A Morning Cup of Tea: Jesus on Lying and Profanity and Swearing

Good Monday morning! Today's scripture is Matthew 5: 33-37. Let's get started, shall we?

33.Again ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:
34: But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven , for it is God's throne;
35. Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.
36. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.
37. But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

 I looked up forswear in the glossary in the back of the Bible. It means to swear falsely, or perjury. In a court case, should a judge find you guilty of perjury (lying) you would face a stiff fine, jail time, or both.  In life in general, people around you learn whether they can take you at your word or whether to step outside and look for themselves if you were to say the sky is blue.
  In the old testament there are many examples of men swearing or making an an oath when they wanted to let it be known they were serious about a subject. Jesus is now saying , don't do it. Don't swear by anything or anyone. 
  Let your communication be Yea, yea, Nay, nay. Don't use all these superfluous words that ultimately mean nothing. Say yes and mean it. Say no and mean it. 
  

Good Monday morning! Today's scripture is Matthew 5: 33-37. Let's get started, shall we?

33.Again ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:
34: But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven , for it is God's throne;
35. Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.
36. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.
37. But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

 I looked up forswear in the glossary in the back of the Bible. It means to swear falsely, or perjury. In a court case, should a judge find you guilty of perjury (lying) you would face a stiff fine, jail time, or both.  In life in general, people around you learn whether they can take you at your word or whether to step outside and look for themselves if you were to say the sky is blue.
  In the old testament there are many examples of men swearing or making an an oath when they wanted to let it be known they were serious about a subject. Jesus is now saying , don't do it. Don't swear by anything or anyone. 
  Let your communication be Yea, yea, Nay, nay. Don't use all these superfluous words that ultimately mean nothing. Say yes and mean it. Say no and mean it.