Yes, No, Maybe So! Having Honesty in Word and Heart


33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’

34 But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne;

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 swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black.

37 All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.”

Matthew 5:33-37 NIV


Why is Jesus so harsh with oaths? What do these five verses tell us about honesty and how we should use our words? In this devotional the Intentional Faith Devotional Team continues through of Sermon on the Mount.