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MATTHEW 5: 33 - 37

"TAKING OATHS"

Intro: Is it profitable for us in this modern world with its vast problems to be concerned
       with our speech? To Christian everything is important because of what he is. Various
       details of life laid down in epistles. Eph., "Lie not one to another, speak the truth
       always."

I. CONTRAST OF INTERPRETATION OF MOSAIC LAW WITH CHRIST. TEACHING.
        A. "Thou hast heard that it hath been said by them of old time," "Thou shalt not
           forswear thyself but shalt perform unto the Lord thy oaths."
                1. Exact words not found in Old Testament.
                2. Implied in 3rd commandment, "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord Thy
                   God in vain."
                        a. Deut. 6:13.
                        b. Lev. 19:12.

II. WHAT THE LAW TAUGHT.
        A. Place bridle on man's proneness to lie.
                1. Life becoming chaotic, could not rely on people's word.
        B. Restrict oath, taking too serious and important matters.
                1. Taking oaths on trivial and unimportant matters.
                2. Normal conversations.

III. TEACHING OF PHARISEES AND SCRIBES.
        A. Attitude legalistic - more interested in letter than Spirit.
        B. So term and phrase law as to leave many loopholes.
                1. Their only interest was in the committing of perjury.
        C. Legalism still with us.
                1. Attitude of Roman church on divorce.
                        a. Not really married of God.
                        b. No real marriage had taken place.
        D. We isolate certain things and say, "to do that is sin and as long as you are not
           doing it, all is well."
                1. Modern view of holiness.
                2. To go to a show is worldly, as long as you don't do this you're all right.
                        a. Watch on T.V. OK.
                        b. Nothing at all about pride, lust of flesh, lust of eye, etc.,
                           criticism, back-biting, isolate and confine to one matter only.
        E. Pharisees reduced whole great issue to one phase only, perjury.
                1. You could swear or take oath at any time.
                2. Some oaths binding, some not.
                        a. Temple - no.
                        b. Gold in Temple - yes.
                        c. Altar - no.
                        d. Gift on altar - yes.

Ill. CHRIST TEACHING (READ).
        A. Neg. situation such as Quakers refuse to take oath in court. Pledge to flag.
                1. In Old Testament, God laid down laws as to how and when oaths should be
                   taken.
                        a. Abraham extracted oath from servant.
                        b. Jacob from Joseph, Joseph from brethren.
                2. Matthew 26:63, Jesus on trial, "held His peace."
                        a. High Priest, "I adjure by the living God.
                        b. Jesus then spoke.
                3. Practice of Apostles.
                        a. Romans 1, "I call God is my witness."
                        b. Il Cor. 1:23.
                        c. Heb. 6:16, God swore by himself.
        B. Positive.
                1. Using sacred titles in cursing.
                2. Should swear by name of God Himself.
                        a. What is heaven or earth or creatures?
                3. Should not use oaths in ordinary conversations.
                4. Look at world today, much trouble from this.
                        a. Treaties are worthless.
                        b. Increase of divorce and infidelity.