Matthew 5:33-37 NRSVue

³³“Again, you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.’ ³⁴But I say to you: Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, ³⁵or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. ³⁶And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. ³⁷Let your word be ‘Yes, Yes’ or ‘No, No’; anything more than this comes from the evil one.

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Some thoughts on this scripture

Reflection
Lord, when will I meet someone like that, whose Yes means Yes, without expletives or curses? What a refreshment to hear plain speech, free of the boring swearwords and the mindless use of holy names. The person who speaks the simple truth is a rarer creature than the most eloquent wordsmith.

Reflection
Places as well as God’s self are sacred, so we respect them in how we speak of them and how we refer our oaths to them. The places and words of God are words and places of one who creates us and loves us. Jesus shows us that calling on God as witness is something of great importance. This attitude may come into all our lives. There are times when we bow to the glory of God in life and in prayer, and know that we belong to Someone much greater than ourselves, the One who made heaven and earth.

Reflection
To speak the truth in God and only in God is the concern of Jesus here. In prayer and in reflection, in conversation with others, the life and truth of God deepen in each of us. Our ‘yes' to life and in life is the ‘yes' of God. Nothing is worth our commitment in life but the truth of God and the meaning in life that is given to us by Jesus Christ.

Reflection
Jesus is the word of God; he is the evidence, an assurance and a guarantee that God works for our good. My actions show the sincerity of my words. I ask God’s help to live as I profess.

Reflection
I know that I have made promises in the past and admit that I may not always have fulfilled these promises. I place myself before God who loves me, recognises my desire to do good and forgives me.

Reflection
Lord, when will I meet someone like that, whose Yes means Yes, without expletives or curses? What a refreshment to hear plain speech, free of the boring swearwords and the mindless use of holy names. The person who speaks the simple truth is a rarer creature than the most eloquent wordsmith.