Matthew 5:33-35

Matthew 5:33-35 (ESV):  “33 “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ 34 But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.”

Your word is the most impactful thing you have. You shouldn’t have to swear or make promises to strengthen your word. Just let your yes and your no be enough.

Jesus addresses the cultural practice of making vows. The religious leaders had twisted the Law about not taking the Lord’s name in vain to mean they could swear by anything else—even the temple—and a person wouldn’t be obligated to keep their word. Jesus makes it clear that such practices are erroneous. We are accountable for every word we speak. So Jesus says, “Do not swear at all.” Let your yes be yes and your no be no. That should be enough.

Does your word have weight, or is it weak because you are known for not keeping it? Your word is ultimately all you need—if you keep it. You don’t need to make a vow or swear if you make it a practice to follow through on what you say. If your word has been weakened by inconsistency, all you can do is start doing what you say you’re going to do, and over time it will regain strength. Be committed to keeping your word, and people will take notice. Amen?

Father, we thank You for giving us such practical guidance and instruction. You keep Your Word, so help us to do the same. If we have failed at times, forgive us, and help us to learn from it. May our word be enough. We pray this in Jesus’ name, amen.