Tuesday March 12

Read: Matthew 5:33-37, Matthew 23:16-22

Have you ever met a person who promises too often? By making promises too much they actually prove that they cannot be trusted, the opposite of their intention. Why would someone honest and of good character need to promise all the time?

 

In fact, what the Pharisees were doing with oaths and promises was the same, albeit much more deceitful. We learn from our readings and some background research that the Pharisees would use every opportunity they could to make grand oaths with very colourful religious language, even during casual conversation. They would be very careful however, exactly how they swore and then would appeal to the law we read about yesterday to argue that, because they had not sworn on God Himself, that they were exempt from keeping their oaths.

 

Jesus demolishes this idea in both of today’s readings by relating everything back to our creating, ruling God. The Pharisees think they can swear by Heaven and get away with breaking their oath. But Heaven is God’s throne! The Pharisees think that they can swear by the Earth and get away with breaking their oath. But Earth is God’s footstool! They cannot even swear on their own head because in the end, they have no control over what happens to it.

 

Consider how you might try to cheat the system and make a promise you have no intention of keeping. Have you ever done that? How can you be honest and have complete integrity when you are making promises or contracts or oaths?

 

Prayer:

Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.

 

Adoration:

 

Confession:

 

Thanks:

 

Supplication:

¥ Pray for the many pregnant couples in the church at the moment. Pray that God would watch over them and keep them in good health. Pray that God would fill them with joy and excitement about the new life that will be brought into their family and that they would be challenged to raise their children to love and serve God.

¥ Pray for the Cell groups that will be meeting over the week. Pray that as they discuss the material from last week’s sermon and studies that they would be challenged to fight for and to protect marriage. Pray that as God’s people gather together that they would encourage each other and challenge each other to live out their faith and to share it with others.

 

My Additional Prayer Points.

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Discussion Questions For Families and Groups

1. What are some of the ways that people try to be tricky about making promises or oaths to avoid having to do what they have said?

2. What would it look like to have integrity and honesty in those situations?