Jesus' Command #8 - Keep Your Word

In Matthew 5:33-37 Jesus seems to give us one command to keep our word, but with a few points to make along the way.

First of all He says, "Do not break your oath".  Clearly, we must understand the importance of keeping our word.  In verse 33 he references the Old Testament commands in Exodus 19:12 and Numbers 30:2.

He goes on to say, "Do not swear an oath at all."  People would (and still do) swear an oath 'by Heaven' or  'by Earth' or 'by their own head' and that would be their way of saying that they really mean it.  Jesus says 'You can't even make one hair on your head black or white, so how could you swear on that?'

So far He's made it clear that we shouldn't even make an oath, but if we must, don't swear by Heaven, or Earth, or by your own head.

Finally (and I think most importantly), He says that our word should be strong enough that all we need to tell someone is 'Yes' or 'No' and they will be confident that we will follow through with what we say.  There will be no need to say, "I promise".  If we have consistent character and always follow through with what we tell people, they'll never need to wonder whether we'll follow through with what we say.  No promise will be necessary.  Consistency of character will develop trust.

Up next: Jesus command #9 - Go the Extra Mile

Jesus' Command #7 - Do Not Lust

Jesus makes this one very clear in Matthew 5:27;  You have heard it said, 'You shall not commit adultery', but I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully, has already committed adultery with her in his heart."  Jesus is drawing a line in the sand here.  He's saying that it is not only our physical actions that matter, but what's in our heart, and what we allow our mind to think, that are sin.

Men, when we see an attractive woman we are not to allow our minds to think a lustful thought about her.  We MUST turn our eyes and our thoughts elsewhere; quickly!

When we allow our minds to wander and think about things we ought not, it is the pathway to causing even more depraved thoughts with the risk of putting those thoughts into sinful action.  2 Corinthians 10:5 says, "Take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ."  When we find ourselves with unclean thoughts we are to take them captive; lock them up, and get rid of them, and turn our minds elsewhere.

Up next: Jesus' Command #8 - Keep Your Word

Jesus' Command #6 - Be Reconciled

Matthew 5:23-24 says, "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the alter and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the alter.  First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift."

To be reconciled means to restore or change from one thing to another.  The Greek context indicates that one or both parties could be at fault.

Jesus is saying that even when we are doing something as important as offering Him a sacrifice, if you realize you have an unresolved issue with someone you must go and restore the relationship first and then come back to offer your sacrifice.

I've heard it said that God is in the restoration business.  It's clear throughout the bible that He wants relationships restored; our relationships with Him and our relationships with others.  In fact, I would say that is the common theme that is woven throughout the entire bible; God's plan to restore or reconcile us with Him all the way from Adam and Eve's first sin through His returning to take us into eternity with Him at the End Times in Revelation.  How beautiful is that!?

Next up: Jesus' Command #7 - Do Not Lust