James 5:12 "But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your "Yes," be "Yes," and your "No," "No," lest you fall into judgment."

The person who has an optimism based on the certainty of the returning Lord has a heart established on the Lord's promise, and lives in right relationship with others and is patient and enduring. But above all, demonstrates through a dependable word godly confidence that will win the esteem of others. The teaching in James, that had its foundation in the teaching of the Master (Matthew 5:33-37 ), gives us insight into the kind of word that is acceptable to God.

James demands purity of word as a priority for all who are "brethren" in Christ. His "above all" (James 5:12 ) calls for a special care in the use of our word. The use of frivolous, empty, unnecessary oaths indicates not walking in Christian character, nor patiently enduring as those who are waiting in expectancy, the Master's return. Purity of word must be just that, there are to be no grey areas of compromise. The Lord Jesus is emphatic,

Matthew 5:34,37 ""But I say to you, do not swear at all: ... ³⁷ "But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No.' For whatever is more than these is from the evil one. "

If this is not the case, impurity of word is indicative of ungodly lifestyle. A dishonest word promotes discord, destroys reputations, and is ruinous in business, and injurious to the body of Christ.

	Extravagance of oath is used to cover up dishonesty. To hide their untruthfulness or inability to perform what they promise, they add to their word the holy name of God.
	Extravagance of oath is a way some hide their empty minds. Inability to think through a matter causes a resorting to the embellishment of the discourse with swearing, extravagant affirmations and religious oaths.
	Extravagance of oath is used hypocritically to hide selfishness, and insincerity. Lack of love for others is hidden behind extravagant expressions of goodwill and pretended good intentions, calling on God as witness.

Christ expects of His people that their word will be honest, simple, direct, reflecting their devotion to Him.

Matthew 5:34-36 ""But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God's throne; ³⁵ "nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. ³⁶ "Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black."

To hide untruthfulness and selfishness by calling on God is to blaspheme His holy name. Knowing this, people avoid using directly the name of God and in their protestations, instead they use substitute words that derive all their significance from their association with God. Examples of our Lord's day reflect the blasphemous practice of our own day, of taking God's name in vain. Substituting "heaven" for God's holy name they were swearing by God's throne. By placing "earth" for God's name they were swearing by God's creation and possession, His footstool. By avoiding His name with "Jerusalem" the place where God was to be honoured as "the great King" they were swearing by the God of promise, presence and power. To swear by the "head" meant putting one's life at forfeit, when even the original colour of the hair could not be determined or changed permanently by the swearer, they were actually swearing by the Author of their life, God. In each of the examples God's name is blasphemously taken in vain.

Our own times present abundant examples of taking God's holy name in vain in deceptive oaths and swearing. One of the most common abbreviations for swearing by God is "Gee" meaning Jesus, or "by G" meaning by God. "damn" for damnation, as in "Hell". Believers who would not use outright foul language pick up abbreviations which, if they stop to think, they would not use (Colossians 3:8 ). Everything we say reflects on the God with whom we claim relationship, and to love. Let us be studious to say what we mean, and mean what we say.

There are those whose lust for getting, and gaining, will even extort from others by means of deceptive oaths. In Christ's day some convinced themselves that they were excused from keeping their word just so long as they did not seal the arrangement by mention of the holy name of God. They even interpreted Scripture in a way to support their view. The Lord gave a corrective teaching to remove this false interpretation of the law (Leviticus 19:12; Deuteronomy 23:23 )

Matthew 5:33 "Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.'"

The meaning being that what is promised by oath must be done, performed literally, in actuality, in reverence for God's name. Leaders of the times of our Lord's earthly ministry taught that oaths that were not definitely made to the Lord, that is by the invocation of the name of God, were not binding, so by their substituting heaven, earth, Jerusalem, head, they could avoid payment, or, the deal was not a binding one. It became a matter of skill and sharp practice to work out an oath which would not bind them to keep it. In this way they have made a mockery of the whole practice of confirming anything by an oath. Cunningly they turned oath-taking into a deliberate attempt to cheat and swindle. We are not without "Ali Baba and his 40 thieves" in this modern society. James is saying what Jesus said, that our best guarantee is our character, not our oaths, that our "yes" is exactly that, and our "no" emphatically "no."

Matthew 5:37 ""But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No.' For whatever is more than these is from the evil one. "

Irreverent appeals to God to confirm our word are unnecessary. Our Yes, or No should be sufficient. The evil one is the source of additional evil words. This is true of words that spill out in a hasty temper - and it is acknowledged that foul words are from beneath. So with blasphemous oaths that show disregard for God and holy things; such words are Satan inspired. The evil one's aim is to eradicate truth and virtue. He would have mankind cast off the fear of God. The devil is a liar from the beginning and would have all that he fathers resemble him (John 8:44 ). Evil oaths inspired by Satan are intended to bring God Himself into contempt. Those who use his additional evil words are doing the devil's work.

Evil oath taking is not a legal one taken in a court of law, nor that of a response to a charge given on the assumption of high office. The Lord Jesus was put on oath by the high priest:

Matthew 26:63 "But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest answered and said to Him, 'I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!'"

In no other way would the answer have come from Him. "It is as you said" (Matthew 26:64 NKJV). Paul called on God as witness that he served with his spirit in the gospel (Romans 1:9 ); and that he truly had a passion for the lost of Israel (Romans 9:1-3 ); and for God as witness that his not coming to Corinth was for the reason that he would spare them, not willing to visit in sorrow (2 Corinthians 1:23 - 2:1 ). Even though they may be legitimate occasions for oath taking, the point of Jesus that James reiterates is that one's life should be sufficient to back up one's words.

The Lord is "the great King" (Matthew 5:35 ). Therefore reverential awe becomes us. This devotion to Him will so affect the way we live before God and man, that ours will be a godly word that can be trusted.

As the King's representative:-

	SPEAK DISTINCTLY 2 Timothy 1:13 "Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus."
	SPEAK SEASONABLY Isaiah 50:4 "The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: ..."
	SPEAK PLEASANTLY Proverbs 16:24 "Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones."
	SPEAK RIGHTLY Job 6:25 "How forceful are right words! But what does your arguing prove? "
	SPEAK FAITHFULLY Jeremiah 23:28 "'The prophet who has a dream, let him tell a dream; And he who has My word, let him speak My word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat?' says the Lord."
	SPEAK BOLDLY Acts 4:31 "And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness."
	SPEAK AWESOMELY Ecclesiastes 5:2 "Do not be rash with your mouth, And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; Therefore let your words be few."
	SPEAK WATCHFULLY James 5:9 "Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!"

When the Lord is treated as "the great King" the whole life is lived for Him and becomes a profound "Yes" to truth and a profound "No" to falsehood.

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QUESTIONS FOR GROUP INTERACTION

Do you accept purity and integrity of word as the standard for your life? (James 5:12 ).