"But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black." Matthew 5:34-36.

OK... My left-brain got the best of me and I had to do some research on this oath thing. Oaths during ancient times always invoked God as a judge or witness. So.... The further away from God you swore on, the safer you were from bearing false witness (or breaking your oath). That was the basis for the "code" that was used in business transactions. If there was a dispute later, the teachers of the law were called in to arbitrate based on the oath that was given, and whether or not God was invoked as a witness. Some of the oaths were creative, some were pretty serious (see Num 5, 6), and some were outright deception. Christ here is quoting some of the more common oaths, and his point here is that doesn't matter what you swear on... It belongs to God... God made it. As to the verse 36... And the hair thing... He obviously didn't think about Ms. Clairol, now did he?

These oaths don't mean much to us today. They are the equivalent of saying " On my mother's grave..." , "I'd swear on a stack of Bibles...", or "Cross my heart and hope to die". I realize I'm dating myself even with these... But you get the point. Marcia is a notary. What does that mean? When she notarizes a document, the people are coming to her for her to witness the statement they are making and to witness that they did in fact enter in to such an agreement by signing papers. The oath of office for the President of the United States starts out, "I solemnly swear..." And ends "so help me God." Oaths are a common thing in our society. Try testifying ... Under oath, mind you... And not tell the truth. Just ask Martha Stewart what the consequences of that can be. We do make oaths today, and they are for one reason to get people to believe that what we are saying is true. The question is... is it wrong to swear an oath? More tomorrow!

Father, this morning I realize just how often I count on your name to give me credibility. More importantly I've sworn an allegiance to you. I've accepted your Son as the Savior of my life... I found in my reading a feudal serf's oath of allegiance to his Feudal Lord. It went something like this. "By the Lord before whom this sanctuary is holy, I will to N. be true and faithful, and love all which he loves and shun all which he shuns, according to the laws of God and the order of the world. Nor will I ever with will or action, through word or deed, do anything which is unpleasing to him, on condition that he will hold to me as I shall deserve it, and that he will perform everything as it was in our agreement when I submitted myself to him and chose his will." Lord, I need to be your serf!
- posted by Steve R. @ 9:29 AM

 
"Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord." Matthew 5:33

No, we are not quoting Henry VI part 3, Act III Scene I. In fact, Shakespeare was quoting this verse. It is also quoted in the Quran... But the statement has its basis in Mosaic law. It had been taught through the centuries that we should only make oaths to the Lord God, and that those oaths must be kept. I've heard that in the time of Christ there was a complete system of codes used when dealing with the Jewish people about their words and promises... Especially if you were not a Jew. It goes something like: if someone swears by let's say the temple, then they are not taking an oath, but if that same person would swear by the God of the temple, then they would be telling the truth. I'm not sure if that's a good example or not... But at least that's the principle. Unless you knew the code, you wouldn't know if they were telling the truth. Sounds like a few vendors / salesmen I've met in my life. Oaths are a bit dated for this day and age... But they used to be popular. I'm not sure I would have functioned very well... That pre-mosaic one of grabbing the person you are swearing to by the groin would, to be honest, set me back a bit. And if I did that at the Pentagon... Well, there wouldn't be a blog tomorrow.

How often do I not say exactly what I mean? Or even more to the point, how often to I hold back information? How often do I just say enough to leave an impression that is more favorable than it ought to be. How often do I break my word? How often do I flat out not tell the truth to cover my shortcomings.

I have a real hard time with criticism. And when pushed into a corner, I have to really fight hard not to just cover my tracks with a lie. My daughter does that... And I hate it. She's not a very good liar, either. I don't like being wrong... So does it do me any good to commit another wrong to cover-up andmake me look better for a short time. In business, I've been told that I tell too much. That I need to learn to put "spin" on my statements. That I'm to open to letting our clients know the negatives. I don't play that game well. So with baited breathe I'm waiting for the "rest of the story", as Paul Harvey would say. I have a feeling Christ is going to tell me more about this tomorrow.

Father, I try not to lie... But there are lots of times I don't tell the truth. I get over-committed and things that I've promised to do... Well, I just can't get them done. To be honest, I don't even measure up to the old standards of the law. The one that says you're judged by your actions. Even this morning, I had to break a dentist appointment at the last minute... There's just too much going on at work... And I couldn't get away. The receptionist asked why I was breaking the appointment and I just acted like I didn't hear the question. The reality is that since last week and today my priorities changed at the office, and I no longer had the time to go. It's easy for me to rationalize it. But I made a commitment to be there this morning. Lord, when I think about it, I break my oaths a lot. When I committed my life to you, I said I would do what you wanted me to do... You know what? I owe you a big apology. I owe a lot of people a big apology. Forgive me for the times I've broken my oath to you. And thank you for loving me in spite of my shortcomings.
- posted by Steve R. @ 8:22 AM

 
"It has been said, 'Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.' But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery. Matthew 5:31,32

Divorce has been with us since the time of Moses. Most of us have been touched my divorce. I've been flat slapped stupid by it... Twice. The first time was a "scriptural" divorce. The second time I was accused of being unfaithful. To be honest it's been tough. Thankfully, God has put a wonderful lady in my path. And then the dilemma... What about the last half of this verse? You know the part that starts, "But I tell you..."

Isn't it interesting to see what men have done to God's intent? God intended that people be like swans and that we mate for life... And that special relationship is signified by marriage. I could launch into a diatribe on same sex relationships... And while I'm willing to accept that in our society that there will be a legal relationship for people of the same gender... I sure don't want it called marriage. If post-moderns have problems with communicating the will of God now... Wait till the world changes the meaning of the word marriage.

There is also a cultural bias here. It says if a man divorces a woman... That's the only way it could happen in the time of Christ, the man was the only partner that could institute divorce proceedings. It's not that way now... Either party can start the big D. And the result of that action is that a party who is divorced for any reason other than sexual sin, then the INNOCENT party is the one who is put in the position of committing adultery if they marry again. What's with that?

In the Old Testament, the penalty for breaking the marriage vow was that both parties would be stoned to death. That was the whole deal about the woman the pharisees brought before Christ. That's why we have to be understanding about those around us who have gone through divorce... There's a lot of guilt associated with it... There's adultery involved... One way or another! So, are we going to make the innocent party of a divorce who chooses to remarry wear a scarlet letter? Sometimes we do... Less so now than 30 years ago, but there is still a stigma. Maybe we ought to recognize that it is sin, and it needs to be forgiven. If God can, why can't we?

Father, this morning my mind recalls the many couples I know who have been blasted apart by the legal act of divorce. Even my own life and the life of my children have been hammered by this legal act. You said that marriage was legal... Even you are a divorced person... And I love you... And you've promised that you love me, no matter what. I need your love and healing today. My family and friends need your love and healing. Forgive us for this sin, make our hearts pure and free us from the bondage that is created by this act. I'm sure glad you have amnesia... Could you give me that gift?

- posted by Steve R. @ 5:04 AM

 
"And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell." Matthew 5:29,30

Christ finishes his thoughts on adultery in this verse. How important is it that we keep ourselves pure? Only that if I can't keep my eyes off of other women, or can't keep my touching of other people appropriate then I should pluck out my eye or cut off my hand. To be honest, if I followed this command literally, I would probably end up being the subject of a Rock Opera... like Tommy, I'd be that deaf, dumb and blind kid that would end up playing pin-ball by his sense of smell.

One of the biggest arguments I ever had with a fellow Christian over this verse was over how literal was Christ being here... but I think that misses the point. The point I get from this verse is that it is so important that we live a holy life that we are not willing to let anything get in our way. That we are willing to make sacrifices to do what is right, even to the point of being willing to give up our sight or our dexterity to live a holy life. Why? Because the stakes are so high. Our eternal reward is at stake. I'm not so sure I'd be willing to go this far to keep myself pure. But why not? a lack of appreciation for the One who has saved me? I don't have the answer as to whether this is literal or figurative... I lean toward figurative. If I put this passage back into context, my hand and my eye are not going to do anything that I haven't thought about first. My eye isn't going to look anywhere that my brain doesn't tell it. My hands aren't going to touch or take anything my brain doesn't direct it to do. I wonder if what I really need is a brain transplant.

Father, it's clear... I can't do this on my own. Even Paul wrote that things he wanted to do, he didn't: and that which he didn't want to do he did. As committed as he was he fell short... how do I have a chance? I guess that the message is clear, I can't do this on my own. What do you mean, I don't have to? That's why your sent your Spirit to live within me? All I have to do is let your Spirit run the show? That sounds easy... but I'm a control freak... I like to be the one in control even if I do mess it all up. So how far should I go in trying to follow you? Only as far as your Son was willing to go? I think I'm starting to get the picture here.
- posted by Steve R. @ 6:43 AM

 
"Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart." Matthew 5:27, 28

I wonder why the church avoids discussions about sex... I suppose it could be that it might lead to dancing. But Christ didn't avoid it. He said don't have sex with a woman or man that's not your wife. Pretty straight forward. But not always that easy. I'm sure thankful that I have a wonderful wife who's also my best friend. I've been on the other side of a spouce that has committed adultery. It's not fun, but it's the primary reason I would never want to hurt Marcia that way. Adultery is devastating... it would mean I had betrayed her... lied to her when I said she would be the only person in my life... thought only of myself without regard for her. When I married her we became one... a sort of HE-SHE. There is a trend today that anytime a couple relies on each other completely they want to call the relationship co-dependant. I'd rather think of it as inter-dependent... whatever it is... I like it. I would never want to cheat on my wife.

It's a good thing I love my wife as much as I do. I work on the road... live in hotels. I've spent more days in a hotel room than I have at home for the past four years... by like 3 days to 1. I leave early on Monday and come back home late on Friday. And I'm a man. By Wednesday I know I'm away from home. And then to have to deal with the pressures of being away from home... in the world of marketing a common phrase is sex sells... and by Wednesday it seems like the entire world is an advertisement.

Christians like to put sexual sin as number one in the "Top Ten Sins You Should Never Commit" list. I'm working in DC... and politicians since Watergate have been under a microscope. I remember when I was in college the uproar when Jimmy Carter responded in a Playboy interview to the question had he ever committed adultery, that he had lusted in his heart. (I only read the article... really, Dad). Since Gary Hart first told the media to follow him, politicians have been subjected to intense scrutiny about their sex lives. What if Christians were put to that test? Most Christians I know would do OK on the adultery test... though for the last few years I've known a growing number of my friends and family in Christ who have fallen to tempation. We call it other things: an affair; a tryst... however we want to whitewash it, it is still adultery. Most of us would agree, adultery is sin.

But Christ isn't stopping there... he says if a man even looks at a woman lustfully, he has committed adultery. Wonder why he picks on men? Must be a cultural bias... because I know women can look after men and lust. I saw the looks on the women's face in the Coke commercial when the hunk would take off his T-Shirt. But the point is this... anything that pulls our attention from our spouce is not what God wants for our lives. Anything that causes our hearts to be impure is less than satisfactory.

Father, it's a jungle out here at times... but you know that. I have a wonderful mate that I would never want to hurt. As much as I love her, there are times that my eye is caught in a moment... I would not "cheat" on my wife... but would I betray her by lusting after someone else? A movie star, a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model? An actress in an HBO movie? I'm afraid I'm not only capable, I know I could. Father, help me to look to the model for how I'm to look at my wife. Help me see how much Christ loves his bride, the church, and let me act accordingly.
- posted by Steve R. @ 5:02 AM

 
"Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny." Matthew 5:25,26

I've had my experiences with the legal system, I suppose a lot of people have. There are too many lawyers for people not to have a lot of legal issues. Christ is giving some practical advice it seems. True it falls under a general discussion topic of settling matters with your brother quickly, but it is telling us not to let things go so far that we would have to go to court.

What if you are in the right, though? I was in the hospital last year... and the bill was paid... in full. Have a letter that shows a zero balance. A year later, and I've now been turned over to a collection agency for owing this hospital nearly $700. The point is there is an accounting error. I can prove it... and show them where the problem is. The collection agency is unrelenting, I've sent all the paperwork in to prove that I don't owe it... twice and they still don't want to accept it. The accounting office at the hospital will not review the account... they say they've turned it over to collections. It's inevitable that it's going to go to court. I'm going to have to take time off work... hire a lawyer... counter sue for the cost I'm facing.

To make matters worse, this comes at a time when Marcia and I are refinancing our home mortgage. One credit agency has already taken the listing off my account because they will accept that I don't owe the bill... Another one says they don't know about it... and the third has not responded yet. But it's still a hassle. I suppose in this case I'll be the adversary. There is a reason for the courts... but I sure don't want to deal with them. You never know how a judge will rule. Well, Lord... thanks for letting me vent today. But I'm glad I've settled with you through your mediator, Jesus Christ.

Father, this morning I really need you strength. I've got more on my plate than I can possibly handle. I have to leave to go to work in few minutes, and the commute is 700 miles away. Marcia needs me home this week and I can't be there. She's left holding the bag for my overcommitment... and it's stretching her as well. But the one thing I'm thankful for today is that you and I have settled our differences before the judgment day... that the blood of your son covers me from all my sin. Thank you for going out of your way to settle our differences, even though it was not your debt... even though it cost you so much... the life of your only son. Lord, is there a lesson here?


- posted by Steve R. @ 4:17 AM