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MATTHEW 5: 33 - 37

I. THE LAW AS IT WAS BEING TAUGHT (Matt. 23:16..
        A. Any time you would swear by God or His name, it was binding.
                1. Oaths made by the heaven or earth or Jerusalem not binding.
        B. The law as it was stated in Old Testament.
                1. Ex. 20: 7, "Thou shalt not take the name of Jehovah thy God in vain."
                2. Lev. 19:12, "Ye shall not swear by My name falsely."
                3. We think of profanity, but it actually refers to taking an oath.

II. THE PURPOSE OF AN OATH.
        A. To affirm the truth of a statement.
                1. Men often fail to keep their word.
                2. Men often lie or misrepresent the truth.
                3. Oaths were required to assure the truth.
        B. To bring an end to a controversy.

III. WHAT JESUS TAUGHT.
        A. "Swear not at all."
                1. Does this forbid a Christian from taking an oath in court? 
                        a. The Quakers understand it to mean this.
                        b. Paul took an oath, "before God, I lie not.
                        c. I feel the Quakers wrong.
                2. I do feel we should not in normal conversations declare, "I swear before
                   God."
                        a. I have a tendency to be suspicious of such people.
                        b. They seem to have an awareness of their own tendency to lie that
                           they must constantly affirm with oaths that
                                "Let your what they are saying is true."
        B. Yes be yes and your no, no.
                1. Be a man of your word.
                        a. What a sad thing when you can't trust a person, or his word
                        b. Never say you will do something that you have no intention of doing.