SATURDAY- 10^TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME -B

I Reading: 1 Kings 19:19-21: Elisha rose and followed Elijah.

Gospel: Matthew 5:33-37: I say to you: do not swear at all.

The Real Meaning of Oaths and Swearing

All conversations should be straight to the point and factual, not injected with oaths or profanity (Mt 5:34,37). A person is to be righteous. His/her word and character are to be his/her guarantee, the only oath he/she needs. Jesus Christ was enlarging the law governing oaths to include all swearing and profanity (Mt 5:17f; Jam 5:12).

1.     The law (v.33)

a.     Do not swear falsely deceivingly: committing perjury

b.    Keep all oaths

2.     The real meaning: do not swear (v.34-36)

a.     Because all things are sacred

b.    Because all power belongs to God

3.     The ideal oath and guarantee (v.37)

a.     One’s word-character

b.    The reason: swearing has its source in evil

Thought: Oaths would not be necessary in a perfect world. Everyone would be perfectly honest and righteous. A person’s life would speak loudly and clearly.

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