Sunday, February 12, 2017
Sunday Reflection: On Oaths
Next Sunday, I will be giving the sermon at First Covenant Church in Minneapolis-- all are welcome, and the service starts at 9:30.
This week, though, the liturgy for many churches will include a challenging passage from Matthew:
"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.’ But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let your word be ‘Yes, Yes’ or ‘No, No’; anything more than this comes from the evil one.”
To me, this is a pretty straightforward instruction not to take oaths, and I take it seriously-- I don't say oaths. It is awkward sometimes, but important to me.
Am I wrong? Do others read this passage another way?
This week, though, the liturgy for many churches will include a challenging passage from Matthew:
"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.’ But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let your word be ‘Yes, Yes’ or ‘No, No’; anything more than this comes from the evil one.”
To me, this is a pretty straightforward instruction not to take oaths, and I take it seriously-- I don't say oaths. It is awkward sometimes, but important to me.
Am I wrong? Do others read this passage another way?
