For taking your time to study remain blessed. THE PRINCIPLE AND PRACTICE OF TRUTHFULNESS WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 15 TEXT: MATTHEW 5:33-37 Key verse(s): “But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neither shall thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black” Matthew 5:34-36 False swearing was forbidden in the Old Testament, but now, every kind of swearing is forbidden by our Lord Jesus Christ. He mentioned several forms of swearing, and forbade them all. Then He prescribed simple forms of affirmation or denial as; yes, yes or no, no. Every form of swearing, however solemn or true, is forbidden to a true believer in Christ. A simple word of affirmation or denial, calmly repeated, is a sufficient bond of truth. Christians should not yield to the evil custom of swearing, however great the pressure. Before Christ came, taking an oath or swearing was a solemn way of confirming the truth or sealing an agreement and the people had lost their consciousness of the sacredness of oaths. They swore to everything and by every created thing in common conversation. They swore by heaven, by the earth, by Jerusalem, by their head, but the swearing was meaningless; it carried no weight. They were neither sincere, nor truthful to one another An oath is a solemn affirmation or declaration, made with an appeal to God for the truth or what is affirmed. A false oath is called perjury. Christ is the highest authority on all points of Christian doctrine and Christian practice. Christ as the authoritative teacher, Lord and savior, commands God’s people in the present dispensation: “Swear not at all.” Instead of swearing in a court of law, Christians in obedience to Christ would rather ‘affirm’ the truth of what they say. Instead of saying “I do solemnly swear…” We say “I do solemnly affirm…” There is an essential difference between swearing to an oath and making an affirmation. When we make an affirmation we simply state that we mean to tell the truth so far as we understand it, knowing that if we violate this promise we are held under the same penalties as if we had violated an oath. Every word spoken or written in the course of daily speech or transaction should be truthful. God has called us to holiness and righteous living Thought for the day: Holiness is truthfulness. Song for the day: Lord prepare me, to be a sanctuary, pure and holy… Bible reading for the day: Leviticus 20-21; Matthew 28 #horemow.