The Sermon on the Mount VII

Subtitle: Fulfilling the Torah and the Prophets of God V

Matthew 5:33-37.  This sermon was preached by Pastor Marty Bonner on January 21, 2024. 

We will continue our look at the first section of the teaching of Messiah Jesus regarding fulfilling the Law and the prophets of God.   In today’s passage, we see the fourth case study from the law that compares what the religious leaders of that day were emphasizing to what Jesus Messiah was teaching.  It is regarding swearing oaths before others.

The law of swearing oaths (v. 33-37)

Many teachers connect this to the third commandment, “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain” from Exodus 20.  That commandment is about representation.  The word translated “take” has the concept of carrying God’s reputation, and is about far more than our speech.  It means that we should not carry God’s name around in an empty, unworthy manner.

We can probably all remember receiving “The Speech” from our parents or a coach.  “You represent the (insert family name, High School, etc.), so be on your best behavior because you represent our (family, school…LORD).

Yet, it is even more specific to connect Matthew 5:33-37 to Leviticus 19:12.  “And you shall not swear by My Name falsely nor shall you profane the Name of your God: I am the LORD.”  So, what is the connection between swearing oaths and truth?

Swearing oaths has to do with convincing others that you are telling the truth about something.  This can be in the context of kids, friends, court or business.  I remember the line as a kid, “Cross my heart, hope to die, poke a needle in my eye.”  Not sure of anyone ever following through with the needle when they didn’t prove out to be true.

Swearing here is not so much about cussing, as it is about invoking something serious to back up a truth claim.  Of course, profaning the name of the LORD is to use God’s name in such a way that far below His true greatness.  To profane something is to treat a holy thing, person, as if it, or they, were just a common thing.  God and Jesus are the most holy beings that we can refer to.  IF we use their name as a curse word, i.e., the same way we would use other vile words, then we are taking a holy God and treating Him without the holy respect He is due.  His true Name (reputation and power) are empty worthless things to me.

Swearing an oath to back up the veracity of something always requires an invocation clause.  We can invoke a horrible consequence, like hoping to die or a needle being poked in our eye.  Historically, it has been common to invoke God Himself as a witness.  This is powerful because God doesn’t suffer fools.  You will not get away with using Him as a manipulative measure to cause others to believe you.  Thus, the mention of swearing falsely in Leviticus 19:12.

People often gave oaths in the courtroom (a legal context), and also within business (a contractual context).  Today, we still have people swear, or affirm, to tell the truth in court (although there is no hand on the Bible).

So, why do people swear?  If I am a person of my word, swearing becomes redundant.  Thus, it is really a manipulative tool that supports people in flat out lying to others all the way to simply wanting something so badly that we are willing to swear to its truth.

As per the teachers of their day, a whole realm of traditions had been built up on what you could swear by and what you couldn’t.  Rather, what things made an oath valid and binding, versus one that is not binding.  Teachers in those days had generally ruled out swearing by God’s name because it put you in direct danger of abusing the Law.  Thus, they built a network of fences around this idea to keep people from being bound to swearing falsely.

In this passage, Jesus mentions four such things: swearing by heaven, by the earth, by Jerusalem, and by your own head.  Of course, there were far more things.  In Matthew 23:16-22, Jesus brings up this area of what makes an oath valid or not.

Imagine if you were an Israelite in those days and took a person to court because they swore to you on the temple (in Jerusalem) that they would fulfill a business obligation.  Yet, they welched on the deal and cost you money.  Now, imagine that in the courtroom the lawyer of the person who swindled you makes the case that the oath wasn’t binding because it was only on the temple and not on the “gold of the temple.”  This is the weasel-like practices, and legal precedents, that had been built up in Jerusalem at the time.  The religious leaders taught a whole realm of things that were not binding versus things that were.  To them, swearing by the temple was not binding, but to swear by the gold of the temple was binding.  To them, swearing by the altar was not binding, but to swear by the gift (sacrifice) on the altar was binding.

Jesus berated the religious leaders for being blind guides.  To swear by the temple is to swear by all that it represents, i.e., God!  The same is true for the altar.  This is not the kind of righteousness that the Law was pointing us them to do, but it was what they had twisted it into.

Their nit-picking over what you swear by demonstrated their lack of respect for Yahweh, and that they represented Him.  It is at this point that you know they are not interested in truth, just as you do when you find out that a person in court can get away with lying to you simply because they have a better lawyer who knows just what words to twist.  The court says it is legal, but the God of heaven condemns it as lawlessness (in the name of Law).

In all of this, God’s reputation was being lost in the shuffle.  Yahweh is the epitome of truth and love, but honesty and truth telling were the last things you would find (or will find today) in a court of “law.”

Verse 34 opens with, “But I say to you do not swear at all…”  Quit focusing on the thing you are invoking (heaven, earth, Jerusalem, or your own head), and start focusing on whether you are speaking truth or not.  Everything in this universe belongs to the God of Truth, and you have no power over those things.   So, just stop swearing oaths, period! 

Due to outright lying, half-truths, and manipulative wording that is deceptive, the habit of swearing to something had taken root in the ancient world and is still with us today.  Jesus tells us not to be a person who swears oaths in order to get people to believe them.

Instead of swearing oaths, “But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,” ‘No.’“  If you say ‘Yes,’ then the truth of the matter needs to be ‘Yes.’  The same is true for if you say ‘No.”  Yes=Yes and No=No, period!  Jesus is calling those who join His Kingdom to be truth-tellers, to be honest.  Sometimes it is better to say nothing at all.  You may not qualify as a witness, or get that contract, but you will at least have been truthful and honest with others.

We should also notice that Jesus does not say that we should only answer ‘Yes’ or ‘No.’  He says something far more radical.  Make sure that every word you speak matches up with the truth, matches up with reality.  We are challenged to keep our word, even when an oath wasn’t involved, because we represent the Kingdom of God, the Kingdom of God’s Messiah, Jesus!

Paul references such things in Ephesians 4:14-15.  He tells them to “put away lying,” and “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbors (v. 25).  This does not mean that it is okay to lie to the lost. 

Now, we should not turn this into a legalistic law that misses the point.  It is not about what others say, or require you to do.  This is all about your intention.  Historically, people have made an issue of not “swearing” when they are in court because of this verse.  Because people are liars, courts take time to “swear in” witnesses.  It lets them know that they will be held accountable for lying.  In a sense, they are admitting they are forewarned.  This is not what Jesus is talking about.  In fact, we have a similar issue later when Jesus is in front of the High Priest in Matthew 26:62-64.

Jesus has kept his mouth shut throughout the whole trial (kangaroo trial), This exasperates the High Priest and causes him to invoke an oath formula.  “I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!”  Now, Jesus didn’t have to say anything, but any answer following this would be equivalent to swearing upon the living God.  Jesus answers the High Priest.  He doesn’t make a big deal about not swearing, etc.  He simply speaks the truth before God, as he had always done.  The point of this is about the underlying issue of dishonesty and manipulation. 

Jesus then adds in verse 37, “whatever is more than these is from the evil one.”  Again, the point is not saying more than ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ (Jesus did that), but on anything more (or less) than Yes=Yes and No =No, i.e., truth, reality, honoring God in everything you say.

In fact, it is from the “evil one.”  This is the devil.  We can go into situations intent on saying the truth, but may find ourselves put in a situation where sensitive information may come out, and so we give half-truths.  I don’t think Jesus would ever have been manipulated into lying, but we could learn a lesson from him.  When his life was on the line, he was not desperately saying anything to get himself off the hook.  Instead, he rarely spoke or defended himself.  Of course, this didn’t get him off.  It is often dishonesty that gets a man off, and truth telling that gets him killed.  We fear man more than God, and thereby, we end up imaging the devil instead of our loving Father in heaven.

Other motivations that lead people to manipulation and swearing oaths are desperation to get a contract with others, or to impress others.  We may be desperate to get people to sign onto something that we are personally invested in.  In such cases, we are often tempted to use the arts of manipulation, even in the Church, which does not please God or honor Him.

Instead of respecting the other person, we reduce them to a means to an end.  They become like a mere slice of bread to us.  Desperation, in ourselves or in others, is always a red flag.

This brings us to the true motivation.  Respect for others is a facet of loving others.  When we operate out of love, as Jesus commands us, we will turn away from such methods, and put our trust in God.  If others do not believe me, then they will have to answer to God for it.  Romans 13:8-10 says, “8 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”

If you love people, you won’t image the devil in your speech to them.  Of course, we immediately feel the protest of our flesh, “No one can perfectly do that!”  Listen, the only way you will become perfect is by dying to yourself and putting your faith in Jesus.  If you make a mistake in this area, then be quick to admit it and ask forgiveness, from the people first and then from God.  None of us will become perfect without the help of Jesus and the Spirit of God.  Even then, the process will not be completed until the resurrection.  This is not an excuse, but the facts.  To follow Jesus is hard on our flesh, but he gives us life through the Holy Spirit.

Law of Swearing/Oaths audio

A Desperate Woman is Healed

Mark 5:21-34.  This sermon was preached by Pastor Marty Bonner on Sunday, July 28, 2019.

Last week we were in the first part of this chapter where Jesus encountered a man possessed with many demons on the east to southwest shore of the Sea of Galilee.  That event ended with the people of the region pleading with Jesus to leave.  Thus, our passage today involves the events after they returned to the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee, most likely Capernaum.

In a sense we will have one story interrupted by another story, but both of them have similarities that I will bring up in my commentary as we work through them.

The dire condition of Jairus’ daughter

When Jesus lands on the shore, it does not take long for a crowd to gather.  It is at this point that one of the leaders of the synagogue named Jairus (Hebrew- Yair, “God Enlightens”) approaches Jesus.  His daughter is at the point of death and her only hope is a miracle from God.  Jesus is the only prophet of that generation who evidenced the healing power of God.  We will focus on this story more next week because we are going to be interrupted by a woman who needs healed.  For now, we should recognize that the synagogue leaders generally did not like Jesus and we have no reason to believe that this man was much different.  This man is convinced that Jesus can heal his daughter. 

He also believes that Jesus needs to touch her in order for it to happen.  I mention this because, in the story of the centurion who was a dying servant, Jesus remarks that touching to heal is not a necessity.  That doesn’t mean that it is a hindrance either.  However, things like touching or putting mud on the eyes are really more of an aid to our faith.  Healing is not some kind of power that is transmitted through hands.  However, when we lay hands upon someone, it does encourage them to believe.  Thus, we can call it an “aid to faith.”

Most likely this man would not normally embrace Jesus in public.  However, he has become desperate because of the impending death of his daughter.  There are things that we would never consider or give a second thought until we become desperate.  This can work for the good and it can work for the bad.  This is one of the reasons that it is so important to share the good news about Jesus with everyone.  People may not respond immediately with any interest, or they may be hostile to the message, but some day they may find themselves in a desperate situation.  What will they turn to then?  We know that Jesus is not just one option among many.  He truly is the only option in the end for those who are desperate.  If you are in a desperate situation, now is the time to turn to Jesus with your problems and seek his help, healing, and forgiveness.

If you think that he will not help you then take note of the response of Jesus to Jairus.  Jesus begins to go with Jairus to his house in order to heal his daughter.  Of course, the multitude of people continue to follow Jesus and “throng” him (that is, to press in tight around him).

The desperate condition of a daughter of Israel

Starting in verse 25, this story takes a turn.  He is interrupted by one that he will call “daughter” in verse 34.  Now this woman is most likely at least the age of Jesus, which we will establish in a bit.  So, his reference to her as “daughter” is a reminder to her and everyone else that she is still a daughter of Israel.  She had a place and a portion among God’s people who are called Israel.  Her bleeding ailment threatened this.  Today we would use the phrase “child of God” or “daughter of God.”  Regardless the emphasis is that her condition does not make her an outcast, as she has been treated no doubt.  Through Christ we can spiritually be born again as a child of God who has a guaranteed place and portion among the people of God for each of us.  Thus, this story is thematically connected to Jairus and his dying daughter, as this woman is a dying daughter of God.

Let’s recount her physical situation.  We are told that she has a “flow of blood.”   It is not completely explained and does not seem to be immediately life threatening.  However, she has had it for 12 years and it is getting worse.  I would assume that this means the flow is greater, but it could be a reference to pain, even though pain is not mentioned.  Within the Judean society this would have been a devastating thing for her.  First of all, it means that she would be ceremonially unclean all the time.  She could never participate in any of the religious ceremonies of Israel.  Second of all, anyone that she touches would also become ceremonially defiled.  Thus, she would have been a social outcast, much like a leper.  She is not only sick, but has been unable to have a normal life for the last 12 years.

We are also told about her experience with the medical profession of her day.  She apparently comes from wealth because she has spent all that she had going to “many physicians.”  Instead of getting better from their efforts, her condition keeps getting worse.  This woman has desperately sought out any hope that the medical profession of her day could offer and found them dashed to the ground.  No doubt, each time, she would get her hopes up that a certain doctor could help her with a unique procedure, only to return home without relief.  She now has nothing left and is thus without hope, until she hears about Jesus.  What she could not buy for all the money in the world is now possible for free.  What a moment of hope this must have been for this woman.

We are told that her plan was to come up behind Jesus, while he is in the crowd, and touch his garment.  What is interesting here is that she has the same concept of the connection between touch and healing that Jairus did.  However, in this case she believes that it doesn’t even have to be a purposeful touch.  She hopes to get a healing on the sly and slip away.  Why would she do that?  Part of it may have to do with the fact that her unclean condition is well known.  For her to purposefully touch a rabbi in public, thus making him ceremonially defiled, would be considered at least a social faux pas and perhaps even an act worthy of civil punishment.  On top of this is the question.  How many people would she touch in trying to get through the multitude to Jesus?  Her only chance of getting close to Jesus would be to hide her identity and attempt to get it without anyone knowing.  To get forgiveness is easier than to get permission.

In the Gospel of Matthew, we are told that she wants to touch the “hem” of his garment.  Typically, the hem would have tassels and even, at times, designs that evidenced a person’s place and authority.  This could be the hem at the bottom of the garment or on his sleeves.  We are not told if Jesus had any such items, but this is reminiscent of Malachi 4:2 where it says, “But to you who fear My name, the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings;”.  The word for “wings” can mean exactly that in the context of birds or such.  It simply means the extremity of something.  In the context of a garment this could mean the edges or hems of the garment, and in the context of the person it would be their hands and feet (extremities).  I believe that this verse in Malachi is clearly referencing the Messiah by the title “Sun of Righteousness.”  Since it is a person the image is not so much wings, but rather his hands or the edges of his garment.  Our passage today is clearly a fulfillment of this passage and so is any healing event in which Jesus laid his hands upon the person.

The woman is healed

Upon the touching of the hem of Jesus’ garment, we are told that the “fountain of her blood” was immediately healed.  Whatever the source of the bleeding was, it was instantly healed and quit bleeding.  We are also told that she could feel that something had changed in her body.  She knew in that instant that she was healed.  Now, all she had to do was slip away and go through the purification rituals.  She would no longer be ceremonially defiled and could return to a normal interaction with Judean society.

Just as the woman felt something physically happen to her, so Jesus sensed the power that had healed her.  The word for “power” her is the term “dunamis,” which points to the creative and restorative power of God.  At first, this may give the impression that the Bible is saying that healing is something that can be carried around and given to someone else by touch and even without willing it.  That is, all it takes to be healed is to touch something that his holy, and blessed by God.  Yet, there is more to it than that, which we will come back to in a moment.  Before the woman can make her exit, Jesus suddenly turns around within the crowd and says, “Who touched my clothes?”

The disciples are incredulous at the question Jesus asks.  They point out that many people in the crowd are constantly touching him.  The question might be better, “Who hasn’t touched me?”  Clearly this is not what Jesus is talking about.  He knows who he is talking about and so does the person who was healed.

The woman is afraid and trembling as she falls down before Jesus and confesses the whole story to Jesus and the surrounding crowd.  Most likely, she expects some kind of public rebuke and perhaps legal consequences.  Yet, Jesus is unconcerned with any fears of being defiled and protecting his reputation as a holy man.  He never even brings it up.  In fact, this episode begs the question.  Is Jesus now ceremonially defiled?  The most powerful evidence to the contrary is the fact of her healing.  It was not her defiling him, but him healing her.  The defilement of her condition was no match for the healing power of Jesus.  We cannot defile him, but he can heal us.  This is not just true with physical issues.

Many people do not turn to Christ because they fear that they will be rejected due to their sins.  However, our sin cannot affect Jesus.  He can handle your sins.  He went to the cross for your sins.  His power is greater than all our sin and can set us free from them, both legally and in actuality.  In no way, do I imply that it is okay to embrace sin as a follower of Jesus.

This part of the story ends with Jesus addressing her as daughter.  We talked about this earlier, but I believe it is an endearing term meant to set her at ease, and also a reminder to those around them that she is still a daughter of Israel.  She never lost her place with God because of this disease.  The pharisaical position on such people would be that they are cursed by God, no doubt due to sin, and thus a sub-citizen of sorts.  She would not be seen as a true daughter of Israel, at least until she is healed.

His statement following this address is that her faith has made her well.  Jesus does not mean that faith by itself is enough to be healed.  It is not a faith that just keeps saying, “I am healed; I am healed.”  This would be faith in faith itself.  However, Jesus said “her faith.”  What exactly was her faith?  Her faith was not centered in positivism or a mantra.  It was solidly placed upon the person of Jesus.  She believed that Jesus could heal her if she just touched his garment.  This is the plain teaching of Scripture.  God has provided for healing through faith in Jesus.  No, it is not guaranteed that all people will be healed in this life because God has a purpose that goes beyond this life.  As Jesus told the Apostle Paul, “My grace is enough for you.”  Yet, this story is an amazing revelation nonetheless.  Many simply will not believe that healing in the name of Jesus is possible at all, and thus they miss out on the possibility that God would heal them.  Others believe that Jesus heals, but blame all situation where there is no healing upon the faith of the person or their loved ones.  We must be careful in this area and ask for healing and yet trust God no matter what his answer.

Jesus tells her to go in peace and enjoy her healing from this plague.  Not all that plagues humanity is physical.  However, in Jesus we have the One who is able to make us every bit whole.  Will you put your faith in him for both your body and soul?  We can touch Jesus through our prayers of faith in him.

Woman Healed audio