10 March 2021

Does this sound like anyone when they were a child?

Mum comes into a room and states “Our house looks like a pig sty, who did this?” and 3 year old Willow replies, “A pig did it.”

Or Mum asks, “Aubrey did you throw all your paper cuttings under the couch?” “No, I put it in the bin” was her reply.” “So you’re telling me someone broke into our house and took the rubbish out of the bin and threw it under the couch?” 3 year old Willow pipes up again, “Yeah a bad guy did it.”

This brings a smile to my face, (Yes you smiled too) but also memories of when I or my brother and sisters would tell Mum or Dad a “white” lie.

Then it recalls to my mind Jesus saying, “Let your yes mean yes and your no mean no.” Where did that come from? What does this mean?

The context of this verse is actually very important for what Jesus was trying to say. In Matthew 5, Jesus was trying to address some of the underlying principles of certain Old Testament Laws. Remember He was trying to bring in His Kingdom values, bring in His new Commandment – Love the Lord your God and Love your neighbour as yourself.

There were times in the Old Testament where a person could obey the letter of the law but still be guilty of breaking the principle behind it. Again remember Jesus is interested in our hearts, our attitudes.

Jesus teaches in verse 21-22 that it is not enough to be technically innocent of murder because one can have murderous thoughts and attitudes without carrying out the physical act.

²¹ “You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not murder’; and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.’ ²² But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell of fire.

Matt 5:21-22 NRSV

In verse 27-28, Jesus says it is not enough to be technically innocent of adultery because a lustful look destroys one’s purity of thought.

²⁷ “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ ²⁸ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Matt 5:27-28 NRSV

Now Jesus was not saying you have sinned so woe to you and there is no hope for you but rather if you have sinned then own up to it. Don’t be like the scribes and Pharisees who felt they were beyond the Law. They were keeping the laws but defiled lots of them in their hearts.

And so it comes to Matthew 5 verse 33-37 following the same pattern Jesus talks about telling the truth.

³³ “Again, you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.’ ³⁴ But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, ³⁵ or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. ³⁶ And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. ³⁷ Let your word be ‘Yes, Yes’ or ‘No, No’; anything more than this comes from the evil one.

Matt 5:33-37 NRSV

Oaths, covenants, commitments, promises were a common day occurrence. Jesus tells the crowd not to break their oaths. An oath being a promise to do or not to do something, often invoking God as witness and it was He who would bring judgement if it was broken.

The oath was to show their seriousness or truthfulness. They would not “swear on God” because that was too serious, but they may say “I swear on heaven…….” because they felt it was easier to get out of the promise if they wanted to.

Jesus knew all about this corrupt attitude and deed so was trying to address it.  If you make a promise stick by it. Your word should be your promise.  May your yes be yes, and your no be no.

It makes me think again. A pure humble heart is what God is looking for. If we can’t do it, say so. If we are unable to help, don’t commit and promise something you cannot follow through with.

NO “WHITE” LIES.

Jesus was not talking to a little immature 3-year-old. He was talking to grown adults who should have known better. But even if we make a mistake, we sin, or we do wrong then we should fix it. Start again. Change your attitude.

But Jesus does not leave us all alone in the change. He, through the Holy Spirit, gives us the power and Grace to change. To work on heart transformation. For that is what He does.

Maybe Jesus, through Willow’s example, is asking us to look at our own hearts and attitudes, to reflect upon our own characters in the light of what Jesus has done for us especially in this season of Lent.

May these jottings from my journal inspire you to believe in and fall in love with Christ- the hope of the world, as stated in Jeremiah 17:7, ‘Blessed is the man who believes and trusts in and relies on the Lord and whose hope and confident expectation is the Lord!’

Love

Rosemary

Every week groups of ladies meet together to chat about the things I raise in my weekly blog post and to chat about life in general. We call these ‘Heart Connect’ groups. If you would like more information please click HERE.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Have you been telling “white” lies? Do you allow your ‘Yes’ to be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’ to be ‘No’?

How often do you keep the rules but not the heart of what God is asking of you? Do you need to go to God and ask for forgiveness?