Speaking the Truth
Matthew 5:33-37
[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. [36] And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. [37] Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.
DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study Questions
1. How would you describe “the deceptive practice” of the Scribes and Pharisees in regards to oaths? Discuss Matthew 23:16-22.
2. In what ways do we sometimes exhibit the characteristics of these Scribes and Pharisees?
3. Does your “yes” or “no” mean anything, or do you find yourself having to rise to a higher level of truthfulness through the use of some kind of oath?
4. Why is swearing by heaven, earth, etc. really no different from swearing by God’s name?
5. How does the end of v. 37 alert us to the schemes of Satan? Discuss how Satan works through our exaggerations, pretensions, dishonesty, and misleading and unclear speech.
