Feb 8 Divine Service

But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.

Matthew 5:37

Where are we in the Bible? 

Within the Sermon on the Mount, you can find a number of “antitheses,” with each including a call to move beyond traditional piety to conduct commensurate with the coming kingdom of God. Each antithesis has a similar triadic structure: (1) statement of the traditional law, (2) comment on a vicious cycle, radicalization of the command, or a judgment, and (3) a transforming initiative. The transforming initiative that Jesus gives does not contradict or nullify the law, but rather, addresses the impulse that leads to

the offense, or extends the command. Our Bible verse is part of the antitheses on oaths, which begins in verse 33.

Swearing oaths assured the trustworthiness of one’s word, and an oath implicitly or explicitly invoked divine authority or divine judgment. In verses 33-37 the structure is as follows: (1) one shall not swear falsely, (2) one should not swear at all, (3) “Let your yes

mean yes, and your no mean no.”

Because Jewish people did not feel it was appropriate to say the name of God, they would often swear an oath by other items, and the list in verses 34-35 cover the most common - heaven, earth, Jerusalem, your own head. However, it was often thought that

these oaths were not taken as seriously as the oaths sworn in the name of God, meaning that they were easier to get out of, or were possibly used to deceive, or evade the fulfillment of the promise.

What are the key themes based on the Bible verse

1. Truth in speech

2. Truth in character

3. Truth in citizenship

Foundational readings:

Scripture  5:33-37 | Catechism 3.4.8.7

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February sermon theme article click here to read

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