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Matthew 5:33-37
We have learned from the Prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 42:9 (NKJV), “Behold, the former things have come to pass, And new things I declare; Before they spring forth I tell you of them.” In Matthew 5:17 Jesus declares, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.” As Jesus taught these things during His physical life and ministry on the earth, He also makes known when, or at the moment these things are fulfilled. In John 19:28-30 is the record of the last words of Jesus before He died on the cross. Jesus declares in John 19:30, “…It is finished!”
After Jesus declared that He came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 5:17), He then began telling of the “New” way in which will lead to righteousness after, “all is fulfilled” (Matthew 5:18). He began teaching of the “New” way which will, in His own words, be the “New” standard once He completes His mission on the earth in His physical life by dying on the cross and declaring, “It is finished” (John 19:30). Jesus then (Matthew 5:21) began telling of the difference between the “Old” commandments and the “New” commandments.
He continues in Matthew 5:33-37 with His teaching of being honest. Jesus gives several examples of things that we should not swear by as He leads to His main point of not swearing at all by any means. Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:37, “But let you ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.”
This is a command to not swear/promise things as it is not our right to determine what God will or will not do/accomplish.
The sinful nature is at work in us all as Satan strives to keep us from having a right relationship with God. Satan tried to make the decisions that are only in God’s right to do, and for it, he was cast out of heaven for eternity. We are not to tell God what to do or to make demands that essentially puts us in the position of being our own god; because that is what we are doing when we swear by things that are out of our control. This is disobedience to God as is the sin of Satan. We are to live in obedience and submission to God in seeking His will for our lives as He is greater than we are, and He knows what is best for us. But in obedience and submission to God is the righteous blessings that come from nowhere else. He gives rewards to us that are beyond words to express. He gave us His love in sending His one and only Son to save us from sin…and the only thing that God requires of us is to open our hearts to the “New” life that He offers us – in Christ.
Dear LORD,
Please help us to see that it is our pride, arrogance, and self-centeredness that keeps us away from You and from growing to where You would have us in our relationships with You. These are the things that keep us from submitting our lives to You and the “New” life that You offer us through salvation in Your one and only Son Jesus. Please open our eyes so that we may see how blessed Your love for us is – in Christ! In Jesus name I pray, amen.