November 3, 2019
Matthew 5: 31-32
My thesis for the study:
In the sermon on the mount, Jesus teaches us how to live in the world. Jesus gives actual instruction and formation. More than rules or law, the SOM is a set of convictions about moral truth.
Where? Summary: Since all of Jesus actions and teachings show us that he is not interested in mere rule-keeping righteousness, we find that he is working for restoration, and that he places high demands upon those who follow him.
INTRODUCTION
1. Where do we make public promises? Can you think of some places where you personally have made promises in front of other people?
2. Welcome: Hi Pals, this is Blaine Hill with the Simply Stated Podcast for the Journey Sunday School class at Lake Murray Presbyterian Church in Chapin, SC. This season of the podcast is on Jesus sermon on the mount, in Matthew chapters 5 through 7. We have heard Jesus proclaim blessing in the Beatitudes and then teach on grudges and reconciliation, on lust and adultery, and on divorce and marriage. Today we are reading Matthew 5:33-34 on oaths and honesty. I’ll try to get the basic ideas of the passage simply stated, then we’ll see what we can learn about the person of Jesus, understand theologically, about eternity and take some ethical guides from the reading.
3. Read 5:33-37
So let me ask again: where do we make public promises?
· Court room: swear to tell the truth and the whole truth
· Pledge of allegiance
· Fraternities, sororities—college, of the Masons, or Moose or Eastern Star.
· Ordination of deacons, elders and ministers.
So what do we make of these oaths—because an oath is just a public promise
A BLOCK
4. Stating things Simply
a. Larger topic is what we says, truthfulness and candor. Jesus just dealt with the importance of our temper, then of our morals and now of the importance of how we speak.
b. Antithesis you have heard…but I say to you. Fulfilling the law
c. Source: Some places OT required an oauth are Deut 6:13; Ps 50:14
d. Pretty practical connection to X;
i. 3rd commandment not use God’s name in vain was hedged against.
ii. 9th—not to bear false witness against neighbor
e. More than rule against. Command to being truthful.
f. Four items, seems likely to have been sworn on:
· heaven,-God’s throne
· earth, footstool
· Jerusalem—city of the great king
· your own head-you an affect
· Each basis is a matter of presumption. The first three are evasive ways of swearing by God, while hedging against breaking the commandment not use use God’s name in vain.
· Very clear direction to clear speech, not painted or fussy. Yes. No.
· Even our own life I not our own to swear upon. So again presumptious.
g. Interpretation of passage is history of evasions (Bruner 232). For instance some people see Jesus forbids us from activiley making an oath, but allows us to take an oath when it we are called upon to do so. Nice distinction, perhaps too nice, too clever by half.
B BLOCK
5. Person: What do Jesus words reveals about who he is?
· Jesus is creating an obvious and building tension. Radical insistence on honoring marriage vows and this face-value rejection of vows. I believe that this another clear case
· Bonhoeffer Cost 1948 p 118-119 quoted in Burner 238: “The Old Testament had expressed its condemnation of untruthfulness by the use of the oath, Jesus condemns it by forbidding oatsh altogether…. It also goes without saying that He admits no exceptions, however high the court of law may be.” The command rubs our conscience. It politicizes.
6. Theology: What theological idea can we draw from this teaching?
· Refusing literally to take oaths would put us in conflict with the state, especially back in Jesus time. Perhaps Jesus provokes us to be in tension with the power of government, lest we move toward idolizing government as the source of our safety. The government never has highest claims upon Christians.
· Marriage requires taking vows, and honoring those vows.
7. Eternity: How does this teaching link our everyday life and eternity?
· If we are called to the eternity of KoH we must learn to think, act and speak with a much longer time horizon-eternity. Lies can only work out for a limited time. When the truth comes out, everything collapses. In light of eternity and the fullness of KoH, we both should and can speak truth, always.
8. Ethics: What ethical teaching or guide can we take from this teaching?
(Bruner’s little steps; Willard’s dikaiosune –how is a good person to live?)
· Live so scrupulously honestly and reliably that you don’t need to swear an oath?
· In light of teaching before today’s passage. How would a trustworthy candor change our ability to seek reconciliation instead of nurse a grudge? To work our the small and large conflicts of marriage? To keep a marriage through dissatisfaction instead of divorcing?
· Imagine a politician who you trusted not only to be honest but to be direct and candid.
· What does swearing an oath connote about the truthfullnessa nd trustworthiness of the rest of our speech?
CLOSING
Thanks for listening to the podcast for the Journey Sunday School class. A Production of Simply Stated from Hey, Vern! Media.
Invite comment or questions
God bless you
Extra
9. Least and greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Bounus: Tragedy as conflict of two virtues in a character.