Toast and Oaths
Notes
Transcript
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Introduction:
“Christmas is the promise, and Easter is the proof.”
Source: UnknownThe Devil’s Broken Promises
In 1939, months before the start of World War II, Germany and Russia signed the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact. This treaty promised that neither nation would attack the other, and it laid out a plan for how they would divide the nations of Eastern Europe between them. It remained in force for nearly two years, when in 1941, without any warning or provocation, Adolf Hitler sent his tanks across the Russian border in a sneak attack. Hitler had no interest in keeping his word; the treaty was meant only as a temporary measure until he could do what he wanted.
W.A. Criswell told about an ambitious young man who told his pastor he’d promised God a tithe of his income. They prayed for God to bless his career. At that time he was making $40.00 per week and tithing $4.00. In a few years his income increased, and he was tithing $500.00 per week. He called on the pastor to see if he could be released from his tithing promise for it was too costly now. The pastor replied, “I don’t see how you can be released from your promise, but we can ask God to reduce your income to $40.00 a week, then you’d have no problem tithing $4.00.”
Royal Treatment
This exposes just one of countless promises, treaties, pledges, pacts, and even oaths that were made just as quick as they were broken. And there will always be many more to come until the end of the age, whether intentionally broken or unintentionally—and almost all, if not all, due the depravity and fallibility of our sinful hearts.
Like a lot of married men, I got the “You just don’t appreciate me” speech. I promised to treat her royally for the remainder of the day. I took her to lunch at Burger King and Dairy Queen for dessert. She’s never mentioned it since.
Source: Unknown
Transition:
:
So what should we here, today, think or do about this? Ought we, as Christians, concern ourselves about this problem that is just perhaps merely “human nature?” well let’s take a brief look at what the word of God has to say about this:
But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.
Almost like a sore thumb, verse 12 here seems to be an abrupt injunction against making oaths that comes untimely in this chapter, since we can see the rest of this epistle (verses 13–18) addresses prayer. Many modern translations see v. 12 as an independent unit (NASB, NIV, plus a couple others). It is because this last chapter moves the readers from their first situation of where they were suffering, to where they can be joyful, then back to suffering. So this verse is commonly seen as just thrown in haphazardly, like an after thought or a post script. However it is not what some of these modern scholars first think. What binds this final chapter together is that both halves have to do with our relationship with YHWH which directs and commands our relationship with brothers and sisters in the faith and with the use of our tongue before all.
What does “speaking oaths” have to do with the problem of suffering? Well... it is easy to say things you do not mean, and even make bargains with the Almighty triune God, when you are going through difficulties.
Now above all, my brothers, do not swear either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your yes be yes and your no, no, in order that you may not fall under judgment.
James
And, it shouldn’t be much of a surprise by now since we seen this a few times already, but James is again echoing his half-brother’s sentiments on this subject. Our passage this morning really is a piece of The Sermon on the Mount recorded for us in Matthew Chapter 5--which is a near identical passage:
But I say to you, Do not take an oath 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 take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.
This just serves as even more evidence that by the time of this epistle, James really believes Jesus is the Messiah!
Transition:
so let’s go ahead and walk through first 12 together step by step:
“But above all” This is a logical connector with a conjunction to a new, but still related, subject. The first (and probably the most) surprising statement of v. 12 is “above all.” Some argue that when James stated, “Above all … do not swear,” he was saying that taking an oath is the worst sin a believer commits. Still others say that James may be referring to the improper use of the tongue by using the name of God which was sacred (cf. ; ).
“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.
Thereby making it the worst sin “above all” against the glory of God
“ ‘You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.
However, in the total context of the book and of the rest of scripture; James was rather instructing his readers not to use oaths flippantly to guarantee the truth of their statements as we’ll see here as our considerations and this passage unfold.
This understanding acts as a climax to James’s statement on endurance in verse 11 and makes good sense of the problematic phrase “above all” that he used initially in verse 12.
“my brothers” This is the 15th time James uses ‘brothers’ to address his readers. James’s readers were being persecuted—especially by the rich (5:1–6). Consequently, he urged them to be patient until the Lord returned (vv. 7–8) and provided them with three examples of patience to emulate: the farmer (v. 7), the prophets (v. 10), and Job (v. 11) as we saw last week. James admonished his readers not to snipe at and complain about one another while enduring trials (v. 9). These believers, above all, were not to deny their Lord in the face of persecution.
This understanding acts as a climax to James’s statement on endurance in verse 11 and makes good sense of the problematic phrase “above all” that he used initially in verse 12.
“do not swear” It is a PRESENT ACTIVE IMPERATIVE with a NEGATIVE PARTICLE which usually means to stop an act already in process. Despite our modern-day definition of swearing, this here does not refer to profanity but to rabbinical oath-taking which was common then and asserted the truthfulness of their statement by their lackadaisical, flippant use of God’s name. The Jewish culture had developed an arbitrary system of binding and nonbinding oaths. James prohibits this—especially nonbinding oaths--as yet another negative use of the tongue. Pagans, too, were known for oath-swearing lies and Christ is known as the Truth!
Also, when these first century Christians were asked whether they were Christ-followers by those who would persecute them, James’s readers were not to swear to God, to heaven, or to earth, using oaths to support their responses. Rather, when interrogated about their faith, they were simply and sincerely to say yes or no.
This understanding, then, acts as a climax to James’s statement on endurance in verse 11 and makes good sense of the seemingly problematic phrase “above all” that he uses initially here in verse 12.
“either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath” The Jews were experts for using various oaths to back up their statements. The Pharisees were careful, however, not to use the name of God in their oaths, lest they blaspheme YHWH. So, they would swear by heaven, or earth, or Jerusalem, or even by their own heads! But Jesus, in asserted that it is impossible to avoid God in such oaths.
What exactly is an oath? Well, it is a promise but with a specific detail. ABBOTT LAW DICTIONARY used in many legal definitions as in a court of justice, says, "an oath is reverent appeal to God in corroboration of what one says," Oath is more commonly used when the person speaking the promise calls upon God to witness to the event, as was with the original Boy Scout Promise. An oath often comes with a price for not keeping it. The mosaic law required a person to be true to an oath they had taken (). A person should never be invoking God’s name in an oath that is false or hastily made. James is telling us to understand the significance of our speech. Oaths are not intrinsically wrong, but oaths are very serious business.
1. Oaths are not intrinsically wrong.
We know James could not have meant that all oath-taking is wrong. How? YHWH Himself takes oaths:
16 and said, “By myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son,
23 By myself I have sworn;
from my mouth has gone out in righteousness
a word that shall not return:
‘To me every knee shall bow,
every tongue shall swear allegiance.’
17 So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath,
2. Oaths are serious business.
Here’s the proof that oath taking in itself isn’t evil; it is when we irresponsibly, arrogantly make hasty oaths with irreverence not considering the consequences.
I want you to turn to the book of Judges, chapter 11 to see why we should never make a quick promise
18 After this, Paul stayed many days longer and then took leave of the brothers and set sail for Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila. At Cenchreae he had cut his hair, for he was under a vow.
Jephthah, from the book of Judges, easily illustrates the foolishness of making vows without understanding the consequences. Before leading the Israelites into battle against the Ammonites, Jephthah—described as a mighty man of valor—made a rash vow that he would give to the Lord whoever first came out of doors to meet him if he returned home as the victor. Then in verse 34 of chapter 11:
Besides, pledging loyalty to a nation is not the same as taking an oath; a pledge is a solemn promise, but an oath carries the extra weight of an appeal to God.
34 Then Jephthah came to his home at Mizpah. And behold, his daughter came out to meet him with tambourines and with dances. She was his only child; besides her he had neither son nor daughter. 35 And as soon as he saw her, he tore his clothes and said, “Alas, my daughter! You have brought me very low, and you have become the cause of great trouble to me. For I have opened my mouth to the Lord, and I cannot take back my vow.” 36 And she said to him, “My father, you have opened your mouth to the Lord; do to me according to what has gone out of your mouth, now that the Lord has avenged you on your enemies, on the Ammonites.”
29 Then the Spirit of the Lord was upon Jephthah, and he passed through Gilead and Manasseh and passed on to Mizpah of Gilead, and from Mizpah of Gilead he passed on to the Ammonites. 30 And Jephthah made a vow to the Lord and said, “If you will give the Ammonites into my hand, 31 then whatever comes out from the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the Ammonites shall be the Lord’s, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering.” 32 So Jephthah crossed over to the Ammonites to fight against them, and the Lord gave them into his hand. 33 And he struck them from Aroer to the neighborhood of Minnith, twenty cities, and as far as Abel-keramim, with a great blow. So the Ammonites were subdued before the people of Israel.
34 Then Jephthah came to his home at Mizpah. And behold, his daughter came out to meet him with tambourines and with dances. She was his only child; besides her he had neither son nor daughter. 35 And as soon as he saw her, he tore his clothes and said, “Alas, my daughter! You have brought me very low, and you have become the cause of great trouble to me. For I have opened my mouth to the Lord, and I cannot take back my vow.” 36 And she said to him, “My father, you have opened your mouth to the Lord; do to me according to what has gone out of your mouth, now that the Lord has avenged you on your enemies, on the Ammonites.” 37 So she said to her father, “Let this thing be done for me: leave me alone two months, that I may go up and down on the mountains and weep for my virginity, I and my companions.” 38 So he said, “Go.” Then he sent her away for two months, and she departed, she and her companions, and wept for her virginity on the mountains. 39 And at the end of two months, she returned to her father, who did with her according to his vow that he had made. She had never known a man, and it became a custom in Israel 40 that the daughters of Israel went year by year to lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in the year.
this is exactly why there’s no warning that can be too stern on this subject
By way of a more contemporary example’
By way of a more contemporary example’
He Made Too Much to Tithe
W.A. Criswell told about an ambitious young man who told his pastor he’d promised God a tithe of his income. They prayed for God to bless his career. At that time he was making $40.00 per week and tithing $4.00. In a few years his income increased, and he was tithing $500.00 per week. He called on the pastor to see if he could be released from his tithing promise for it was too costly now. The pastor replied, “I don’t see how you can be released from your promise, but we can ask God to reduce your income to $40.00 a week, then you’d have no problem tithing $4.00.”
Royal Treatment
Like a lot of married men, I got the “You just don’t appreciate me” speech. I promised to treat her royally for the remainder of the day. I took her to lunch at Burger King and Dairy Queen for dessert. She’s never mentioned it since.
“but let your yes be yes and your no, no” In this way with these short answers, James is keeping these persecuted Christ-followers from falling under judgment for their own sins. I think the application here for us today is all to obvious!
Be a man of your word!
One guy came up to me and said “like a lot of married men, I got the ‘You just don’t appreciate me' speech. I am a man of my word and so I promised to make it up to her by treating her like royalty for the remainder of the day.” He continued to proudly declare to me, “I took her to lunch at Burger King and Dairy Queen for dessert. She’s never mentioned it since.” He was a man of his word!
Okay so maybe not quite like that, but the principle is still applicable: if we answer yes or no, we are committed to that reply and we ought to be so faithful that people can just about stake their lives on it. But why is this so important? because we are Christ’s ambassadors and if we are anything less on our word, we risk defaming the glory of God.
If SOMEONE asks YOU for a commitment to SOMETHING, YOU may say, “LET me THINK ABOUT IT & I’ll GET BACK TO YOU” This is an appropriate answer--YOU DON'T HAVE to HASTILY AGREE to it. Think it OVER, but EVEN IF IT IS DIFFICULT & we say we’ll do it, we NEED TO BE PEOPLE OF OUR WORD as MUCH as humanly possible--TRUSTING that YHWH will GUIDE & DIRECT our FOOTSTEPS.
Also, Remember what James said in 4:13-16:
13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— 14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.
James 4:13-1
This reminder brings up a huge issue about making promises, that we really don’t know what tomorrow might bring and; therefore, we could inadvertently break an oath in our arrogance. we are never able to know with absolute certainty whether we will be able to keep vows. The fact that we are prone to the errors in judgment which are part of our fallen nature means that we may make vows foolishly or out of immaturity.
“so that you may not fall under judgment/condemnation” This is at least the 13th time the Greek root word krino appears. Judgment is a hot topic of this letter! Our words are significant (cf. ), and we will answer for them! What does James promise us for our bad words? Condemnation. Jesus warned the Pharisees which stands as a warning to us as well:
34 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. 36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
As we saw from a couple weeks ago, Believers will also stand before Jesus for evaluation of our deeds, motives, and even our words. Christ’s death dealt with the sin problem; His Spirit empowers and gifts believers for service; but each of us is responsible for how we have used the gifts and opportunities for ministry. We are to use our words
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
But I say to you, Do not take an oath 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 take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.
Transition:
Main Pt 2
Main Pt 2
This just serves as even more evidence that James really believes by the time of this epistle that Jesus is Lord!
So What?
So What?
God’s promises and oath’s are the only ones we can guarantee. YHWH’s Promise and His Proof is best summed up like this: “Christmas is the promise, and Easter is the proof.”
“Christmas is the promise, and Easter is the proof.”
Conclusion:
Christians should never take an oath in order to verify the truth of what they say. Our honesty should already have the reputation as unquestionable. Believers ought not ever need oaths, since our speech should always be truthful. There should be no reason for them to have to strengthen a statement with an oath. God will judge our words. Further, we don’t know what the future will bring—only God does.
Our text ends with a solemn divine warning. It warns the swearer to the Day of Judgment. For every idle word we must give account. Out of our own mouths we shall be judged. Then what hope is there for any of us? Who here has never sworn? Who has never cursed? Who has not deceived his wife or her husband with manipulative words? We have gone off course starting from the first days we began speaking. Will heaven be full of swearers? Will there be liars loitering on the streets corners of Heaven? No not one.
Then where is any hope?
There is a city bright,
Closed are its gates to sin.
Naught that defileth
Shall ever enter in.
Then where is any hope?
The text ends with a solemn divine warning. It brings the swearer to the Day of Judgment. For every idle word we must give account. It is by our words we are justified and by our words we are condemned. Out of our own mouths we shall be judged. Then what hope is there for any of us? Who has not sworn? Who has not cursed? Who has not deceived his wife or her husband with vain words? We have gone astray from the womb speaking lies. What lies before us? Condemnation. Will heaven be full of swearers? Will there be liars sauntering on the corners of the streets of gold? No not one.
There is a city bright,
Closed are its gates to sin.
Naught that defileth
Shall ever enter in.
Then where is any hope?
The text ends with a solemn divine warning. It brings the swearer to the Day of Judgment. For every idle word we must give account. It is by our words we are justified and by our words we are condemned. Out of our own mouths we shall be judged. Then what hope is there for any of us? Who has not sworn? Who has not cursed? Who has not deceived his wife or her husband with vain words? We have gone astray from the womb speaking lies. What lies before us? Condemnation. Will heaven be full of swearers? Will there be liars sauntering on the corners of the streets of gold? No not one.
There is a city bright,
Closed are its gates to sin.
Naught that defileth
Shall ever enter in.
Then where is any hope? It is found in one who never cursed. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth” (). Peter is speaking of someone he knew well, whose words in their millions he had heard for three years. The holy Lord Jesus Christ was utterly without deceit. Yet this same Jesus was cursed by God his Father. He never cursed yet he was cursed by God. How is this? Where lies the justice of this? Does cosmic malice reign? The apostle Paul answers in , “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree’.” For us cursers he became a curse. For us liars he bore the total condemnation of a God of truth. He hung on Calvary’s tree bearing our accursed judgment. Men cursed and mocked him as a liar and blasphemer. But on the third day he was raised from the dead. Vindicated! God was saying in the resurrection, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” The curse was his that redemption might be ours.
YHWH’s promises and oath’s are the only ones we can stake guaranteed hope! YHWH’s Promise and His Proof is best summed up like this: “Christmas is the promise, and Easter is the proof.”
Hope is found when we trust in the One who never cursed. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth” ().
22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.
Peter is speaking of the One he knew very well, whose words well numbered in their millions which he had heard for at least three years. Our Lord Jesus, the Messiah was truly without deceit. Yet this same Jesus was cursed by His Father. He never cursed yet he was cursed by YWHW. How is this? Where is the justice is this? Think about it, does cosmic malice really reign supreme?
The apostle Paul answers in ,
13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—
For us swearers, He became a curse. For us liars, He bore the total condemnation of a God of truth. He hung on Calvary’s tree bearing our accursed judgment. Men cursed and mocked Him as a liar and blasphemer. But on the third day he was raised from the dead. Vindicated! God was saying in the resurrection, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” The curse was his that redemption might be ours.
Do you believe this? But is this your only hope in life and death? John Newton called himself ‘the old African blasphemer.’ There was redemption for him because he cast himself on the mercy of our God. He put all his trust in the one who hung on the tree. He believed that, through that death, a full pardon for all his foul language and many deceits was justified. The Lamb of God had taken away the sin of the world. You too must go there, to that place where sins are washed away, where the innocent accursed one bought for us forgiveness and reconciled a holy God to us, as he stood in our place and bore our curse. The condemnation His, so the pardon would be ours. That is the great transaction that the good news of the Lord Jesus brings to every and any liar and covenant-breaker and foul-mouthed swearer who will but turn in sorrow and repentance from that behaviour and fall upon the mercy of God in Jesus Christ. This is what you must do today, without waiting any longer. Be with Him this morning as He is here and offering to you his royal pardon. You have taken his name in vain, but he will forgive, if you would only trust in Jesus, our Christ.