Have Integrity in Your Words
May 18, 2025
Matthew 5:33-37
The first sin that happened on earth was a lie. Satan deceived Adam and Eve, which plunged the world into sin and destruction. From that point, lying became common. We have a natural tendency to lie. Just after we learn to talk, we learn to lie. Children struggle with lying. Adults struggle with it, and the aged struggle with it also. Dishonesty is an epidemic from pre-school through graduate school, from home to the workplace. It is often hard to trust people in our society.
Hillary Lebow, in an article one Everyday Health, writes, “On average, humans lie one to two times a day. Some studies place that number even higher, estimating that 59 percent of adults lie at least once, and up to five times, a day. Research also suggests that men are more prone to lying than women. In another study it was reported that at four years of age, 90% of kids will understand the meaning of lying.”
According to research, about 60% of people 18 and older are incapable of having a conversation without lying once every ten minutes. On average, three lies are told by adults every ten minutes (Steven Zauder, Lying Statistics & Facts: How Often Do People Lie?).
People lie for assorted reasons such as making themselves look better, protecting themselves from consequences, protecting someone else or gaining something that they want.
In a children’s Sunday school class, the topic was lying. The teacher referenced Proverbs 12:22, Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight. A little boy responded, “Yes, a lie is an abomination to the Lord, but I have found a very present help in trouble.” I am afraid many people have this perspective today. Lying has been an issue since the fall of humankind. Jesus address this issue as he corrects a misinterpretation of oaths. Let’s look.
Matthew 5:33a, “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago…
Jesus again begins to point out their misunderstanding of the law. As with Jesus’ previous commands in the Sermon on the Mount dealing with murder, adultery, and divorce, the Law of Moses had already spoken to this issue, but the scribes and Pharisees had perverted the teaching of the Law and had missed the spirit of the Law. This time Jesus addresses the issue of breaking an oath and lying.
He continues, verse 33, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’
This is what the Old Testament said about oath taking. Now there are a sizable number of references related to oath taking in the Old Testament. For instance, Deuteronomy 10:20 states, Fear the Lord your God and serve him. Hold fast to him and take your oaths in his name.
Deuteronomy 23:21-24 states, If you make a vow to the Lord your God, do not be slow to pay it, for the Lord your God will certainly demand it of you and you will be guilty of sin. 22 But if you refrain from making a vow, you will not be guilty. 23 Whatever your lips utter you must be sure to do, because you made your vow freely to the Lord your God with your own mouth.
It was expected if one took an oath, you would fulfill it. Now, the Lord permitted oaths to restrain humanity’s natural tendency to lie. By invoking God’s name, it brought a greater accountability between people. By invoking God’s name, one asked for God’s judgment in the case of lying.
However, the Jews of that day were using oaths as a façade for lying. Research has indicated that there were Jewish people in the first century that made distinctions between binding oaths and non-binding oaths. Oaths that did not include the name of God were considered non-binding, and to use such oaths was a way of “crossing your fingers behind your back” when telling a lie.
New Testament Scholar, D.A. Carson, noted that in the Jewish code of law called the Mishnah, there is a whole section of oath taking. He notes for example, one rabbi says that if you swear by Jerusalem, you are not bound by your vow; but if you swear toward Jerusalem, then you are bound by your vow. The swearing of oaths thus degenerates into terrible rules which let you get away with lying and deception.
Some Rabbis taught that if people did not use God’s name in an oath, they were free to break it. Therefore, they would swear upon one’s mother, father, Jerusalem, or something else that appeared sacred. It was like a child making a statement with his fingers crossed—meaning that at that moment it was OK to lie.
Jesus even pointed this issue out further in Matthew 23:16-22, He stated, Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gold of the temple is bound by that oath.’ 17 You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred? 18 You also say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gift on the altar is bound by that oath.’ 19 You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? 20 Therefore, anyone who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. 21 And anyone who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it. 22 And anyone who swears by heaven swears by God’s throne and by the one who sits on it.
These religious leaders wanted to add some kind of force to their promises to make their words seem credible, but they did not want to incur the judgment of God by swearing something in His name. Again, the religious leaders had reduced righteousness to their own selfish interpretation and way. And those behaviors were nothing but filthy rags in the sight of God. They were more interested in being believed than they were in being truthful or being Godly.
Sadly, whenever there is room for a loophole, people usually find it. These religious leaders produced a way to use oaths to lie.
About 300 years ago in England, there was a merchant commander named Captain Fudge. He became famous for his lies and exaggerations about adventures on the high seas. His crew members were so accustomed to his tales that they would call each other 'Fudge' when one was straying from the truth. Today, maybe not as much as years ago, people use the word fudging, when someone is lying or cheating. One might say he fudges on his taxes, or he is fudging on the truth. This is what was happening during Jesus’ day. The religious leaders created loopholes so they could fudge on the truth.
Principle 1: Do not rationalize, create loopholes, fudge on telling the truth to satisfy your own selfish/sinful desires. Stand firm in telling the truth for the Evil One is the father of lies and a deceiver!
When Jesus was speaking to the religious leaders in John 8, he tells them verse 44, You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
Satan seeks to deceive, discourage, and destroy. We must be aware of this reality.
Jesus goes on and corrects this flippant, fudging the truth, thinking by saying in Matthew 5:34-36, But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 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 even one hair white or black.
Again, the Jews tried to evade God’s judgment and deceive others by removing his name from oaths. They thought if they substituted heaven, earth, or Jerusalem, then they were free from God’s judgment.
However, Christ reminded them that even though they did not mention God’s name, God would still hold them accountable, since he is the sovereign judge over all. If they swore by their mother or father, God was their Creator. If they swore by their life, God was over that as well.
Today, there are those who are in church who think that it is a holy place, and it is where one should not lie or curse. However, if you are at a meal with friends, conversations are no longer as restrictive.
We must therefore recognize God as sovereign over all. He is Almighty, Omnipresent. He is everywhere and hears everything, and we will be judged not only for breaking our oaths, but also for every word.
Luke 6:45 states, A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.
Matthew 12:36-37 says, “I tell you that on the day of judgment, people will give an account for every worthless word they speak. For by your words, you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Our words will be judged; they will prove whether we are truly born again or not.
Principle 2: Tell the truth for God is Sovereign, Almighty, the Creator, the KING! Be honest with God, with others, and yourself for the Lord is watching and He will judge!
If we are going to have integrity in our words, then we must recognize God as sovereign. He is everywhere, he hears all and will judge all. Therefore, truth is important in every situation, not just some situations. If you do not tell the truth, God will judge!
So many people believe telling the truth will get them into trouble, but not telling the truth will get you into real trouble. It is like the couple speeding down the highway when a state trooper pulled them over. He asked the man to step out of the car and show him his license. The trooper asked, “Did you realize you were going eighty-five miles an hour back there? The man said, “Sir, that would be impossible. I am the most law-abiding driver you have ever met. I never exceed the speed limit, no matter my circumstances. The policeman leaned into the window of the car and asked his wife, “Is that true?” No officer, it is not. He drives like a maniac. He speeds wherever he goes. The police officer wrote out a ticket. Then he said, “I noticed you didn’t have your seat belt on, which is against the law in this state.” The man responded, “Sir, with all due respect, I value life too highly. Buckle up! That is my motto” The officer asked his wife, “Is that true?” She responded, “Are you kidding? I have never seen him wear the thing. You would probably find cobwebs in his seat belt.” The officer began to write him another ticket. About that time, the man leaned into the window of the car and screamed, “Woman, what are you trying to do to me? Keep your blankety, blank out of my business!” The officer then asked his wife, “Ma’am, does he always talk to you like that?” She replied, “Only when he is drunk.”
How important it is to own up to the truth! If we are going to avoid God’s judgment, then we need get honest with God and ourselves!! I John 1:8 states, If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. The Lord is looking for people who are honest with Him and oneself.
Yet, as I John 1:9 states, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. Oh, how we need to get honest with the Lord and with ourselves.
I know there are times that I put my foot in my mouth. There are times I fail. Yet, I thank God for His grace! Please take to heart one is saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. None of us can meet God’s standard of truthfulness by our own power. Yet, when one receives Jesus Christ as his/her Lord and Savior, born again of His Spirit, the Lord begins to transform you to become a person of integrity, a person has the power to speak the truth! When you have Jesus as the Lord of your life/your heart, you desire to be a truth teller. Now there are going to be times we fail, as the sinful nature is right there in conflict with the Spirit of Christ. Yet, as we live under the power of the Spirit, we crucify the sinful nature and overcome the tendency to lie, fudge, or distort the truth!
Listen, the important aspect in our passage has nothing to do with the formality of an oath or vow. The important aspect is the heart.
So, Jesus cuts to the heart. Verse 37, All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
Jesus is saying: Just tell the truth. Jesus calls us to develop a reputation so committed to integrity you never have to preface anything with an oath or a statement that says this is true, because your lifestyle, your testimony, is such that whatever you say is true. Jesus calls us to develop a reputation that is so committed to integrity.
Whether you are taking an oath in court or talking on the telephone at home, your yes should be yes, and your no should be no. In every situation, be transparently honest. Be as honest as you would be if you were on the witness stand facing perjury if you did not tell the truth.
Now, please realize Jesus was not forbidding all oath taking. Again, the OT encouraged taking oaths. In fact, when Jesus was on trial and put to an oath by the high priest to say if he was the Son of God, Jesus affirmed. Matthew 26:63, 64 states, The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.” 64 “You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Then they accused him of blasphemy and condemned him to death.
Principle 3: Have integrity by telling the truth! Be honest from the heart! Build the trust gauge, and He will bless!
Jesus Christ cares about the truth, and he wants us to be honest with Him, others, and ourselves. If we do, the trust gauge grows! Now please realize, each of us have an internal trust gauge. Every time you connect/or not connect with someone else, including the Lord, the trust gauge will increase or decrease….
We need to build honesty with the Lord and with others including our family, church members, the community---with everyone.
It begins with each of us in our hearts. I love the promise of Psalm 15. Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent? Who may live on your holy mountain? 2 The one whose walk is blameless, who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from their heart; 3 whose tongue utters no slander, who does no wrong to a neighbor, and casts no slur on others; 4 who despises a vile person but honors those who fear the Lord; who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and does not change their mind; 5 who lends money to the poor without interest; who does not accept a bribe against the innocent. Whoever does these things will never be shaken.
God looks for the person who speaks the truth from the heart and keeps his promises. The promise is that the Lord will dwell in such a worshipper. He/she will never be shaken! It begins by receiving Jesus as your Lord and Savior and then abiding in Him/living in His Spirit.
If you do this, he will bless! You will wake up every morning and have peace and joy in your heart. So, live a life for the Lord. Have integrity in your words. If you do, you will live in that peace that passes understanding in knowing and experiencing His presence, His love, His grace, His power, His joy! You will have a hope beyond this sick, sinful, death-stinking world.
Let me close with this story. Seven-year-old first baseman Tanner Munsey never thought he would end up in Sports Illustrated, but he did. While playing T-Ball in Wellington, Florida, Tanner fielded a ground ball and tried to tag a runner going from first to second base. The umpire, Laura Benson, called the runner out, but young Tanner immediately ran to her side and said, "Ma'am, I didn't tag the runner." Umpire Benson reversed herself and sent the runner to second base. Two weeks later, Laura Benson was again the umpire and Tanner was playing shortstop. This time Benson ruled that Tanner had missed the tag on a runner going to third base, and she called the runner safe. Tanner, obviously disappointed, tossed the ball to the pitcher and returned to his position. Benson asked Tanner what was wrong, and Tanner quietly said he had tagged the boy. Umpire Benson's response, "You're out!" She sent the runner to the bench. When the opposing coach rushed the field to protest, Benson explained what had happened two weeks before, saying, "If a kid is that honest, I have to give it to him."
The Lord rewards people who are honest, who are truth tellers, who have integrity. I encourage you to put your whole trust in Him, and he will bless!
