Commentary on "The Second Generation: Admonitions"

STEVE PITCHER

 

Day 5: Wednesday, December 16, 2009

 

Today’s lesson is a good statement on the importance of keeping your word. The suggested reading for today, Numbers chapter 30 is a great lesson about the importance of keeping your word. The lesson is a very good lesson, yet as a Christian we must always go to the New Testament to see how God has transformed this teaching for us.

Jesus was very clear in his teaching regarding the making of promises, or oaths, to others. In the Sermon on the Mount he stated in Matthew 5:34-37:

But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your statement be, “Yes, yes” or ”'No, no”; anything beyond these is of evil.

James, the brother of Jesus repeated this teaching in his letter. He says in James 5:12:

But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment.

It is best to not make promises that we cannot fulfill. Or even better, it is good when we do not promise, but come through in a time of need. Jesus taught a parable on this very thing. In Matthew 21:28-31 Jesus says,

But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, “Son, go work today in the vineyard.” And he answered, “I will not”; but afterward he regretted it and went. The man came to the second and said the same thing; and he answered, “I will, sir”; but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father? They said, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly I say to you that the tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the kingdom of God before you.”

The will of God is very clear. Do not promise something that you are not going to do. This is the commandment found in Numbers 30, and presented most clearly in the Gospels.

 

Summary

1. Keeping one’s word has always been important for the people of God.
2. Jesus explained the importance of keeping your word in the Sermon on the Mount and elsewhere. As he and his brother James have said, we must let our “Yes” be “Yes” and our “No” be “No.” Anything more is of the evil one.

 

GO TO DAY 6

 

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