WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:10.820 Well, good evening. 00:00:11.919 --> 00:00:13.480 Happy Fourth of July weekend. 00:00:14.839 --> 00:00:19.699 Greg and Chris here are keeping a high line if you've been watching the World Cup. 00:00:19.839 --> 00:00:24.420 They're my defensive high line, keeping me from even getting closer to you as I preach. 00:00:24.660 --> 00:00:25.600 But that's all right. 00:00:25.600 --> 00:00:28.580 We're glad you guys are sitting up in the front. 00:00:28.579 --> 00:00:30.599 And we're glad all of you are here tonight. 00:00:30.759 --> 00:00:33.539 We're continuing in a series in the Sermon on the Mount. 00:00:34.719 --> 00:00:37.420 And so we're going to be looking at that in a minute. 00:00:39.839 --> 00:00:43.920 This weekend, my son, Eli, went to a birthday party. 00:00:44.579 --> 00:00:46.840 And the theme was pirates, which is perfect. 00:00:46.959 --> 00:00:48.599 He's five years old, about to be six. 00:00:49.019 --> 00:00:49.579 And he loved it. 00:00:49.599 --> 00:00:50.420 He got a bandana. 00:00:50.539 --> 00:00:51.519 He got an eye patch. 00:00:51.959 --> 00:00:53.920 He came home with a glow-in-the-dark sword. 00:00:53.920 --> 00:01:05.140 We were able to take to the fireworks on Saturday night and enjoy its glow-in-the-darkness as he ran around before the fireworks began at dusk. 00:01:05.299 --> 00:01:10.579 And so as we came home, he said, Daddy, can we play pirates tonight? 00:01:11.040 --> 00:01:12.500 We said, no, we've got to go to bed. 00:01:12.760 --> 00:01:13.920 Can we play pirates tomorrow? 00:01:14.579 --> 00:01:15.980 Yes, we can play pirates tomorrow. 00:01:16.140 --> 00:01:17.140 I woke up in the morning. 00:01:17.500 --> 00:01:18.540 I had other things to do. 00:01:18.840 --> 00:01:19.820 Daddy, can we play pirates? 00:01:19.819 --> 00:01:22.319 Yes, yes, we can play pirates sometime. 00:01:24.519 --> 00:01:30.199 But, you know, at the end of the day, I didn't actually end up playing pirates with him. 00:01:32.819 --> 00:01:39.599 It's not that I didn't intend to at one level, but at the end of the day, I wanted to do other things more. 00:01:40.579 --> 00:01:47.219 And later in the day, the Lord convicted me that I didn't do what I had said I would do. 00:01:47.219 --> 00:01:53.459 I was convicted that I didn't keep my word the way I ought to. 00:01:55.480 --> 00:01:59.539 And, you know, I've been reflecting on this theme a little bit. 00:01:59.620 --> 00:02:01.439 We'll see it in our passage in a few minutes. 00:02:01.640 --> 00:02:08.979 But I've reflected that our culture has experienced an erosion of the fidelity of spoken words, 00:02:09.159 --> 00:02:16.360 that we say things in our culture and it doesn't matter if they're true or if we're actually intending to keep them or not. 00:02:16.360 --> 00:02:20.800 I could name names, and I will, just to keep us awake here. 00:02:21.400 --> 00:02:29.600 So everyone from sports people like Lance Armstrong or Marion Jones, if you remember her, the Olympic sprinter, 00:02:30.300 --> 00:02:37.660 to some of our great political leaders, whether it be Bill Clinton or Colin Powell, 00:02:37.659 --> 00:02:45.319 or all of these people have said things publicly and have testified that they were true, 00:02:45.699 --> 00:02:47.219 when in fact they weren't. 00:02:50.460 --> 00:02:54.419 We live in a culture where talk radio uses words as entertainment, 00:02:54.900 --> 00:02:57.680 not as an exchange about truth. 00:02:57.680 --> 00:03:03.200 And I think even in our daily lives, in our culture today, 00:03:04.040 --> 00:03:10.460 being someone whose word is faithful and true is not as valued as it used to be. 00:03:11.640 --> 00:03:14.719 I think that we make promises and we think, 00:03:14.840 --> 00:03:15.719 I'll try to keep it. 00:03:15.939 --> 00:03:16.860 I'll do my best. 00:03:16.939 --> 00:03:17.760 I hope I can. 00:03:17.759 --> 00:03:22.679 In a generation past, it might have been different. 00:03:23.719 --> 00:03:27.099 I notice it sometimes in culture of making plans. 00:03:27.459 --> 00:03:28.780 Hey, can we meet next Thursday? 00:03:28.899 --> 00:03:29.819 Sure, let's do it. 00:03:30.439 --> 00:03:32.419 All right, one o'clock, let's see you there. 00:03:32.500 --> 00:03:34.219 And then I get a call the day before. 00:03:34.319 --> 00:03:35.319 Oh, I can't make it. 00:03:38.259 --> 00:03:39.239 Something came up. 00:03:39.240 --> 00:03:43.240 And, you know, at one level, sometimes that happens. 00:03:43.480 --> 00:03:45.760 But that's pretty common in our culture today. 00:03:46.820 --> 00:03:50.260 And I think a generation ago, it would have been very different. 00:03:51.659 --> 00:03:53.360 And I was reflecting on why is it? 00:03:53.560 --> 00:03:54.600 Why do we do these things? 00:03:54.700 --> 00:03:56.120 Why did I do it to my son? 00:03:56.719 --> 00:04:00.500 Why did I say something when I really didn't mean it and hadn't thought through? 00:04:01.400 --> 00:04:01.640 Why? 00:04:02.640 --> 00:04:04.100 And I was realizing that for me, 00:04:04.099 --> 00:04:10.620 it's because I want to say things as long as it's convenient for me in the moment. 00:04:11.079 --> 00:04:13.979 I said that to my son so that Eli, 00:04:14.139 --> 00:04:16.839 so that he'd stop bugging me, to be honest with you. 00:04:17.180 --> 00:04:19.519 So he'd stop asking me every five minutes, 00:04:19.680 --> 00:04:20.639 Daddy, can we play pirates? 00:04:20.980 --> 00:04:22.120 Daddy, can we play pirates? 00:04:22.719 --> 00:04:23.659 Yes, we'll do it. 00:04:23.879 --> 00:04:24.860 Stop talking to me. 00:04:25.240 --> 00:04:26.300 I have other things to do. 00:04:30.579 --> 00:04:32.579 What I realized is that if I made a promise, 00:04:32.579 --> 00:04:35.060 yes, Eli, we will play pirates this morning, 00:04:35.199 --> 00:04:36.639 it impinges on my freedom. 00:04:37.079 --> 00:04:38.899 It impinges on my ability to choose. 00:04:38.979 --> 00:04:40.180 What am I going to do this morning? 00:04:40.659 --> 00:04:45.620 It creates an obligation for me to follow through on something. 00:04:46.279 --> 00:04:50.079 And ultimately, it violates my selfishness. 00:04:51.459 --> 00:04:55.459 It violates my sovereignty to do what I want to do with my time 00:04:55.459 --> 00:04:58.019 at any moment in my life. 00:04:58.019 --> 00:05:06.219 Keeping our word is costly because we give up the freedom to do what we want. 00:05:08.319 --> 00:05:13.699 We live, I think, so often, I live so often at times, 00:05:14.259 --> 00:05:18.339 in this in-the-moment ethics of I'll do whatever I need to 00:05:18.339 --> 00:05:19.740 to get through the situation. 00:05:19.740 --> 00:05:24.019 So what does Jesus have to say about that? 00:05:24.439 --> 00:05:27.160 If you want to turn with me in your Bibles, page 810, 00:05:27.660 --> 00:05:29.060 we're going to look at the Sermon on the Mount. 00:05:29.579 --> 00:05:34.079 We're going to be starting in verse 31. 00:05:35.319 --> 00:05:38.180 And as you turn there, just to remind you briefly, 00:05:38.519 --> 00:05:42.819 the Sermon on the Mount is the Gospel of Matthew. 00:05:43.040 --> 00:05:47.079 The first four chapters is laid out Jesus as this king who's come. 00:05:47.079 --> 00:05:51.459 And as he comes, he pronounces to you, the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 00:05:52.579 --> 00:05:55.639 And he gathers his disciples in chapter 4, 00:05:55.740 --> 00:05:57.199 and then in the beginning of chapter 5, 00:05:57.259 --> 00:06:02.039 he launches into this long sermon about what life in his kingdom 00:06:02.039 --> 00:06:03.560 will really look like. 00:06:03.919 --> 00:06:07.759 What does it look like when people are under him as king? 00:06:07.979 --> 00:06:10.759 How are our lives transformed and changed? 00:06:10.819 --> 00:06:14.959 And what does it look like as a result of that transformation? 00:06:17.079 --> 00:06:21.879 And we're in this list now that starts back in verse 17 00:06:21.879 --> 00:06:26.199 of this seven times when Jesus says, 00:06:26.319 --> 00:06:28.180 you have heard it said, but I say to you. 00:06:28.560 --> 00:06:31.620 Where he's talking to a bunch of Jewish people 00:06:31.620 --> 00:06:35.000 about what they've heard said about the Old Testament 00:06:35.000 --> 00:06:36.339 and about the old way. 00:06:37.199 --> 00:06:38.599 And then, but I say to you, 00:06:38.659 --> 00:06:39.860 it's this whole pattern of, 00:06:40.219 --> 00:06:42.759 but this is what the kingdom of God is really like. 00:06:42.759 --> 00:06:48.920 And so, this is where we're at in the Sermon on the Mount. 00:06:50.099 --> 00:06:53.000 Look with me in verse 31, chapter 5. 00:06:53.000 --> 00:06:57.839 It was also said, 00:06:58.420 --> 00:06:59.600 whoever divorces him, 00:07:00.660 --> 00:07:02.240 or whoever divorces his wife, 00:07:02.860 --> 00:07:05.139 let him give her a certificate of divorce. 00:07:06.220 --> 00:07:07.259 But I say to you, 00:07:07.740 --> 00:07:09.459 that everyone who divorces his wife, 00:07:09.519 --> 00:07:11.680 except on the grounds of sexual immorality, 00:07:12.279 --> 00:07:13.779 makes her commit adultery, 00:07:13.920 --> 00:07:17.500 and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. 00:07:18.000 --> 00:07:19.439 Again, you have heard it said, 00:07:19.439 --> 00:07:23.100 you have heard that it was said to those of old, 00:07:23.219 --> 00:07:24.759 you shall not swear falsely, 00:07:25.240 --> 00:07:27.699 but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn. 00:07:28.759 --> 00:07:30.019 But I say to you, 00:07:30.439 --> 00:07:31.779 do not take an oath at all, 00:07:32.300 --> 00:07:34.480 either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 00:07:34.779 --> 00:07:37.019 or by the earth, for it is his footstool, 00:07:37.379 --> 00:07:40.019 or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great king. 00:07:40.379 --> 00:07:42.180 And do not take an oath by your head, 00:07:42.180 --> 00:07:45.699 for you cannot make one hair white or black. 00:07:45.699 --> 00:07:49.599 Let what you say be simply yes or no. 00:07:50.360 --> 00:07:52.839 Anything more than this comes from evil. 00:07:53.620 --> 00:07:56.399 Let's pray as we continue to look at God's word together. 00:07:57.459 --> 00:07:59.959 God, I pray tonight that you would help us 00:07:59.959 --> 00:08:03.539 to understand this part of your word. 00:08:04.180 --> 00:08:07.039 Help us to understand what you are saying to us through it. 00:08:07.759 --> 00:08:09.539 Help us to see, Lord, 00:08:10.019 --> 00:08:13.219 how it is that you want us to live in this world 00:08:13.219 --> 00:08:14.899 under you as our king. 00:08:15.759 --> 00:08:17.739 Help us to understand how it is that you, 00:08:17.859 --> 00:08:20.359 as our king, enable us to do this. 00:08:21.459 --> 00:08:23.279 God, I pray you would help me tonight 00:08:23.279 --> 00:08:24.799 to speak your word, 00:08:25.799 --> 00:08:27.719 Lord, that you would be with us by your spirit. 00:08:28.659 --> 00:08:30.519 We pray these things in Jesus' name. 00:08:32.059 --> 00:08:32.459 Amen. 00:08:32.459 --> 00:08:32.699 Amen. 00:08:36.720 --> 00:08:38.799 So what does the kingdom of God look like 00:08:38.799 --> 00:08:41.919 in issues of marriage 00:08:41.919 --> 00:08:44.460 and of taking oaths? 00:08:45.860 --> 00:08:47.639 Neither of these are probably the things 00:08:47.639 --> 00:08:48.519 that jump to our mind 00:08:48.519 --> 00:08:50.459 about how to think about topics, 00:08:50.639 --> 00:08:52.120 but they're ones that Jesus feels like 00:08:52.120 --> 00:08:53.179 are so important 00:08:53.179 --> 00:08:54.759 that he includes them in this sermon. 00:08:55.720 --> 00:08:57.399 So we're going to look at them in this order 00:08:57.399 --> 00:08:59.720 and try to explain or understand 00:08:59.720 --> 00:09:01.319 how it is, 00:09:01.360 --> 00:09:04.100 what it is that Jesus is saying to us. 00:09:04.639 --> 00:09:07.240 So as we look at verses 31 and 32, 00:09:08.240 --> 00:09:09.139 let me just, 00:09:09.139 --> 00:09:12.120 as we dive into this particular passage, 00:09:12.120 --> 00:09:13.360 this particular passage, 00:09:13.439 --> 00:09:14.659 a brief pastoral note, 00:09:15.480 --> 00:09:18.220 the issue of divorce is a particularly painful one 00:09:18.220 --> 00:09:19.220 in our culture today. 00:09:19.419 --> 00:09:21.319 It's a particularly difficult one 00:09:21.319 --> 00:09:24.960 because it's a pain that many people have gone through. 00:09:25.419 --> 00:09:28.679 And there's a huge diversity of views on it 00:09:28.679 --> 00:09:29.779 in our world. 00:09:29.779 --> 00:09:32.819 And I want to say tonight 00:09:32.819 --> 00:09:34.720 that I want to speak faithfully 00:09:34.720 --> 00:09:35.579 from the scriptures, 00:09:35.759 --> 00:09:36.519 what it says, 00:09:36.860 --> 00:09:39.019 but I want you to also know 00:09:39.019 --> 00:09:41.720 that in my pastoral counseling 00:09:41.720 --> 00:09:42.519 and in my care, 00:09:42.899 --> 00:09:44.019 and even for some of you, 00:09:44.059 --> 00:09:44.699 I want you to know 00:09:44.699 --> 00:09:47.419 that I know how painful it can be. 00:09:47.519 --> 00:09:48.159 If this is something 00:09:48.159 --> 00:09:49.899 that has been a part of your story 00:09:49.899 --> 00:09:51.259 up until now, 00:09:51.679 --> 00:09:53.620 please know that God's heart 00:09:53.620 --> 00:09:54.860 and my heart for you 00:09:54.860 --> 00:09:56.080 is that you'd experience 00:09:56.080 --> 00:09:57.460 the grace of the gospel 00:09:57.460 --> 00:09:59.100 in the midst of that pain. 00:10:00.240 --> 00:10:02.019 So let me just start with that 00:10:02.019 --> 00:10:03.580 and we'll come around at the end 00:10:03.580 --> 00:10:05.680 when we talk about some application. 00:10:06.940 --> 00:10:09.340 This may be a hard word for some of us. 00:10:09.820 --> 00:10:10.940 It's going to challenge 00:10:10.940 --> 00:10:13.039 some of our cultural assumptions potentially, 00:10:13.539 --> 00:10:16.720 but it's a good word for us. 00:10:17.300 --> 00:10:18.620 So let's look at it together. 00:10:19.259 --> 00:10:22.259 Jesus begins in verse 31 00:10:22.259 --> 00:10:23.240 and he's talking about, 00:10:23.240 --> 00:10:25.379 he jumps right into the issue of divorce, 00:10:25.379 --> 00:10:26.560 but one of the things 00:10:26.560 --> 00:10:28.019 that's really important to see 00:10:28.019 --> 00:10:29.080 is that there's an assumption 00:10:29.080 --> 00:10:30.159 that Jesus is making. 00:10:30.159 --> 00:10:32.240 He's starting with an assumption 00:10:32.240 --> 00:10:34.200 as he's talking about marriage 00:10:34.200 --> 00:10:35.600 that a vow was made. 00:10:36.340 --> 00:10:38.279 A vow was made between two people 00:10:38.279 --> 00:10:39.299 to have and to hold 00:10:39.299 --> 00:10:40.379 from this day forward 00:10:40.379 --> 00:10:41.740 for better, for worse, 00:10:41.840 --> 00:10:42.799 for richer, for poorer, 00:10:42.919 --> 00:10:44.100 in sickness and in health, 00:10:44.480 --> 00:10:45.680 to love and to cherish 00:10:45.680 --> 00:10:46.960 till death do us part. 00:10:47.320 --> 00:10:49.340 That's the old classic prayer book 00:10:49.340 --> 00:10:51.620 vows that happen in a wedding. 00:10:51.620 --> 00:10:53.620 And Jesus is assuming 00:10:53.620 --> 00:10:55.600 that that's the basis 00:10:55.600 --> 00:10:57.100 upon which marriage 00:10:57.100 --> 00:10:58.539 has been entered into. 00:10:59.500 --> 00:11:01.320 And in light of that then, 00:11:02.200 --> 00:11:03.940 he's trying to deal with something 00:11:03.940 --> 00:11:04.700 that was going on 00:11:04.700 --> 00:11:05.820 in the first century 00:11:05.820 --> 00:11:08.259 that was based on an understanding 00:11:08.259 --> 00:11:09.919 of a part of the Old Testament law. 00:11:10.060 --> 00:11:13.000 If you went back to Deuteronomy 24, 00:11:13.220 --> 00:11:14.460 verses 1 through 4, 00:11:14.659 --> 00:11:16.680 you would see this long sentence 00:11:16.679 --> 00:11:18.279 that says, 00:11:18.579 --> 00:11:22.059 now if a man divorces his wife 00:11:22.059 --> 00:11:24.359 and gives her a certificate of divorce 00:11:24.359 --> 00:11:26.399 and then he marries another one 00:11:26.399 --> 00:11:28.120 and then he divorces that wife 00:11:28.120 --> 00:11:28.439 and then, 00:11:28.919 --> 00:11:31.819 and it has this long set of conditions 00:11:31.819 --> 00:11:32.959 that seems to be, 00:11:33.039 --> 00:11:34.000 when you read it carefully, 00:11:34.159 --> 00:11:35.120 the whole point is, 00:11:35.579 --> 00:11:36.739 of the law in Deuteronomy 00:11:36.739 --> 00:11:37.419 is to say 00:11:37.419 --> 00:11:39.319 that if you've divorced someone, 00:11:39.659 --> 00:11:41.399 you can't remarry them 00:11:41.399 --> 00:11:42.659 after they've married someone 00:11:42.659 --> 00:11:43.819 and been divorced again. 00:11:43.820 --> 00:11:44.940 Okay? 00:11:45.260 --> 00:11:46.640 That seems to be actually 00:11:46.640 --> 00:11:47.660 the point of it. 00:11:49.020 --> 00:11:50.900 And it's, at some level, 00:11:51.040 --> 00:11:52.879 a pretty obscure part of the law 00:11:52.879 --> 00:11:54.440 and its purpose, 00:11:54.620 --> 00:11:55.940 as you look at it in context, 00:11:56.040 --> 00:11:57.060 is to deal with 00:11:57.060 --> 00:12:00.000 what happens when marriage doesn't work 00:12:00.000 --> 00:12:02.020 the way it's supposed to. 00:12:03.760 --> 00:12:04.200 Right? 00:12:05.280 --> 00:12:06.980 What happens when marriage 00:12:06.980 --> 00:12:08.000 isn't all, 00:12:08.940 --> 00:12:11.960 isn't all that we hope it would be? 00:12:11.960 --> 00:12:13.260 What happens when divorce, 00:12:13.259 --> 00:12:15.819 and, and the particular regulations 00:12:15.819 --> 00:12:17.159 were meant to protect 00:12:17.159 --> 00:12:18.860 and to care for people 00:12:18.860 --> 00:12:21.539 in the middle of this broken situation. 00:12:22.240 --> 00:12:22.480 Okay? 00:12:22.740 --> 00:12:24.960 So that's the Deuteronomy context 00:12:24.960 --> 00:12:27.220 from which this idea 00:12:27.220 --> 00:12:28.840 of a certificate of divorce 00:12:28.840 --> 00:12:29.860 came about. 00:12:30.600 --> 00:12:32.500 Now, in the first century, 00:12:32.720 --> 00:12:33.860 and you can read through, 00:12:33.980 --> 00:12:35.379 there were rabbinical schools 00:12:35.379 --> 00:12:35.939 that taught, 00:12:36.100 --> 00:12:37.360 that sort of had a debate 00:12:37.360 --> 00:12:38.639 about how did this happen. 00:12:38.740 --> 00:12:40.179 There's a conservative school 00:12:40.179 --> 00:12:41.200 that said, 00:12:41.200 --> 00:12:42.779 well, there is this thing, 00:12:42.779 --> 00:12:43.539 but really, 00:12:43.699 --> 00:12:44.839 this certificate of divorce 00:12:44.839 --> 00:12:46.079 can only be given 00:12:46.079 --> 00:12:47.259 in very, 00:12:47.579 --> 00:12:48.939 in a very circumscribed 00:12:48.939 --> 00:12:49.819 set of conditions. 00:12:50.319 --> 00:12:50.839 And then there was 00:12:50.839 --> 00:12:52.079 a broader category 00:12:52.079 --> 00:12:54.379 under the Rabbi Hillel, 00:12:54.539 --> 00:12:54.959 actually, 00:12:55.159 --> 00:12:56.139 whose name is still 00:12:56.139 --> 00:12:57.179 kicked around today, 00:12:57.659 --> 00:12:59.539 where, in fact, 00:12:59.879 --> 00:13:01.699 it had a very expansive view 00:13:01.699 --> 00:13:03.659 that a man could divorce his wife 00:13:03.659 --> 00:13:04.899 for all sorts of reasons. 00:13:05.019 --> 00:13:06.059 In fact, it specified 00:13:06.059 --> 00:13:08.139 that he could divorce his wife 00:13:08.139 --> 00:13:09.960 because she burned the food 00:13:09.960 --> 00:13:11.720 or simply because 00:13:11.720 --> 00:13:13.879 he found another woman 00:13:13.879 --> 00:13:15.159 that he liked better 00:13:15.159 --> 00:13:15.919 than his wife. 00:13:16.500 --> 00:13:19.379 It was a very broad understanding. 00:13:20.460 --> 00:13:21.179 And somehow, 00:13:21.439 --> 00:13:22.740 in the first century, 00:13:23.139 --> 00:13:24.779 this text in Deuteronomy 00:13:24.779 --> 00:13:26.580 that had a very narrow, 00:13:27.379 --> 00:13:29.220 circumstantial application 00:13:29.220 --> 00:13:30.639 became the basis 00:13:30.639 --> 00:13:32.120 for a whole theology 00:13:32.120 --> 00:13:34.279 of men who were saying, 00:13:34.480 --> 00:13:35.500 I can leave my wife 00:13:35.500 --> 00:13:37.000 whenever I feel like it, 00:13:37.700 --> 00:13:40.220 whenever it seems good to me, 00:13:41.139 --> 00:13:42.460 whenever I don't like 00:13:42.460 --> 00:13:43.539 something about her, 00:13:44.039 --> 00:13:46.860 or I like something else more. 00:13:46.860 --> 00:13:57.500 This viewpoint 00:13:57.500 --> 00:13:59.440 was what Jesus was addressing 00:13:59.440 --> 00:14:01.419 in verses 31 and 32. 00:14:03.180 --> 00:14:04.580 Look at it with me again. 00:14:06.060 --> 00:14:06.639 It was said, 00:14:07.019 --> 00:14:08.440 whoever divorces his wife, 00:14:08.539 --> 00:14:09.440 let him give her 00:14:09.440 --> 00:14:11.039 a certificate of divorce. 00:14:12.240 --> 00:14:12.600 Okay? 00:14:13.440 --> 00:14:14.259 So he's saying, 00:14:14.360 --> 00:14:15.779 that's what the old law is. 00:14:15.840 --> 00:14:16.519 And in that 00:14:16.519 --> 00:14:18.000 was all of this understanding 00:14:18.000 --> 00:14:19.879 of this expansive freedom 00:14:19.879 --> 00:14:21.019 for men to just 00:14:21.019 --> 00:14:22.259 abandon their wives 00:14:22.259 --> 00:14:22.740 and give them 00:14:22.740 --> 00:14:23.899 a certificate of divorce 00:14:23.899 --> 00:14:25.019 so they could remarry 00:14:25.019 --> 00:14:25.960 someone else 00:14:25.960 --> 00:14:27.139 so they wouldn't be abandoned. 00:14:27.299 --> 00:14:29.139 And in the first century society, 00:14:29.139 --> 00:14:30.579 that would be a terrible thing 00:14:30.579 --> 00:14:33.340 because a woman 00:14:33.340 --> 00:14:34.399 who had been divorced 00:14:34.399 --> 00:14:36.340 was basically on her own 00:14:36.340 --> 00:14:37.720 and she'd have very little means 00:14:37.720 --> 00:14:39.899 to support herself. 00:14:40.059 --> 00:14:41.879 She would have very little opportunity 00:14:41.879 --> 00:14:43.059 to take care of herself. 00:14:43.240 --> 00:14:43.759 And it's really, 00:14:44.120 --> 00:14:44.360 it would, 00:14:44.720 --> 00:14:46.319 so that certificate of divorce 00:14:46.320 --> 00:14:48.080 was not completely 00:14:48.080 --> 00:14:49.060 without merit. 00:14:50.960 --> 00:14:51.540 But he's, 00:14:52.120 --> 00:14:53.480 but this was the understanding of it. 00:14:53.500 --> 00:14:54.480 And then he goes on, 00:14:54.520 --> 00:14:54.720 he says, 00:14:54.800 --> 00:14:56.140 but I say to you, 00:14:57.180 --> 00:14:59.280 everyone who divorces his wife, 00:14:59.680 --> 00:15:00.520 except on the grounds 00:15:00.520 --> 00:15:01.820 of sexual immorality, 00:15:02.020 --> 00:15:04.000 makes her commit adultery, 00:15:04.000 --> 00:15:06.500 and whoever marries a divorced woman 00:15:06.500 --> 00:15:08.320 commits adultery. 00:15:08.980 --> 00:15:10.300 What is he saying here? 00:15:10.800 --> 00:15:11.780 Turn with me really quickly 00:15:11.779 --> 00:15:12.759 to Matthew 19. 00:15:13.539 --> 00:15:14.319 You don't have to, 00:15:14.500 --> 00:15:15.620 we're not going to read the whole thing, 00:15:15.699 --> 00:15:16.980 but it's really helpful 00:15:16.980 --> 00:15:18.419 to see that Jesus kind of 00:15:18.419 --> 00:15:20.500 summarizes in this passage 00:15:20.500 --> 00:15:21.220 in verse 5 00:15:21.220 --> 00:15:21.939 what he's saying 00:15:21.939 --> 00:15:23.639 more broadly in verse 19. 00:15:24.039 --> 00:15:25.159 The Pharisees come to him 00:15:25.159 --> 00:15:25.539 and say, 00:15:25.799 --> 00:15:26.100 you know, 00:15:26.459 --> 00:15:28.480 when is it lawful to divorce? 00:15:29.539 --> 00:15:31.779 And Jesus expansively says, 00:15:32.259 --> 00:15:33.579 you're asking me about, 00:15:34.039 --> 00:15:35.100 on what conditions 00:15:35.100 --> 00:15:36.620 can I break my promise 00:15:36.620 --> 00:15:37.959 of marriage? 00:15:37.960 --> 00:15:40.480 And he comes back 00:15:40.480 --> 00:15:41.139 and he says, 00:15:41.240 --> 00:15:42.340 he quotes from Genesis 00:15:42.340 --> 00:15:43.639 and he says 00:15:43.639 --> 00:15:46.460 that God created humanity, 00:15:46.660 --> 00:15:47.940 male and female, 00:15:49.580 --> 00:15:50.340 and that the two, 00:15:50.780 --> 00:15:50.960 right, 00:15:51.259 --> 00:15:51.800 that a man, 00:15:52.040 --> 00:15:53.660 verse 4, 00:15:53.759 --> 00:15:53.940 right, 00:15:54.519 --> 00:15:54.780 God, 00:15:54.920 --> 00:15:55.480 in the beginning 00:15:55.480 --> 00:15:56.740 he made the male and female 00:15:56.740 --> 00:15:57.700 and then he said, 00:15:57.759 --> 00:15:59.100 and he's quoting from Genesis 2, 00:15:59.180 --> 00:15:59.280 now, 00:15:59.360 --> 00:15:59.660 therefore, 00:16:00.200 --> 00:16:01.120 a man shall leave 00:16:01.120 --> 00:16:02.320 his father and his mother 00:16:02.320 --> 00:16:04.139 and hold fast to his wife 00:16:04.139 --> 00:16:05.240 and the two shall become 00:16:05.240 --> 00:16:06.040 one flesh. 00:16:06.200 --> 00:16:07.320 They are no longer two, 00:16:07.320 --> 00:16:08.740 but one flesh, 00:16:08.840 --> 00:16:09.760 what therefore God 00:16:09.760 --> 00:16:10.800 has joined together, 00:16:11.360 --> 00:16:13.180 let not man separate. 00:16:14.640 --> 00:16:15.940 So people are coming to him 00:16:15.940 --> 00:16:16.180 saying, 00:16:16.300 --> 00:16:16.400 hey, 00:16:16.520 --> 00:16:17.379 what are the grounds 00:16:17.379 --> 00:16:18.440 on which I can do this? 00:16:18.480 --> 00:16:18.920 And he's saying, 00:16:19.000 --> 00:16:19.180 whoa, 00:16:19.240 --> 00:16:19.360 whoa, 00:16:19.379 --> 00:16:19.580 whoa, 00:16:19.680 --> 00:16:20.660 let's step back 00:16:20.660 --> 00:16:21.480 and make sure we get 00:16:21.480 --> 00:16:23.379 the right things right first. 00:16:24.160 --> 00:16:25.940 God wants you to understand 00:16:25.940 --> 00:16:27.400 what he's doing in marriage. 00:16:27.600 --> 00:16:29.060 Marriage is this sacred, 00:16:29.740 --> 00:16:31.220 beautiful union 00:16:31.220 --> 00:16:32.460 that he has created 00:16:32.460 --> 00:16:34.000 and it was in the very fabric 00:16:34.000 --> 00:16:35.220 of creating humanity 00:16:35.220 --> 00:16:36.460 that men and women 00:16:36.460 --> 00:16:37.440 would come together 00:16:37.440 --> 00:16:38.980 in this marital relationship 00:16:38.980 --> 00:16:41.480 and in their coming together 00:16:41.480 --> 00:16:42.920 the two would become 00:16:42.920 --> 00:16:43.940 one flesh 00:16:43.940 --> 00:16:45.060 and they would become 00:16:45.060 --> 00:16:45.740 a union 00:16:45.740 --> 00:16:47.320 that is not simply 00:16:47.320 --> 00:16:48.080 a contract. 00:16:48.720 --> 00:16:49.580 It's not simply 00:16:49.580 --> 00:16:51.080 a mutually beneficial 00:16:51.080 --> 00:16:51.740 agreement 00:16:51.740 --> 00:16:55.540 for as long as they both think 00:16:55.540 --> 00:16:56.840 that it's beneficial, 00:16:57.399 --> 00:16:58.000 but instead 00:16:58.000 --> 00:17:01.240 it's a mystical, 00:17:01.500 --> 00:17:01.820 spiritual, 00:17:01.980 --> 00:17:03.659 but very real union 00:17:03.659 --> 00:17:04.579 where two become 00:17:04.579 --> 00:17:05.559 one flesh. 00:17:06.920 --> 00:17:07.180 Right? 00:17:07.460 --> 00:17:08.079 It's like 00:17:08.079 --> 00:17:09.299 when I was in high school 00:17:09.299 --> 00:17:10.500 I went to this 00:17:10.500 --> 00:17:11.279 Saturday morning 00:17:11.279 --> 00:17:12.420 like science thing 00:17:12.420 --> 00:17:13.799 and I don't remember 00:17:13.799 --> 00:17:14.259 very much. 00:17:14.319 --> 00:17:15.240 I was a history major. 00:17:15.460 --> 00:17:16.480 My science acumen 00:17:16.480 --> 00:17:17.319 was pretty low, 00:17:17.779 --> 00:17:18.339 but I remember 00:17:18.339 --> 00:17:20.059 they did really cool experiments. 00:17:20.240 --> 00:17:20.819 That's what I remember. 00:17:20.980 --> 00:17:22.400 We like stuck a rose 00:17:22.400 --> 00:17:23.220 in liquid nitrogen 00:17:23.220 --> 00:17:24.200 and shattered it 00:17:24.200 --> 00:17:25.140 and that was really cool 00:17:25.140 --> 00:17:26.580 and we figured out 00:17:26.580 --> 00:17:27.700 about gravity 00:17:27.700 --> 00:17:29.020 and deceleration. 00:17:29.460 --> 00:17:30.160 One of the things 00:17:30.160 --> 00:17:31.259 we did was polymers. 00:17:31.720 --> 00:17:31.800 Right? 00:17:31.880 --> 00:17:32.680 And I can't tell you 00:17:32.680 --> 00:17:33.580 a bit about 00:17:33.580 --> 00:17:35.200 the chemistry of polymers, 00:17:35.400 --> 00:17:36.060 but all I know 00:17:36.060 --> 00:17:36.800 is that polymers 00:17:36.800 --> 00:17:37.400 can be made 00:17:37.400 --> 00:17:38.700 where you take two things 00:17:38.700 --> 00:17:40.280 and you stick them together. 00:17:40.820 --> 00:17:41.120 Right? 00:17:41.820 --> 00:17:42.660 And the place 00:17:42.660 --> 00:17:43.820 where they gather together, 00:17:44.100 --> 00:17:44.680 all I remember 00:17:44.680 --> 00:17:46.000 is this big jar. 00:17:46.520 --> 00:17:46.880 You guys, 00:17:47.000 --> 00:17:48.120 some of you are chemistry majors. 00:17:48.240 --> 00:17:48.420 You're like, 00:17:48.460 --> 00:17:49.000 yeah, I know exactly 00:17:49.000 --> 00:17:49.580 what you're talking about. 00:17:49.800 --> 00:17:51.420 A big jar that was clear 00:17:51.420 --> 00:17:52.900 and had a blue liquid on top 00:17:52.900 --> 00:17:54.220 and a red liquid on the bottom 00:17:54.220 --> 00:17:55.299 and the guy reached in 00:17:55.299 --> 00:17:57.079 with some tweezers 00:17:57.079 --> 00:17:58.880 and grabbed the place 00:17:58.880 --> 00:18:00.220 where those two things met 00:18:00.220 --> 00:18:02.019 and he started to pull it out. 00:18:02.299 --> 00:18:03.000 And the place 00:18:03.000 --> 00:18:04.100 where those two things 00:18:04.100 --> 00:18:04.779 came together, 00:18:04.880 --> 00:18:06.120 a polymer was formed 00:18:06.120 --> 00:18:07.420 by the chemical reaction 00:18:07.420 --> 00:18:08.299 between the two of them 00:18:08.299 --> 00:18:10.360 and the fiber of it 00:18:10.360 --> 00:18:12.400 became something else. 00:18:13.019 --> 00:18:14.299 And once he pulled it out, 00:18:14.579 --> 00:18:15.279 you couldn't then 00:18:15.279 --> 00:18:16.299 separate it back out 00:18:16.299 --> 00:18:17.180 into blue and red. 00:18:17.339 --> 00:18:18.680 It was a new thing. 00:18:19.559 --> 00:18:20.700 And this is what God 00:18:20.700 --> 00:18:21.480 does in marriage. 00:18:21.480 --> 00:18:22.900 He takes two people, 00:18:22.900 --> 00:18:24.320 two independent people 00:18:24.320 --> 00:18:27.000 created in the image of God 00:18:27.000 --> 00:18:28.360 and he brings them together 00:18:28.360 --> 00:18:29.280 in a union 00:18:29.280 --> 00:18:32.519 that is unique, 00:18:33.420 --> 00:18:34.720 that is special, 00:18:35.300 --> 00:18:36.680 and that is meant 00:18:36.680 --> 00:18:37.540 to be lifelong. 00:18:39.140 --> 00:18:40.160 And that union 00:18:40.160 --> 00:18:40.900 is meant to be 00:18:42.380 --> 00:18:44.500 unbroken. 00:18:47.900 --> 00:18:49.240 Marriage vows 00:18:49.240 --> 00:18:51.019 unseat our 00:18:51.019 --> 00:18:52.819 independent selfishness 00:18:52.819 --> 00:18:53.980 by saying, 00:18:54.180 --> 00:18:55.359 I'm committing to you. 00:18:55.680 --> 00:18:57.039 And it's a huge cost, 00:18:57.099 --> 00:18:57.500 isn't it? 00:18:57.519 --> 00:18:58.079 For those of you 00:18:58.079 --> 00:18:58.599 who are married, 00:18:58.819 --> 00:18:59.980 it's a huge cost 00:18:59.980 --> 00:19:00.420 to say, 00:19:00.720 --> 00:19:01.700 I will have you 00:19:01.700 --> 00:19:02.599 no matter what. 00:19:05.440 --> 00:19:06.480 But in that, 00:19:06.579 --> 00:19:07.680 there's a great gift. 00:19:08.119 --> 00:19:08.819 There's joy 00:19:08.819 --> 00:19:09.779 and freedom 00:19:09.779 --> 00:19:10.680 and beauty 00:19:10.680 --> 00:19:11.500 and power 00:19:11.500 --> 00:19:12.779 in that two 00:19:12.779 --> 00:19:13.680 becoming one 00:19:13.680 --> 00:19:14.879 in that union. 00:19:14.880 --> 00:19:19.560 And so when Jesus 00:19:19.560 --> 00:19:21.300 hears a question 00:19:21.300 --> 00:19:21.920 about divorce, 00:19:22.020 --> 00:19:22.640 he goes back 00:19:22.640 --> 00:19:23.100 and he wants 00:19:23.100 --> 00:19:24.000 to remind you, 00:19:24.500 --> 00:19:25.460 God wants you 00:19:25.460 --> 00:19:26.200 to maintain 00:19:26.200 --> 00:19:28.180 your marriage. 00:19:29.000 --> 00:19:30.180 That's the first thing 00:19:30.180 --> 00:19:31.340 he wants you to do. 00:19:31.700 --> 00:19:32.300 And he wants you 00:19:32.300 --> 00:19:32.960 to recognize 00:19:32.960 --> 00:19:34.120 that any time 00:19:34.120 --> 00:19:35.060 divorce happens, 00:19:35.420 --> 00:19:36.480 it's a rending 00:19:36.480 --> 00:19:37.000 of something 00:19:37.000 --> 00:19:37.660 that was meant 00:19:37.660 --> 00:19:38.440 to be together. 00:19:38.720 --> 00:19:39.340 It's trying 00:19:39.340 --> 00:19:40.140 to pull apart 00:19:40.140 --> 00:19:40.740 a polymer. 00:19:40.740 --> 00:19:44.740 And he goes on 00:19:44.740 --> 00:19:45.180 and he says, 00:19:45.339 --> 00:19:45.500 oh, 00:19:45.700 --> 00:19:46.859 and if adultery 00:19:46.859 --> 00:19:47.440 has happened, 00:19:48.120 --> 00:19:49.039 that's already 00:19:49.039 --> 00:19:49.940 been a rending 00:19:49.940 --> 00:19:50.980 of that relationship. 00:19:52.900 --> 00:19:54.019 And so that may be 00:19:54.019 --> 00:19:55.000 a case where divorce 00:19:55.000 --> 00:19:55.859 may be legitimate. 00:19:58.319 --> 00:19:59.420 But if it's not, 00:19:59.640 --> 00:20:00.640 if you divorce someone 00:20:00.640 --> 00:20:01.700 for some other reason 00:20:01.700 --> 00:20:02.640 and then you send 00:20:02.640 --> 00:20:03.059 them out 00:20:03.059 --> 00:20:04.319 and the assumption 00:20:04.319 --> 00:20:05.579 is they would get remarried, 00:20:05.880 --> 00:20:06.720 then you make 00:20:06.720 --> 00:20:08.059 your spouse 00:20:08.059 --> 00:20:08.980 an adulterer. 00:20:08.980 --> 00:20:11.039 If you divorce 00:20:11.039 --> 00:20:11.519 your wife 00:20:11.519 --> 00:20:12.240 and she goes out 00:20:12.240 --> 00:20:12.740 and she's alone 00:20:12.740 --> 00:20:13.120 in the world, 00:20:13.200 --> 00:20:13.579 well, of course 00:20:13.579 --> 00:20:14.460 she's going to remarry. 00:20:15.519 --> 00:20:16.819 But by remarrying, 00:20:16.980 --> 00:20:17.420 she's now, 00:20:17.799 --> 00:20:18.880 you've now rent 00:20:18.880 --> 00:20:20.140 the thing 00:20:20.140 --> 00:20:20.500 that God 00:20:20.500 --> 00:20:21.279 has put together 00:20:21.279 --> 00:20:24.120 and sent her off 00:20:24.120 --> 00:20:26.460 to do this thing 00:20:26.460 --> 00:20:27.339 that she ought 00:20:27.339 --> 00:20:28.039 not to do. 00:20:33.480 --> 00:20:34.339 So Jesus 00:20:34.339 --> 00:20:35.700 is saying to us, 00:20:36.099 --> 00:20:36.799 this is life 00:20:36.799 --> 00:20:37.380 in the kingdom 00:20:37.380 --> 00:20:38.860 where we take 00:20:38.860 --> 00:20:39.880 very seriously 00:20:39.880 --> 00:20:41.280 our marriage vows. 00:20:41.660 --> 00:20:43.160 We count the cost. 00:20:44.780 --> 00:20:46.200 We count the cost 00:20:46.200 --> 00:20:46.860 of the loss 00:20:46.860 --> 00:20:47.540 of our freedom 00:20:47.540 --> 00:20:48.600 when we enter 00:20:48.600 --> 00:20:49.260 into it. 00:20:50.620 --> 00:20:51.780 And we don't 00:20:51.780 --> 00:20:52.620 take lightly 00:20:52.620 --> 00:20:54.280 divorce 00:20:54.280 --> 00:20:55.940 because divorce 00:20:55.940 --> 00:20:56.840 is a violation 00:20:56.840 --> 00:20:58.640 of those vows 00:20:58.640 --> 00:21:00.240 and of the meaning 00:21:00.240 --> 00:21:01.160 that God gave 00:21:01.160 --> 00:21:02.040 to marriage. 00:21:02.039 --> 00:21:02.099 marriage. 00:21:03.319 --> 00:21:04.220 And even 00:21:04.220 --> 00:21:05.079 when divorce 00:21:05.079 --> 00:21:06.579 may be legitimate, 00:21:06.879 --> 00:21:07.720 it is only 00:21:07.720 --> 00:21:08.500 in the context 00:21:08.500 --> 00:21:09.379 where that marriage 00:21:09.379 --> 00:21:10.079 has already 00:21:10.079 --> 00:21:10.759 been broken. 00:21:15.039 --> 00:21:15.559 Biblically, 00:21:15.700 --> 00:21:16.180 there are a few 00:21:16.180 --> 00:21:16.960 other grounds. 00:21:17.920 --> 00:21:18.440 Desertion 00:21:18.440 --> 00:21:22.799 is the one 00:21:22.799 --> 00:21:23.819 most obvious one 00:21:23.819 --> 00:21:24.240 where you're 00:21:24.240 --> 00:21:24.639 abandoned 00:21:24.639 --> 00:21:25.519 by a spouse. 00:21:25.819 --> 00:21:26.359 There are other 00:21:26.359 --> 00:21:26.759 grounds 00:21:26.759 --> 00:21:28.039 potentially 00:21:28.039 --> 00:21:29.099 where divorce 00:21:29.099 --> 00:21:29.700 may be 00:21:29.700 --> 00:21:30.180 legitimate 00:21:30.180 --> 00:21:30.759 biblically. 00:21:31.460 --> 00:21:31.920 But I think 00:21:31.920 --> 00:21:32.680 we maybe live 00:21:32.680 --> 00:21:33.259 in a culture 00:21:33.259 --> 00:21:34.340 where we're 00:21:34.340 --> 00:21:34.840 very much 00:21:34.840 --> 00:21:35.480 like the first 00:21:35.480 --> 00:21:35.820 century, 00:21:35.960 --> 00:21:36.420 where people 00:21:36.420 --> 00:21:36.840 think, 00:21:37.299 --> 00:21:37.380 hey, 00:21:37.420 --> 00:21:37.640 we're going 00:21:37.640 --> 00:21:38.100 to get married 00:21:38.100 --> 00:21:39.100 as long as 00:21:39.100 --> 00:21:39.680 it's convenient 00:21:39.680 --> 00:21:40.299 for us. 00:21:40.500 --> 00:21:41.400 And, you know, 00:21:41.519 --> 00:21:41.759 I mean, 00:21:41.779 --> 00:21:42.720 what's the classic 00:21:42.720 --> 00:21:43.640 line when you 00:21:43.640 --> 00:21:44.460 read celebrities 00:21:44.460 --> 00:21:45.380 who break up? 00:21:46.140 --> 00:21:46.680 Irreconcilable 00:21:46.680 --> 00:21:47.220 differences. 00:21:47.660 --> 00:21:48.380 We're still 00:21:48.380 --> 00:21:48.940 friends, 00:21:49.039 --> 00:21:49.700 we just don't 00:21:49.700 --> 00:21:50.060 want to be 00:21:50.060 --> 00:21:50.799 married anymore. 00:21:53.799 --> 00:21:54.700 God wants us 00:21:54.700 --> 00:21:55.279 to take our 00:21:55.279 --> 00:21:56.460 vows far, 00:21:56.720 --> 00:21:57.279 far more 00:21:57.279 --> 00:21:58.039 seriously than 00:21:58.039 --> 00:21:58.579 that because 00:21:58.579 --> 00:21:59.339 he has made 00:21:59.339 --> 00:22:00.200 it far, 00:22:00.399 --> 00:22:01.259 far more 00:22:01.259 --> 00:22:01.899 significant 00:22:01.899 --> 00:22:03.399 than that. 00:22:05.259 --> 00:22:05.980 For those 00:22:05.980 --> 00:22:06.420 of you who 00:22:06.420 --> 00:22:07.859 aren't married 00:22:07.859 --> 00:22:08.779 and for those 00:22:08.779 --> 00:22:09.180 of you who 00:22:09.180 --> 00:22:09.759 are married, 00:22:10.480 --> 00:22:10.819 another 00:22:10.819 --> 00:22:11.720 implication of 00:22:11.720 --> 00:22:13.119 this is to 00:22:13.119 --> 00:22:14.240 recognize that 00:22:14.240 --> 00:22:16.299 the physical 00:22:16.299 --> 00:22:17.200 union of 00:22:17.200 --> 00:22:18.019 sex is 00:22:18.019 --> 00:22:18.480 meant to be 00:22:18.480 --> 00:22:19.259 a consummation 00:22:19.259 --> 00:22:19.940 of a marriage 00:22:19.940 --> 00:22:20.639 relationship. 00:22:22.019 --> 00:22:22.759 And so it's 00:22:22.759 --> 00:22:23.700 really significant. 00:22:25.379 --> 00:22:25.960 And adultery 00:22:25.960 --> 00:22:26.859 is a rending 00:22:26.859 --> 00:22:27.639 of that. 00:22:29.639 --> 00:22:30.579 And sexual 00:22:30.579 --> 00:22:31.439 union outside 00:22:31.439 --> 00:22:32.219 of marriage 00:22:32.219 --> 00:22:33.699 is a violation 00:22:33.699 --> 00:22:34.339 of God's 00:22:34.339 --> 00:22:35.219 intended purpose 00:22:35.219 --> 00:22:35.819 for that. 00:22:39.179 --> 00:22:40.099 We need to 00:22:40.099 --> 00:22:41.139 recognize that 00:22:41.139 --> 00:22:42.379 this is meant 00:22:42.379 --> 00:22:43.279 to be a hole 00:22:43.279 --> 00:22:44.139 for us 00:22:44.139 --> 00:22:45.479 in God's 00:22:45.479 --> 00:22:45.799 kingdom. 00:22:47.079 --> 00:22:48.000 And again, 00:22:48.079 --> 00:22:48.619 to recognize 00:22:48.619 --> 00:22:49.139 that our 00:22:49.139 --> 00:22:50.319 selfish use 00:22:50.319 --> 00:22:51.219 of our 00:22:51.219 --> 00:22:52.159 physical bodies 00:22:52.159 --> 00:22:52.899 with other 00:22:52.899 --> 00:22:53.859 people outside 00:22:53.859 --> 00:22:54.699 of marriage 00:22:54.700 --> 00:22:56.480 is not 00:22:56.480 --> 00:22:57.240 characteristic 00:22:57.240 --> 00:22:57.940 of God's 00:22:57.940 --> 00:22:58.220 kingdom. 00:23:00.480 --> 00:23:01.279 God wants 00:23:01.279 --> 00:23:01.799 us to count 00:23:01.799 --> 00:23:02.519 the cost 00:23:02.519 --> 00:23:03.480 of living 00:23:03.480 --> 00:23:03.819 in his 00:23:03.819 --> 00:23:04.160 kingdom 00:23:04.160 --> 00:23:05.700 and pursue 00:23:05.700 --> 00:23:07.420 sexual purity 00:23:07.420 --> 00:23:08.140 in our 00:23:08.140 --> 00:23:08.640 lives. 00:23:11.759 --> 00:23:12.279 Finally, 00:23:12.480 --> 00:23:13.000 why is this 00:23:13.000 --> 00:23:13.539 so important 00:23:13.539 --> 00:23:14.120 to God? 00:23:15.580 --> 00:23:16.120 Well, 00:23:16.740 --> 00:23:17.160 you should read 00:23:17.160 --> 00:23:17.720 the book of 00:23:17.720 --> 00:23:18.220 Hosea. 00:23:19.340 --> 00:23:19.819 It'll talk 00:23:19.819 --> 00:23:20.340 about how 00:23:20.340 --> 00:23:21.400 faithful God 00:23:21.400 --> 00:23:22.539 is to his 00:23:22.539 --> 00:23:23.299 promises to 00:23:23.299 --> 00:23:23.799 his people, 00:23:24.019 --> 00:23:24.799 even in the 00:23:24.799 --> 00:23:25.759 face of 00:23:25.759 --> 00:23:26.579 unfaithfulness. 00:23:27.279 --> 00:23:27.859 Even he 00:23:27.859 --> 00:23:28.559 talks about 00:23:28.559 --> 00:23:29.200 his people 00:23:29.200 --> 00:23:29.799 as being 00:23:29.799 --> 00:23:31.740 prostituting 00:23:31.740 --> 00:23:33.139 spiritual 00:23:33.139 --> 00:23:35.440 people who 00:23:35.440 --> 00:23:36.259 run around 00:23:36.259 --> 00:23:36.919 and sleep 00:23:36.919 --> 00:23:37.359 with other 00:23:37.359 --> 00:23:38.519 gods spiritually. 00:23:39.839 --> 00:23:40.740 And yet, 00:23:40.879 --> 00:23:41.200 in it, 00:23:41.259 --> 00:23:41.659 there's this 00:23:41.659 --> 00:23:42.339 picture of a 00:23:42.339 --> 00:23:43.200 God who 00:23:43.200 --> 00:23:44.740 relentlessly 00:23:44.740 --> 00:23:46.659 pursues his 00:23:46.659 --> 00:23:47.399 people. 00:23:47.799 --> 00:23:48.480 He will be 00:23:48.480 --> 00:23:49.180 faithful to 00:23:49.180 --> 00:23:50.059 his promises 00:23:50.059 --> 00:23:51.299 to pursue 00:23:51.299 --> 00:23:52.480 his love 00:23:52.480 --> 00:23:52.759 that he 00:23:52.759 --> 00:23:53.180 has set 00:23:53.180 --> 00:23:53.620 on his 00:23:53.620 --> 00:23:54.019 people. 00:23:55.180 --> 00:23:55.960 And marriage 00:23:55.960 --> 00:23:56.779 is meant 00:23:56.779 --> 00:23:57.740 to be a 00:23:57.740 --> 00:23:58.059 physical 00:23:58.059 --> 00:23:58.920 picture of 00:23:58.920 --> 00:24:00.059 that in 00:24:00.059 --> 00:24:00.579 the world. 00:24:02.599 --> 00:24:03.079 So, 00:24:03.160 --> 00:24:03.640 Jesus says, 00:24:03.779 --> 00:24:04.660 this is what 00:24:04.660 --> 00:24:05.240 it looks like 00:24:05.240 --> 00:24:05.660 in the 00:24:05.660 --> 00:24:06.079 kingdom as 00:24:06.079 --> 00:24:06.400 we think 00:24:06.400 --> 00:24:07.120 about marriage. 00:24:07.920 --> 00:24:08.299 And then he 00:24:08.299 --> 00:24:08.819 goes on, 00:24:09.120 --> 00:24:09.460 he talks 00:24:09.460 --> 00:24:11.079 about oaths. 00:24:12.299 --> 00:24:12.920 Go back 00:24:12.920 --> 00:24:13.360 to Matthew 00:24:13.360 --> 00:24:13.819 6, 00:24:13.980 --> 00:24:14.299 if you're, 00:24:14.819 --> 00:24:15.200 or Matthew 00:24:15.200 --> 00:24:15.740 5, 00:24:16.200 --> 00:24:16.700 starting in 00:24:16.700 --> 00:24:17.360 verse 33. 00:24:17.759 --> 00:24:17.980 Now, 00:24:18.059 --> 00:24:18.380 I don't know 00:24:18.380 --> 00:24:18.819 how many of 00:24:18.819 --> 00:24:19.259 you grew up 00:24:19.259 --> 00:24:19.759 with the 00:24:19.759 --> 00:24:20.220 King James 00:24:20.220 --> 00:24:20.579 Bible, 00:24:20.740 --> 00:24:23.839 but you 00:24:23.839 --> 00:24:24.819 even see 00:24:24.819 --> 00:24:25.259 it here 00:24:25.259 --> 00:24:26.539 in verse 00:24:26.539 --> 00:24:27.019 33. 00:24:27.400 --> 00:24:27.660 And you've 00:24:27.660 --> 00:24:27.960 heard it 00:24:27.960 --> 00:24:29.180 said to 00:24:29.180 --> 00:24:29.579 those of 00:24:29.579 --> 00:24:29.980 old, 00:24:30.339 --> 00:24:30.640 you shall 00:24:30.640 --> 00:24:31.259 not swear 00:24:31.259 --> 00:24:31.960 falsely. 00:24:33.059 --> 00:24:33.660 When I was 00:24:33.660 --> 00:24:34.019 growing up, 00:24:34.039 --> 00:24:34.539 the only part 00:24:34.539 --> 00:24:34.900 of that I 00:24:34.900 --> 00:24:35.279 ever heard 00:24:35.279 --> 00:24:35.460 was, 00:24:35.559 --> 00:24:35.799 you should 00:24:35.799 --> 00:24:36.500 not swear, 00:24:37.059 --> 00:24:37.359 which I 00:24:37.359 --> 00:24:37.740 thought meant 00:24:37.740 --> 00:24:38.519 don't curse, 00:24:38.879 --> 00:24:39.339 don't use 00:24:39.339 --> 00:24:40.220 foul language 00:24:40.220 --> 00:24:40.759 towards other 00:24:40.759 --> 00:24:41.160 people, 00:24:41.319 --> 00:24:41.920 because that's 00:24:41.920 --> 00:24:42.619 ungodly, 00:24:42.980 --> 00:24:44.099 that's bad, 00:24:44.299 --> 00:24:44.839 don't do 00:24:44.839 --> 00:24:45.220 that. 00:24:45.500 --> 00:24:45.859 I thought 00:24:45.859 --> 00:24:46.299 it was just 00:24:46.299 --> 00:24:46.839 about not 00:24:46.839 --> 00:24:47.679 having a 00:24:47.679 --> 00:24:48.339 clean mouth 00:24:48.339 --> 00:24:48.799 instead of 00:24:48.799 --> 00:24:49.119 having a 00:24:49.119 --> 00:24:49.639 potty mouth. 00:24:50.919 --> 00:24:51.500 But it's 00:24:51.500 --> 00:24:51.980 not that 00:24:51.980 --> 00:24:52.500 at all. 00:24:53.919 --> 00:24:54.740 Right here, 00:24:55.279 --> 00:24:55.879 what he's 00:24:55.879 --> 00:24:56.279 talking about 00:24:56.279 --> 00:24:56.679 is making 00:24:56.679 --> 00:24:57.339 an oath, 00:24:58.539 --> 00:25:00.459 making a 00:25:00.459 --> 00:25:01.159 promise, 00:25:01.619 --> 00:25:02.459 or swearing 00:25:02.459 --> 00:25:03.679 by something 00:25:03.679 --> 00:25:04.599 in two 00:25:04.599 --> 00:25:05.059 contexts. 00:25:05.179 --> 00:25:05.359 One, 00:25:05.459 --> 00:25:05.759 when you're 00:25:05.759 --> 00:25:06.159 publicly 00:25:06.159 --> 00:25:07.019 testifying, 00:25:07.259 --> 00:25:07.459 right? 00:25:07.799 --> 00:25:08.419 So if you 00:25:08.419 --> 00:25:08.759 go into 00:25:08.759 --> 00:25:09.339 a courtroom, 00:25:09.619 --> 00:25:10.199 I swear to 00:25:10.199 --> 00:25:10.659 tell the 00:25:10.659 --> 00:25:10.819 truth, 00:25:10.859 --> 00:25:11.059 the whole 00:25:11.059 --> 00:25:11.279 truth, 00:25:11.359 --> 00:25:11.720 nothing but 00:25:11.720 --> 00:25:12.000 the truth, 00:25:12.059 --> 00:25:12.339 so help 00:25:12.339 --> 00:25:12.659 me God, 00:25:12.740 --> 00:25:12.879 right? 00:25:12.919 --> 00:25:13.139 You put 00:25:13.139 --> 00:25:13.419 your hand 00:25:13.419 --> 00:25:13.639 on a 00:25:13.639 --> 00:25:13.859 Bible, 00:25:13.980 --> 00:25:14.139 you put 00:25:14.139 --> 00:25:14.439 your hand 00:25:14.439 --> 00:25:14.659 up in 00:25:14.659 --> 00:25:14.939 the air, 00:25:15.119 --> 00:25:15.579 and you 00:25:15.579 --> 00:25:16.740 swear that 00:25:16.740 --> 00:25:16.980 you're 00:25:16.980 --> 00:25:17.339 going to 00:25:17.339 --> 00:25:18.559 testify that 00:25:18.559 --> 00:25:18.940 what you 00:25:18.940 --> 00:25:19.519 are saying 00:25:19.519 --> 00:25:20.180 is true. 00:25:21.299 --> 00:25:22.539 Or the 00:25:22.539 --> 00:25:23.620 other time 00:25:23.620 --> 00:25:24.279 is sometimes 00:25:24.279 --> 00:25:25.680 we use it 00:25:25.680 --> 00:25:26.279 to try to 00:25:26.279 --> 00:25:27.000 give greater 00:25:27.000 --> 00:25:27.460 weight to 00:25:27.460 --> 00:25:28.019 a promise. 00:25:28.200 --> 00:25:28.620 I swear 00:25:28.620 --> 00:25:28.880 in my 00:25:28.880 --> 00:25:29.220 mother's 00:25:29.220 --> 00:25:29.559 grave, 00:25:29.680 --> 00:25:30.120 I'll be 00:25:30.120 --> 00:25:30.539 there. 00:25:31.880 --> 00:25:32.240 Right? 00:25:34.240 --> 00:25:35.019 Sometimes we 00:25:35.019 --> 00:25:35.480 even vote 00:25:35.480 --> 00:25:35.859 God, 00:25:36.200 --> 00:25:37.160 by God, 00:25:37.259 --> 00:25:38.079 I promise 00:25:38.079 --> 00:25:38.720 I will be 00:25:38.720 --> 00:25:39.140 there. 00:25:40.680 --> 00:25:41.279 And when 00:25:41.279 --> 00:25:41.759 we say it 00:25:41.759 --> 00:25:42.160 that way, 00:25:42.240 --> 00:25:42.579 what we 00:25:42.579 --> 00:25:43.299 mean is, 00:25:43.680 --> 00:25:44.039 in the 00:25:44.039 --> 00:25:44.579 old-fashioned 00:25:44.579 --> 00:25:45.140 sense of 00:25:45.140 --> 00:25:45.319 it, 00:25:45.319 --> 00:25:46.839 may God 00:25:46.839 --> 00:25:47.500 judge me 00:25:47.500 --> 00:25:48.839 if I 00:25:48.839 --> 00:25:49.279 do not 00:25:49.279 --> 00:25:49.679 do what 00:25:49.679 --> 00:25:50.019 I say 00:25:50.019 --> 00:25:50.379 I'm going 00:25:50.379 --> 00:25:50.720 to do. 00:25:51.019 --> 00:25:51.579 It's calling 00:25:51.579 --> 00:25:52.099 God as 00:25:52.099 --> 00:25:52.720 a witness. 00:25:54.200 --> 00:25:54.539 And so you 00:25:54.539 --> 00:25:55.000 see this in 00:25:55.000 --> 00:25:55.279 the Old 00:25:55.279 --> 00:25:55.919 Testament at 00:25:55.919 --> 00:25:56.319 times. 00:25:56.700 --> 00:25:57.079 You see 00:25:57.079 --> 00:25:57.899 people making 00:25:57.899 --> 00:25:58.579 oaths, 00:25:59.079 --> 00:25:59.519 you see 00:25:59.519 --> 00:26:00.480 them swearing 00:26:00.480 --> 00:26:01.099 even by 00:26:01.099 --> 00:26:01.559 the name 00:26:01.559 --> 00:26:02.139 of God. 00:26:03.720 --> 00:26:04.299 In fact, 00:26:04.379 --> 00:26:04.939 this is what 00:26:04.939 --> 00:26:05.960 the third 00:26:05.960 --> 00:26:06.559 commandment is 00:26:06.559 --> 00:26:06.960 about in 00:26:06.960 --> 00:26:07.779 Exodus 20 00:26:07.779 --> 00:26:08.439 verse 7. 00:26:08.439 --> 00:26:09.039 You shall 00:26:09.039 --> 00:26:09.579 not take the 00:26:09.579 --> 00:26:10.039 Lord's name 00:26:10.039 --> 00:26:10.460 in vain. 00:26:10.599 --> 00:26:10.859 Again, 00:26:11.119 --> 00:26:11.960 most of the 00:26:11.960 --> 00:26:12.240 time I 00:26:12.240 --> 00:26:12.619 thought that 00:26:12.619 --> 00:26:12.980 just meant 00:26:12.980 --> 00:26:13.759 don't curse, 00:26:13.759 --> 00:26:14.940 don't use 00:26:14.940 --> 00:26:15.660 Jesus' name 00:26:15.660 --> 00:26:16.000 when you 00:26:16.000 --> 00:26:16.559 stubbed your 00:26:16.559 --> 00:26:16.940 toe and 00:26:16.940 --> 00:26:17.319 you're really 00:26:17.319 --> 00:26:17.799 angry. 00:26:19.240 --> 00:26:19.740 Right? 00:26:20.240 --> 00:26:21.000 But what 00:26:21.000 --> 00:26:21.559 he's actually 00:26:21.559 --> 00:26:22.400 saying is 00:26:22.400 --> 00:26:23.660 don't swear 00:26:23.660 --> 00:26:24.779 by God. 00:26:25.279 --> 00:26:25.720 Don't 00:26:25.720 --> 00:26:26.799 presume 00:26:26.799 --> 00:26:29.000 to bring 00:26:29.000 --> 00:26:29.839 God in 00:26:29.839 --> 00:26:30.700 and to 00:26:30.700 --> 00:26:31.379 make him 00:26:31.379 --> 00:26:32.539 the guarantor 00:26:32.539 --> 00:26:33.299 that your 00:26:33.299 --> 00:26:34.059 word is 00:26:34.059 --> 00:26:34.559 true. 00:26:38.279 --> 00:26:39.039 There are 00:26:39.039 --> 00:26:39.660 other places, 00:26:39.839 --> 00:26:40.839 Leviticus 19, 00:26:41.379 --> 00:26:42.220 Numbers 30, 00:26:42.339 --> 00:26:43.339 Deuteronomy 31, 00:26:43.339 --> 00:26:43.980 where there 00:26:43.980 --> 00:26:44.259 are other 00:26:44.259 --> 00:26:44.819 places where 00:26:44.819 --> 00:26:45.399 you see 00:26:45.399 --> 00:26:46.259 what Jesus 00:26:46.259 --> 00:26:46.799 is referring 00:26:46.799 --> 00:26:47.159 to in the 00:26:47.159 --> 00:26:47.480 Old Testament 00:26:47.480 --> 00:26:48.159 basically saying 00:26:48.159 --> 00:26:49.079 don't swear 00:26:49.079 --> 00:26:49.480 by the 00:26:49.480 --> 00:26:50.199 Lord falsely. 00:26:50.299 --> 00:26:50.579 If you 00:26:50.579 --> 00:26:51.119 swear by 00:26:51.119 --> 00:26:51.559 the Lord, 00:26:51.659 --> 00:26:52.220 you better 00:26:52.220 --> 00:26:52.679 make sure 00:26:52.679 --> 00:26:53.079 you do 00:26:53.079 --> 00:26:53.980 it because 00:26:53.980 --> 00:26:54.379 otherwise 00:26:54.379 --> 00:26:55.079 God will 00:26:55.079 --> 00:26:55.579 come and 00:26:55.579 --> 00:26:56.000 judge you. 00:26:56.659 --> 00:26:57.059 That's the 00:26:57.059 --> 00:26:58.879 Old Testament 00:26:58.879 --> 00:27:00.240 picture that 00:27:00.240 --> 00:27:00.779 you see. 00:27:03.539 --> 00:27:04.419 But by the 00:27:04.419 --> 00:27:05.159 first century, 00:27:06.319 --> 00:27:07.059 the Jewish 00:27:07.059 --> 00:27:09.099 rabbis, 00:27:09.279 --> 00:27:10.119 the Pharisees 00:27:10.119 --> 00:27:10.919 had developed 00:27:10.920 --> 00:27:12.279 an incredibly 00:27:12.279 --> 00:27:13.279 complex 00:27:13.279 --> 00:27:14.940 system 00:27:14.940 --> 00:27:16.140 by which 00:27:16.140 --> 00:27:16.500 you could 00:27:16.500 --> 00:27:17.080 swear 00:27:17.080 --> 00:27:20.180 by some 00:27:20.180 --> 00:27:21.259 things and 00:27:21.259 --> 00:27:21.620 you'd have 00:27:21.620 --> 00:27:22.200 to do it 00:27:22.200 --> 00:27:22.480 and it 00:27:22.480 --> 00:27:22.840 would mean 00:27:22.840 --> 00:27:23.000 it. 00:27:23.200 --> 00:27:23.980 And you 00:27:23.980 --> 00:27:24.500 could swear 00:27:24.500 --> 00:27:25.039 by other 00:27:25.039 --> 00:27:25.700 things and 00:27:25.700 --> 00:27:26.680 if you did 00:27:26.680 --> 00:27:27.759 it, it's 00:27:27.759 --> 00:27:28.500 okay, but 00:27:28.500 --> 00:27:28.740 if you 00:27:28.740 --> 00:27:29.420 didn't, it's 00:27:29.420 --> 00:27:30.039 okay too. 00:27:30.840 --> 00:27:31.000 Right? 00:27:31.100 --> 00:27:31.600 It's kind of 00:27:31.600 --> 00:27:32.820 like when in 00:27:32.820 --> 00:27:33.360 grade school 00:27:33.360 --> 00:27:33.860 you'd like, 00:27:34.539 --> 00:27:34.900 yeah, I 00:27:34.900 --> 00:27:35.400 promise I'll 00:27:35.400 --> 00:27:35.860 come over to 00:27:35.860 --> 00:27:36.300 your house 00:27:36.299 --> 00:27:37.099 after school 00:27:37.099 --> 00:27:39.559 but I'm 00:27:39.559 --> 00:27:39.859 not going 00:27:39.859 --> 00:27:40.279 to come 00:27:40.279 --> 00:27:40.639 because I 00:27:40.639 --> 00:27:41.079 crossed my 00:27:41.079 --> 00:27:41.740 fingers behind 00:27:41.740 --> 00:27:42.460 my back. 00:27:43.659 --> 00:27:44.099 Right? 00:27:45.000 --> 00:27:46.119 So there 00:27:46.119 --> 00:27:46.519 was this 00:27:46.519 --> 00:27:47.240 whole system 00:27:47.240 --> 00:27:48.240 whereby, and 00:27:48.240 --> 00:27:48.639 it was a 00:27:48.639 --> 00:27:49.240 religiously 00:27:49.240 --> 00:27:50.740 sanctioned 00:27:50.740 --> 00:27:51.359 system whereby 00:27:51.359 --> 00:27:51.799 you could 00:27:51.799 --> 00:27:52.399 swear some 00:27:52.399 --> 00:27:53.079 things and 00:27:53.079 --> 00:27:53.519 you kind of 00:27:53.519 --> 00:27:53.960 had to do 00:27:53.960 --> 00:27:54.279 them but 00:27:54.279 --> 00:27:54.559 then you 00:27:54.559 --> 00:27:54.940 could swear 00:27:54.940 --> 00:27:55.599 other things 00:27:55.599 --> 00:27:56.799 and it 00:27:56.799 --> 00:27:57.220 didn't matter 00:27:57.220 --> 00:27:57.659 if you did 00:27:57.659 --> 00:27:58.279 them or not. 00:27:59.000 --> 00:27:59.419 Right? 00:28:01.899 --> 00:28:02.639 And people 00:28:02.639 --> 00:28:03.659 were selfishly 00:28:03.659 --> 00:28:04.460 using this 00:28:04.460 --> 00:28:05.940 system to 00:28:05.940 --> 00:28:06.820 manipulate their 00:28:06.820 --> 00:28:07.420 words with 00:28:07.420 --> 00:28:08.480 others in 00:28:08.480 --> 00:28:08.980 order to get 00:28:08.980 --> 00:28:09.320 what they 00:28:09.320 --> 00:28:09.980 wanted, in 00:28:09.980 --> 00:28:10.380 order to 00:28:10.380 --> 00:28:11.700 manage their 00:28:11.700 --> 00:28:12.480 life so that 00:28:12.480 --> 00:28:12.940 they wouldn't 00:28:12.940 --> 00:28:13.539 be over 00:28:13.539 --> 00:28:13.960 committed. 00:28:14.340 --> 00:28:14.740 They wouldn't 00:28:14.740 --> 00:28:15.360 lose their 00:28:15.360 --> 00:28:15.940 freedom by 00:28:15.940 --> 00:28:16.860 actually having 00:28:16.860 --> 00:28:17.380 to follow 00:28:17.380 --> 00:28:18.559 through with 00:28:18.559 --> 00:28:19.200 the things 00:28:19.200 --> 00:28:19.640 that they 00:28:19.640 --> 00:28:20.080 said. 00:28:23.360 --> 00:28:24.180 And that's 00:28:24.180 --> 00:28:24.779 why Jesus 00:28:24.779 --> 00:28:26.299 says, but 00:28:26.299 --> 00:28:27.120 I tell you, 00:28:28.019 --> 00:28:28.500 don't make 00:28:28.500 --> 00:28:28.900 an oath at 00:28:28.900 --> 00:28:29.220 all. 00:28:30.000 --> 00:28:30.400 Let your 00:28:30.400 --> 00:28:31.220 yes be 00:28:31.220 --> 00:28:32.279 yes and 00:28:32.279 --> 00:28:33.340 your no be 00:28:33.340 --> 00:28:33.539 no. 00:28:33.600 --> 00:28:34.080 It doesn't 00:28:34.080 --> 00:28:34.600 matter what 00:28:34.600 --> 00:28:35.100 you swear 00:28:35.100 --> 00:28:35.500 by. 00:28:35.500 --> 00:28:36.240 And part 00:28:36.240 --> 00:28:36.559 of what he's 00:28:36.559 --> 00:28:37.019 getting at 00:28:37.019 --> 00:28:37.900 is if you 00:28:37.900 --> 00:28:38.799 swear by the 00:28:38.799 --> 00:28:39.259 throne of 00:28:39.259 --> 00:28:39.740 God, you're 00:28:39.740 --> 00:28:40.720 swearing by 00:28:40.720 --> 00:28:41.319 God himself. 00:28:41.619 --> 00:28:41.900 If you 00:28:41.900 --> 00:28:42.880 swear by 00:28:42.880 --> 00:28:43.960 earth, well 00:28:43.960 --> 00:28:44.559 that's no 00:28:44.559 --> 00:28:45.160 better because 00:28:45.160 --> 00:28:45.819 the earth is 00:28:45.819 --> 00:28:46.660 God's footstool. 00:28:46.779 --> 00:28:47.539 If you swear by 00:28:47.539 --> 00:28:48.640 Jerusalem, well 00:28:48.640 --> 00:28:49.279 that's no better 00:28:49.279 --> 00:28:50.039 because that's the 00:28:50.039 --> 00:28:50.480 city of the 00:28:50.480 --> 00:28:50.720 king. 00:28:50.839 --> 00:28:51.480 If you swear by 00:28:51.480 --> 00:28:53.240 your own head, 00:28:53.759 --> 00:28:54.480 the fact is you 00:28:54.480 --> 00:28:55.140 don't have any 00:28:55.140 --> 00:28:55.859 sovereignty over 00:28:55.859 --> 00:28:56.500 your own head. 00:28:56.660 --> 00:28:57.400 God is the 00:28:57.400 --> 00:28:58.279 one who makes 00:28:58.279 --> 00:28:59.000 your hair white 00:28:59.000 --> 00:28:59.619 or black or 00:28:59.619 --> 00:29:00.240 brown or whatever 00:29:00.240 --> 00:29:00.819 it is. 00:29:01.680 --> 00:29:02.039 And so no 00:29:02.039 --> 00:29:02.819 matter what you're 00:29:02.819 --> 00:29:03.779 swearing by in 00:29:03.779 --> 00:29:04.480 this world, 00:29:04.920 --> 00:29:06.399 ultimately you're 00:29:06.399 --> 00:29:07.539 swearing by God. 00:29:09.240 --> 00:29:10.099 And Jesus 00:29:10.099 --> 00:29:12.220 says, in my 00:29:12.220 --> 00:29:13.099 kingdom you 00:29:13.099 --> 00:29:14.579 should not 00:29:14.579 --> 00:29:15.160 need to 00:29:15.160 --> 00:29:16.779 swear by God 00:29:16.779 --> 00:29:17.720 because you 00:29:17.720 --> 00:29:18.899 can simply let 00:29:18.899 --> 00:29:20.180 your yes be 00:29:20.180 --> 00:29:21.559 yes and your 00:29:21.559 --> 00:29:23.519 no be no. 00:29:23.519 --> 00:29:23.579 no. 00:29:29.799 --> 00:29:30.759 How hard is 00:29:30.759 --> 00:29:33.599 this for us to 00:29:33.599 --> 00:29:34.359 let our yes be 00:29:34.359 --> 00:29:35.259 yes and our no 00:29:35.259 --> 00:29:35.900 be no? 00:29:37.119 --> 00:29:37.759 When you make a 00:29:37.759 --> 00:29:38.639 promise to meet 00:29:38.639 --> 00:29:39.559 someone for lunch 00:29:39.559 --> 00:29:40.559 and it becomes 00:29:40.559 --> 00:29:43.660 inconvenient, how 00:29:43.660 --> 00:29:44.639 hard do you work 00:29:44.639 --> 00:29:45.420 to keep your 00:29:45.420 --> 00:29:45.819 appointment? 00:29:48.740 --> 00:29:49.720 I know this is 00:29:49.720 --> 00:29:50.519 unlikely in our 00:29:50.519 --> 00:29:51.879 current economic 00:29:51.879 --> 00:29:52.980 culture, but if you 00:29:52.980 --> 00:29:53.799 have two job 00:29:53.799 --> 00:29:54.980 offers, do you 00:29:54.980 --> 00:29:56.059 play them along 00:29:56.059 --> 00:29:56.799 for a while to 00:29:56.799 --> 00:29:57.319 figure out how 00:29:57.319 --> 00:29:58.000 you can get the 00:29:58.000 --> 00:30:00.519 best deal out of 00:30:00.519 --> 00:30:00.740 it? 00:30:07.819 --> 00:30:09.140 How quick are 00:30:09.140 --> 00:30:10.000 you to make 00:30:10.000 --> 00:30:11.579 sure that when 00:30:11.579 --> 00:30:12.599 people say things 00:30:12.599 --> 00:30:14.860 about you that 00:30:14.860 --> 00:30:15.680 sound good but 00:30:15.680 --> 00:30:16.640 may not be true, 00:30:16.819 --> 00:30:17.480 that you are 00:30:17.480 --> 00:30:18.440 willing to 00:30:18.440 --> 00:30:20.059 clarify to make 00:30:20.059 --> 00:30:21.860 sure that your 00:30:21.860 --> 00:30:22.880 presentation of 00:30:22.880 --> 00:30:25.140 truth is consistent 00:30:25.140 --> 00:30:25.760 and real? 00:30:30.160 --> 00:30:31.040 How about your 00:30:31.040 --> 00:30:31.760 big promises? 00:30:32.960 --> 00:30:33.740 Things like 00:30:33.740 --> 00:30:35.940 marriage, things 00:30:35.940 --> 00:30:37.940 like financial 00:30:37.940 --> 00:30:38.820 commitments to 00:30:38.820 --> 00:30:39.500 other people. 00:30:42.500 --> 00:30:43.440 I'll pay my 00:30:43.440 --> 00:30:43.920 bills. 00:30:44.540 --> 00:30:45.100 Part of that is 00:30:45.100 --> 00:30:45.660 because you've 00:30:45.660 --> 00:30:47.160 made a promise in 00:30:47.160 --> 00:30:47.680 some ways. 00:30:47.680 --> 00:30:49.039 I get a service 00:30:49.039 --> 00:30:49.779 from you and I'm 00:30:49.779 --> 00:30:50.519 going to pay you. 00:30:52.019 --> 00:30:52.840 I'm going to do 00:30:52.840 --> 00:30:54.759 everything I can to 00:30:54.759 --> 00:30:55.620 follow through to be 00:30:55.620 --> 00:30:57.860 a person whose word 00:30:57.860 --> 00:30:59.860 is trustworthy in 00:30:59.860 --> 00:31:00.140 that. 00:31:06.920 --> 00:31:08.340 When we follow this, 00:31:08.420 --> 00:31:09.299 we need to recognize 00:31:09.299 --> 00:31:11.019 that it's costly, 00:31:11.340 --> 00:31:12.000 isn't it? 00:31:12.320 --> 00:31:13.620 It's costly to keep 00:31:13.620 --> 00:31:14.759 our marriage vows no 00:31:14.759 --> 00:31:15.299 matter what. 00:31:15.299 --> 00:31:16.980 It's costly to keep 00:31:16.980 --> 00:31:18.480 our word no 00:31:18.480 --> 00:31:19.099 matter what. 00:31:20.019 --> 00:31:21.240 It's costly for me 00:31:21.240 --> 00:31:22.019 to say to my 00:31:22.019 --> 00:31:22.960 young son, 00:31:24.740 --> 00:31:25.779 yes, Eli, I will 00:31:25.779 --> 00:31:27.000 play pirates with 00:31:27.000 --> 00:31:27.960 you and to put 00:31:27.960 --> 00:31:28.599 everything else 00:31:28.599 --> 00:31:29.460 aside, all the 00:31:29.460 --> 00:31:30.059 other things I 00:31:30.059 --> 00:31:30.759 hope to do that 00:31:30.759 --> 00:31:31.559 day, all the 00:31:31.559 --> 00:31:32.200 other things I 00:31:32.200 --> 00:31:32.879 think I need to 00:31:32.879 --> 00:31:33.619 do that day, 00:31:33.960 --> 00:31:35.180 and simply to be 00:31:35.180 --> 00:31:36.099 with him because I 00:31:36.099 --> 00:31:36.819 told him that I 00:31:36.819 --> 00:31:37.220 would be. 00:31:37.220 --> 00:31:37.259 I would be. 00:31:37.259 --> 00:31:43.420 Why does Jesus 00:31:43.420 --> 00:31:44.420 care about this so 00:31:44.420 --> 00:31:44.740 much? 00:31:46.259 --> 00:31:48.339 Well, because he 00:31:48.339 --> 00:31:49.019 wants us to be 00:31:49.019 --> 00:31:50.319 characteristic of us 00:31:50.319 --> 00:31:51.619 in his kingdom 00:31:51.619 --> 00:31:52.339 because it's 00:31:52.339 --> 00:31:53.960 characteristic of 00:31:53.960 --> 00:31:54.319 him. 00:31:57.119 --> 00:31:58.539 In 2 Corinthians 00:31:58.539 --> 00:31:59.980 chapter 1, the 00:31:59.980 --> 00:32:02.200 apostle Paul is 00:32:02.200 --> 00:32:03.599 writing to the 00:32:03.599 --> 00:32:05.400 church in 00:32:05.400 --> 00:32:07.280 Corinth, and 00:32:07.280 --> 00:32:07.900 they've accused 00:32:07.900 --> 00:32:08.340 him of 00:32:08.340 --> 00:32:08.860 waffling. 00:32:09.480 --> 00:32:09.800 Are you 00:32:09.800 --> 00:32:10.340 coming or 00:32:10.340 --> 00:32:10.720 are you not 00:32:10.720 --> 00:32:11.060 coming? 00:32:11.140 --> 00:32:11.380 Are you 00:32:11.380 --> 00:32:11.800 coming or 00:32:11.800 --> 00:32:12.080 are you not 00:32:12.080 --> 00:32:12.440 coming? 00:32:13.540 --> 00:32:14.280 He said, I 00:32:14.280 --> 00:32:14.920 am coming. 00:32:15.120 --> 00:32:15.500 I'm doing 00:32:15.500 --> 00:32:16.180 everything. 00:32:18.900 --> 00:32:19.980 Verse 17, he 00:32:19.980 --> 00:32:20.580 says, what is I 00:32:20.580 --> 00:32:21.680 vacillating when I 00:32:21.680 --> 00:32:22.600 wanted to do this? 00:32:22.740 --> 00:32:23.640 Do I make plans 00:32:23.640 --> 00:32:24.400 according to my 00:32:24.400 --> 00:32:25.540 flesh and say yes, 00:32:25.660 --> 00:32:27.000 yes, and no, no, 00:32:27.060 --> 00:32:28.100 at the same time? 00:32:29.100 --> 00:32:30.620 As surely as God 00:32:30.620 --> 00:32:31.700 is faithful, our 00:32:31.700 --> 00:32:32.620 word to you has 00:32:32.620 --> 00:32:34.280 not been yes and 00:32:34.279 --> 00:32:34.660 no. 00:32:34.899 --> 00:32:35.799 For the Son of 00:32:35.799 --> 00:32:37.000 God, Jesus Christ, 00:32:37.079 --> 00:32:37.960 whom we proclaimed 00:32:37.960 --> 00:32:39.180 among you, Silvanus 00:32:39.180 --> 00:32:40.099 and Timothy and I, 00:32:40.559 --> 00:32:41.819 was not yes and no, 00:32:41.940 --> 00:32:43.660 but in him it is 00:32:43.660 --> 00:32:45.119 always yes. 00:32:46.059 --> 00:32:47.099 For all the 00:32:47.099 --> 00:32:48.220 promises of God 00:32:48.220 --> 00:32:50.139 find their yes in 00:32:50.139 --> 00:32:50.539 him. 00:32:51.119 --> 00:32:52.940 That is why it is 00:32:52.940 --> 00:32:53.799 through him that we 00:32:53.799 --> 00:32:55.000 utter our amen to 00:32:55.000 --> 00:32:57.579 God for his glory. 00:33:00.139 --> 00:33:01.680 Friends, this is why 00:33:01.680 --> 00:33:02.899 it's so important for 00:33:02.900 --> 00:33:04.560 God's people in God's 00:33:04.560 --> 00:33:05.840 kingdom to be people 00:33:05.840 --> 00:33:07.519 who keep their word 00:33:07.519 --> 00:33:09.259 because we follow a 00:33:09.259 --> 00:33:10.620 God who has kept his 00:33:10.620 --> 00:33:11.000 word. 00:33:11.560 --> 00:33:12.600 And he has kept his 00:33:12.600 --> 00:33:14.519 word by promising to 00:33:14.519 --> 00:33:16.560 redeem for himself a 00:33:16.560 --> 00:33:18.200 people from every tribe 00:33:18.200 --> 00:33:19.380 and tongue and nation. 00:33:20.800 --> 00:33:21.700 If you listen to the 00:33:21.700 --> 00:33:23.440 scripture from 1 Peter 00:33:23.440 --> 00:33:24.560 that was read earlier, 00:33:24.940 --> 00:33:25.900 that God was going to 00:33:25.900 --> 00:33:28.580 gather people from every 00:33:28.580 --> 00:33:29.740 tribe and nation not 00:33:29.740 --> 00:33:30.640 because they were 00:33:30.640 --> 00:33:34.180 righteous, but because 00:33:34.180 --> 00:33:35.480 they were sinful people. 00:33:36.120 --> 00:33:37.640 And in gathering them 00:33:37.640 --> 00:33:39.539 to be his people, he 00:33:39.539 --> 00:33:40.700 knew that he could not 00:33:40.700 --> 00:33:42.099 simply overlook their 00:33:42.099 --> 00:33:43.620 sin for that would be 00:33:43.620 --> 00:33:44.940 not keeping his word 00:33:44.940 --> 00:33:47.539 because his word is that 00:33:47.539 --> 00:33:49.400 sin must be punished, that 00:33:49.400 --> 00:33:51.700 evil must be dealt 00:33:51.700 --> 00:33:52.180 with. 00:33:52.180 --> 00:33:56.200 But he counted the cost of 00:33:56.200 --> 00:33:57.440 that promise that he 00:33:57.440 --> 00:33:57.900 made. 00:33:58.660 --> 00:34:00.200 And he sent his own son, 00:34:00.320 --> 00:34:01.160 Jesus Christ. 00:34:01.740 --> 00:34:03.580 And in Jesus Christ, all 00:34:03.580 --> 00:34:05.500 the promises, the promise 00:34:05.500 --> 00:34:07.299 to punish sin, the promise 00:34:07.299 --> 00:34:09.119 to rescue people who are 00:34:09.119 --> 00:34:11.000 sinful and to make them his 00:34:11.000 --> 00:34:11.440 own. 00:34:14.240 --> 00:34:16.599 Those promises are kept in 00:34:16.599 --> 00:34:18.619 Jesus because Jesus came 00:34:18.619 --> 00:34:20.320 and lived the sinless life 00:34:20.320 --> 00:34:21.820 that we couldn't live and 00:34:21.820 --> 00:34:23.200 died the death that we 00:34:23.200 --> 00:34:25.240 deserve for our sin and 00:34:25.240 --> 00:34:28.000 rose from the dead so that 00:34:28.000 --> 00:34:31.840 in him he could both be 00:34:31.840 --> 00:34:36.500 just in punishing sin and 00:34:36.500 --> 00:34:38.140 the justifier, that is, the 00:34:38.140 --> 00:34:41.200 one who welcomes in ungodly 00:34:41.200 --> 00:34:43.740 people and accepts them 00:34:43.740 --> 00:34:45.620 because of what Jesus has 00:34:45.620 --> 00:34:45.960 done. 00:34:45.960 --> 00:34:51.720 He counted the cost, the 00:34:51.720 --> 00:34:54.639 cost of his very own son when 00:34:54.639 --> 00:34:57.900 he set his love on us and 00:34:57.900 --> 00:34:58.860 pursued us. 00:35:01.519 --> 00:35:04.039 He counted the cost and he 00:35:04.039 --> 00:35:08.720 gave Christ for us so that in 00:35:08.720 --> 00:35:11.800 Christ all the promises of God 00:35:11.800 --> 00:35:14.860 might be yes for us. 00:35:17.220 --> 00:35:19.100 And friends, because Jesus has 00:35:19.100 --> 00:35:21.400 paid this price for us, because 00:35:21.400 --> 00:35:23.200 he has given us new life in 00:35:23.200 --> 00:35:26.700 him, because he works then in 00:35:26.700 --> 00:35:29.380 our heart to know God, we are 00:35:29.380 --> 00:35:33.160 able now to count the cost and be 00:35:33.160 --> 00:35:36.160 men and women of our word in our 00:35:36.160 --> 00:35:38.000 marriages and in every other 00:35:38.000 --> 00:35:38.639 context. 00:35:41.219 --> 00:35:41.920 Let's pray. 00:35:49.179 --> 00:35:52.639 God, these are sobering words, for 00:35:52.639 --> 00:35:54.480 they challenge us to think about 00:35:54.480 --> 00:35:58.820 how we live in very practical 00:35:58.820 --> 00:35:59.340 ways. 00:36:00.199 --> 00:36:01.539 God, I pray that you would help 00:36:01.539 --> 00:36:05.699 us, Lord, to think deeply about 00:36:05.699 --> 00:36:07.839 what it really looks like to live 00:36:07.839 --> 00:36:08.399 in your kingdom. 00:36:09.879 --> 00:36:11.879 Lord, I pray you would expose our 00:36:11.879 --> 00:36:14.359 selfishness and the ways that we 00:36:14.359 --> 00:36:16.739 so easily want to live for 00:36:16.739 --> 00:36:17.359 ourselves. 00:36:19.239 --> 00:36:20.779 God, I pray that we would see 00:36:20.779 --> 00:36:23.000 Christ who did not live for 00:36:23.000 --> 00:36:24.799 himself but gave himself up for 00:36:24.799 --> 00:36:29.919 us so that, Lord, we might become 00:36:29.919 --> 00:36:30.339 his. 00:36:30.939 --> 00:36:33.000 And in seeing him, we might know 00:36:33.000 --> 00:36:36.719 how to walk down this path of being 00:36:36.719 --> 00:36:41.440 oath keepers, vow keepers, people 00:36:41.440 --> 00:36:46.300 who pursue your kingdom for your 00:36:46.300 --> 00:36:48.119 glory, for your name's sake. 00:36:49.019 --> 00:36:50.639 We pray this in Jesus' name. 00:36:51.539 --> 00:36:51.780 Amen. 00:36:51.780 --> 00:36:51.880 Amen. 00:36:52.679 --> 00:36:53.119 Amen.