The Good Life: Radically Transparent Truth Tellers (Matthew 5:33-37)

Jason Plumer

First Baptist Church Litchfield

Matthew • Sermon • Submitted 10 months ago • Presented 10 months ago

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A Broken Pledge

In 1988, at the Republican National Convention, George H. W. Bush accepted the nomination as the Republican presidential candidate. President Bush ran on a promise to not raise taxes on the American people. During his acceptance speech, President Bush famously said,

“And I'm the one who will not raise taxes. My opponent now says he'll raise them as a last resort, or a third resort. But when a politician talks like that, you know that's one resort he'll be checking into. My opponent won't rule out raising taxes. But I will. And the Congress will push me to raise taxes and I'll say no. And they'll push, and I'll say no, and they'll push again, and I'll say, to them, "Read my lips: no new taxes."’ George H.W. Bush

Sadly, President Bush would later regret those six words. He may opposed creating new taxes, but he had to work with a Democratic-controlled Congress who was set on raising taxes as a way to reduce the national budget deficit. Congress asked him to raise taxes, and hid did not say no. In 1990, he checked into the tax hike resort and compromised with his liberal counterparts to increase existing taxes as part of the 1990 budget agreement.

In the 1992, presidential election campaign, Busch lost re-election to Bill Clinton, who made it a point to question Bush’s trustworthiness. The New York Post ran a headline that read,

“Read My Lips: I Lied.” (John W. Smith, New York Post July 5, 1990)

It is natural for God’s fallen image-bearers to be liars at heart. Since the fall in the Garden of Eden, when the serpent deceived Adam and Eve, lying has become a pattern of living for humanity.

Consider for a moment how easily children can lie to their parents. We do not have to teach them to lie; they naturally do it out of selfishness and self-preservation. I once caught one of my children eating out of the Nutella Jar in the kitchen. Surprised I caught them red-handed, I asked, “Are you eating out of the Nutella Jar?” I wanted them to acknowledge their mistake, just as God did with Adam and Eve.

What response do you think I got? No daddy. I’m not eating out of the Nutella Jar. “Are you sure?” I would ask. Nope. Why are you holding an open jar of Nutella? Why do you have a spoon in your hand? Why is your face covered with Nutella?

The child, utterly aloof of the truth, says, “I don’t know.”

Our children also foolishly make promises they cannot keep for various reasons, even things out of their control. Abigail Lillian once promised me she would never grow older. She would always stay little so she could sit in my lap, hold my hand, and we could have happy meals together. I tried telling her that was a promise she could not keep, but as a child, Daddy was being foolish.

Telling the truth and keeping your promises is not a matter of conviction just because you are mature or of age. Adults lie and break promises, too, often about petty things.

How often have you told your spouse or loved one that you would be home on time or call if you were running late, only to arrive late and never call? How often have you lied about the hours you’ve worked and the fish you caught for the sake of not getting shamed or humiliated? It is not a coincidence that Jesus speaks to keeping your promises right after his teaching on divorce. Read my lips: Sinners, we are prone to lie and break our promises, which is the very reason why we need them.

We live in a world where vows and oaths must exist.

We are often inclined to break our promises, which is why we feel the need to make promises to each other. Oaths and vows are necessary because being radically transparent truth-tellers is not natural to us.

It doesn't take our children very long to realize that they live in a world of broken promises. I might promise my children that when I get home from work, I will swim with them for an hour. However, while at work, I may lose track of time or someone may need me for pastoral care. I come home later than expected to a child who feels disappointed in me for not keeping my word, regardless of whether I had a valid reason to break it or not. The next time I tell them I will do something, they respond with skepticism, asking, "Do you promise, Daddy?" Daniel Doriani makes the point, "The request for a promise is a testimony against us... the very request for a promise testifies that we are not reliable. When a child asks, 'Do you promise?' he testifies that our yes has not always been yes." (Doriani, Daniel M. The Sermon on the Mount)‌

We live in a world, as described in Genesis three, that is deeply affected by deception. In such a world, the necessity of vows and oaths becomes even more pronounced. These commitments are crucial to keep us on the path of honesty and reliability.

And yet, in our text this morning, Jesus seems to create a tension in the good life. He clearly says,

Matthew 5:33–37 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. 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.

On the surface, Jesus seems to say we are not to make vows or promises at all. This poses some questions for us.

What is Jesus most concerned about in our text?

Is Jesus saying we are to never take an oath or vow?

If God makes vows to us, does that mean God does not always keep his promises like us? Is there something wrong with God’s character?

Let’s begin by asking,

What is Jesus most concerned about in our text?

Jesus is most concerned with radical transparent truth telling and promise-keeping.

Jesus describes oaths in verses 34-36,

Matthew 5:34–36 ESV

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.

In verse 33, Jesus uses the familiar formula, "You have heard it said," to introduce his concerns about taking oaths or vows. He goes on to say, "You shall not swear falsely, but perform to the Lord what you have sworn." Jesus is likely referring to two particular Old Testament commands that deal with promise-keeping and using God's name;

Leviticus 19:12 ESV

12 You shall not swear by my name falsely, and so profane the name of your God: I am the Lord.

Deuteronomy 23:23 ESV

23 You shall be careful to do what has passed your lips, for you have voluntarily vowed to the Lord your God what you have promised with your mouth.

Both verses convey the message of not taking God’s name in vain from Exodus 20:7. Taking God’s name in vain isn't just about using it as a profanity; it's more about acting hypocritically. This means not representing God's name as something it's not, or claiming to follow God's commands while living in a way that contradicts those commands. When it comes to vows, oaths, and promises, the key point is not to use God’s name to make a promise if you have no intention or ability to keep it.

Because we live in a world full of deception, God's people twist His word and His name for personal gain. Jesus exposes the societal trend of deception in making vows in the verses 34-36,

Matthew 5:34–36 ESV

Jesus recognized that people in his time were abusing oaths to deceive others. The rabbis often found ways to avoid keeping their promises by using clever language. For instance, they argued that swearing by Jerusalem was not a binding oath, but swearing toward Jerusalem was. They also claimed that a vow made by the temple was not binding, but a vow made by the temple’s gold was binding. This reeks of playground promises that are easily broken by crossing your fingers.

This unethical practice resulted in corruption and distrust among the people. Therefore, Jesus removes the deceptive loophole by rejecting their semantic distinctions. He states, “Your distinctions are meaningless. Do not swear at all by Jerusalem, nor by heaven, nor by God’s throne, nor by your head (Matthew 5:34-35). God governs all things in the heavens, on earth, and even the hairs of your head; thus, your pledge is binding regardless of what you swear by or toward. As pointed out by Daniel Doraini, "All oaths call God as our witness" (Matthew 5:34-35).

What troubled Jesus the most was that the hearts of his people were so entangled with deceit that they could not appreciate truthfulness as a way of living a good life. His people, especially the leaders in Israel, had become habitual liars to the extent that they felt the need to invoke God’s name and authority in order to be taken seriously.

So, as D.A. Carson so well put it,

If men will play such games with oaths, Jesus will simply abolish oaths. He is interested in truthfulness, its constancy and absoluteness.

D. A. Carson

Jesus is most interested in you living radically transparent truthful lives that do not need to make vows or take oaths to be taken seriously. John Piper passionately agrees with Carson when he says,

“Jesus demands that our heart be so transparently honest that there is no need for external confirmations (like oaths) to buttress our simple yes and no. The righteousness that exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees is the inward commitment to total truthfulness that makes “I swear” superfluous.” (Piper, John. What Jesus Demands from the World.) In other words, the point of Matthew 5:33-37 is, that

Christ demands that you live such radically transparent truth-telling promise-keeping lives.

There really should be no need for Christians to have to make promises. Jesus says, “Let your yes be yes and your no be no.” It should be that simple. Anything more than this is from the Evil one, Satan. Satan is the father of all lies (John 8:44). To make a promise while crossing your fingers behind your back is of Satan. Parents need to stress this with their children, and we in the church need to understand the evil behind breaking your oath.

Does Jesus strictly prohibit oaths and vows?

Jesus did not strictly prohibit all vows. The ideal life in the kingdom of God while on earth should reflect radical transparent truth. So oaths, vows, and promises are not the ideal, but Jesus understood that are necessary.

An oath is a promise or a vow to be truthful. We make vows at weddings to be faithful to each other. We take an oath, “to tell the truth and nothing but the truth” when we testify in the court of law. We sign contracts promising to fulfill our end of the agreement. Making and keeping oaths are part of living in the gospel truth. It is one way we express gospel truth to a lost and crooked generation.

Jesus also understood the significance of oath keeping by the Promises His Father made to us. He says, “You have heard that it was said…’ Do not break your oath but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord (Matthew 5:33).” Jesus knew that His Father made it clear that when a man makes a vow to the Lord, he must not break it (Num 30:2; Deut 23:21; Lev 19:12).

If God makes vows to us, does that mean God does not always keep his promises like us? Is there something wrong with God’s character?

Absolutely not! Isaiah the prophet

Isaiah 65:16 (ESV)

‌16 so that he who blesses himself in the land shall bless himself by the God of truth, and he who takes an oath in the land shall swear by the God of truth...

The Psalmist says,

Psalm 43:3 ESV

3 Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling!

Numbers 23:19 ESV

19 God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?

God is a radically transparent truth-telling, promise-keeping God. Throughout redemption history, He has made and kept promises, including those to Abraham and Sarah that they would have a child in their old age. God made a promise to Noah and his descendants that he would never flood the earth again. God promised to change his people's hearts of stone to a heart of flesh and put his Spirit inside them, causing them to obey his commands. God kept his promise by sending His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, to live a perfect life, die a sinner’s death, raise him from the grave, and ascend him to heaven where he poured out his Spirit on all who call upon his name to be saved. God's integrity is pure. He never lies.

Even though God doesn't need to make promises, He does so for our sake, as we are often slow to believe Him. He understands our skepticism and mercifully reassures us by making vows. God is a radically transparent truth-telling promise-keeping God, even when it costs Him His Son.

Living the Good Life in the Kingdom Now

Jesus desires your life to be radically transparent truth-telling and promise-keeping. What does that look like in the real Genesis 3 world?

1. Believe God is a radically transparent truth-telling promise-keeping God so you can live in the Truth.

God has proven to you he never lies and always keep his promises. His promises are the justice, grace, truth, and power you need to be a radically transparent truth-telling promise-keeping Christian.

The famous missionary Hudson Taylor started a bank account for the China Inland Mission in Brighton, England. On the application where he was asked to designate his assets, he wrote, “Ten pounds and the promises of God.”

H. G. Salter made a keen observation about the promises of God. Salter says,

“Every promise is built upon four pillars: God’s justice and holiness, which will not suffer Him to deceive; He grace or goodness, which will not suffer Him to forget; His truth, which will not suffer Him to change; and His power, which makes Him able to accomplish.” H. G. Salter

Jesus gives you His justice, grace, truth, and power to always let your yes be yes, and your no be no. He empowers you to trust that there is life in the truth. You live in the truth and die by a lie.

2. Protect your relationships by not using promises to manipulate others to get what you want.

This is what the Jewish religious leaders were doing to people with their deceptive oaths. They were using vows and oaths as a form of manipulation to serve their own interests. Jesus rebuked this behavior and noted that it was not acceptable in His kingdom.

Spouses and parents often use promises as a tool of manipulation to get something they want. Parents may resort to empty threats, such as saying to a child, "If you do not do what I say, I will spank your butt three times," but not following through with the punishment. Conversely, promising a child a reward for good behavior and then adding more requirements later, such as demanding additional chores after they've completed the original task, is also unfair.

Another example is when wives make empty threats to their husbands, such as threatening to make them go outside if they don’t stop making a mess in the bathroom. It's important not to use ultimatums like "Either you do 'A' or I will divorce you." In the church, pastoral leaders sometimes lack transparency by leading “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hide” kind of lives. In our community, integrity issues arise when Christian leaders make promises they cannot keep, business owners deceive their customers, or neighbors habitually exaggerate the truth.

Christ has called us to speak truth and life to each other, all the time, in every sphere of life. Manipulation of of the devil. Protect your relationships with a kingdom commitment to transparent truth telling and promise keeping.

3. Do not blasphemy God’s name by making a promise you cannot or do not intend to keep.

The consequence of the Jews deceptive behavior was that it brought dishonor to God’s name through hypocrisy. Here they were God’s Shephered in charge of God’s laws and ways, and they were using his name to deceive people. They took God’s name in vein with their hypocrisy.

Do not invoke God’s name in any vow, oath, or promise if you do not plan to keep it. Do not call God’s integrity into question by your inconsistent lifestyle. If you are in a court of law and you swear to tell the truth so help you God, tell the whole truth. If you are getting married and you make a vow “until death do you part,” divorce cannot be part of your vocabulary. If you are entering into an agreement to buy a house or a car, bankruptcy should not enter the equation. God is called to be a witness in every promise you make. Do not take his name in vein with your hypocrisy. Jesus empowers you to live a consistent transparent truth-telling promise keeping life to glorifies God’s name with integrity.

4. Live in the truth for wisdom’s sake.

Believing God is a radically transparent truth-telling promise-keeping God keeps your from wisely not only lying yourself. That is the worst kind of deception. You base your life around half-truths. Let me give you a simple example.

You go for an interview for a job. The company says they like your resume and could see you being a good fit. The company end’s the interview with a promise to get back to you. You go home and tell your family that you pretty much have the job, that they loved your resume, and said you would be a great fit for their company. You put your house on the market for an upgrade house because you will be making twice as much money as you did before. You buy a new car because you need reliable transportation. You max out your credit card with all the new clothes you need for work. What do you do when the company calls you back and says, “We think you are great, but we are going with someone else?”

There is no wisdom in deceiving yourself. You must accept reality, and trust that God will keep all of his promises to protect you, sustain you, provide for you, grow you, equip you, and keep you all the way until He call you home or comes back to restore heaven and earth.

5. Live such radically transparent truth-telling promise keeping lives that promises are unnecessary for you.

Living radically transparent truth-telling promise keeping lives means that you crucify the flesh. It is no longer you, but Christ who lives in you. Your life should reflect, His way, His truth, His life in all of your relationships. Your integrity should be so Christ like that people who know you will not need you to make an oath of a vow.

6. Never forget, Jesus is God’s Promise Kept For You

God is not a politician who promises one thing but then does something else. God understands you have lied and been lied too. He knows that because of this abuse of truth, you are skeptical to believe anyone who makes a promise. So God made vow to send His Son to be the ultimate Promise-Keeper on your behalf. Jesus said, “I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father but by Me (John 14:6). In order for that to happen, Jesus knew he would need to die on the cross for your unfaithfulness and be raised by God’s faithfulness in order to give you His faithfulness. The Way, the Truth, and the Life has come to your heart by faith. He enables you to walk in His ways, live in His truth, and be the Life to those around you. Christian, you can be a radical transparent truth telling promise-keeper because your God has kept His promise to you through His Son Jesus Christ; who brings you into His Kingdom to live the Good Life. Go, live such a transparent truth-telling promise-keeping life that there will be no need for you to make a vow you cannot keep, or if you have to make a vow it is as good as kept.

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