanwyk, all rights reserve
Heavenhigh 