Mon, Jan 5, 2009
Matt 5: The Evil of Oaths
In verses 33-37 of Matthew 5 Jesus is addressing the epidemic lack of integrity that was undermining Hebrew culture at the time - the swearing of oaths, many of which went unfulfilled. Jesus says that we shouldn't take an oath in verse 36, essentially, because we are powerless to bring it to pass. He finishes this by commanding us to simply be people of our word. But he finishes with an interesting phrase: "anything more than this comes from evil." Fascinating. "And do not take an oath by your head, for YOU CANNOT MAKE one hair white or black...anything more than this comes from evil" (emphasis mine). Why does Jesus blacklist oath-taking as pure evil? My first response to this, when viewed in the context that we are powerless to make our oaths come to pass, is that we must remember that God is the only one totally in control. Only he can make our hair white or black. He is sovereign and superintends all human history to ultimately fulfill his will. Oath-taking is a denial that God is indeed in control and is also our attempt to seize from him that control. Now, THAT, is evil!