WEBVTT

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 Let's turn to Scripture. Turn with me to Matthew chapter 5, verses 33 through 37.

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 That's page 760 in the Pew Bible, 760. As you know, we're working our way through the Sermon

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 on the Mount this fall, learning what it means to be followers of Jesus. And as we said, this

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 particular section of the Sermon on the Mount that we're in, roughly the second half or the

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 final two-thirds of chapter 5, is about whole life righteousness. Like dye in a fabric that goes

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 the whole way through, Jesus means for our whole lives, inside and out, to be lived in line with

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 His gracious kingdom. So in chapter 5, Jesus gives us a number of examples of what this looks like.

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 And the topic of our text this morning, the area of whole life righteousness that Jesus touches on

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 here today, is integrity of speech, the truthfulness of our words. So I'm going to read the text for us,

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 and then I'll pray, and then we'll consider it together. Let me read Matthew 5, 33 through 37.

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 Again, you have heard that it was said to those of old, you shall not swear falsely,

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 but perform to the Lord what you have sworn. But I say to you, do not take an oath at all,

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 either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by earth, for it is His footstool,

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 or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not take an oath by your head,

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 for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let what you say be simply yes or no. Anything more than

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 this comes from evil. All right, let's pray. Father, would you help us this morning to not

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 just listen to this passage, but to hear it, to internalize it. Give us ears of faith by your

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 Spirit to really hear what you're saying, and give us hearts that are soft to receive

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 what you are saying to us. And through our time meditating on this passage, help us above all

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 to behold your Son, Jesus, in all His beauty, who is the way and the truth and the life,

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 and help us to become more like Him by your grace. In His name we pray. Amen.

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 Well, I wonder, have you ever found yourself wanting to make an oath? Maybe you're telling

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 a true story about something, and, you know, maybe on the surface that story feels a little hard to

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 believe, you know, the proverbial fish you caught on summer vacation or whatever. And you can start

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 to see the incredulity, the kind of doubtful look growing on the face of your friend as you tell this

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 story, and you say almost without thinking, no, I swear it's true. I swear. Or maybe you want to

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 underscore a promise or a commitment that you've made, and you say, I swear I'll be there to pick you

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 up at the airport on time, this time. And of course, sometimes we can insert things to intensify the

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 oath. I swear on my mother's grave. Why is it always your mother's grave? Isn't that weird?

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 I swear on a stack of Bibles, cross my heart, and hope to die.

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 Why do we have this almost natural instinct to kind of underline the truthfulness of what we're saying?

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 To mark it in some way, to bind ourselves to truthfulness at times?

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 Well, I think these questions and that experience that we all have take us right into the heart of our passage.

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 And on the surface, our passage is about oaths.

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 But under the surface, it's really about the difficulty we humans have with speaking truthfully.

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 So by way of outline for our time of thinking about this passage together, we're first going to

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 consider the nature of oaths, and then second, we're going to look at the problem with oaths.

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 And then finally, we're going to consider Jesus' approach to oaths altogether. You know, but the

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 whole time, even though oaths is sort of the surface, this whole time, where we're going to be headed

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 is Jesus' teaching about whole life integrity when it comes to our words, to speaking truthfully.

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 Okay, so first, let's consider the nature of oaths. In verse 33, Jesus says,

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 Again you have heard that it was said to those of old,

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 You shall not swear falsely, but perform to the Lord what you have sworn.

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 Now, we've seen this pattern already in this section of the Sermon on the Mount, haven't we?

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 Jesus starts by quoting an Old Testament passage, then He goes on to speak with authority about what

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 God's law really means and how it applies now in light of His kingdom that's arrived.

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 You've heard it said, but I say to you. And here in our text, Jesus is quoting not just a single

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 passage from the Old Testament, but a combination of a few passages. He's sort of synthesizing them.

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 Passages like Leviticus 19.12, which says,

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 That's God speaking there. Or in Numbers 30, verse 2, which says,

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 Or a little bit of a longer passage, Deuteronomy 23, 21 through 23 says,

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 Okay, so Jesus is synthesizing a number of passages from the Mosaic Law concerning oaths,

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 concerning vows. And you know, as we look across the whole Old Testament, we see that oaths come up

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 actually fairly often. And surprisingly, on the whole, they're considered in a positive light.

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 As we read the story of the Old Testament, we see figures like Abraham or Jacob or Joseph or Hannah

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 or Saul or Ezra or Nehemiah all swearing oaths or making vows.

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 Now, of course, you do see some examples of rash oaths.

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 You know, if you've ever read the book of Judges, there's that terrible scene in Judges 11 with Jephthah,

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 right?

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 But the problem there doesn't seem to be presented as a problem with oaths in general,

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 but with the rash sort of oath that Jephthah made.

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 But perhaps most striking in the Old Testament is not just the number of human characters who make

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 oaths, but the fact that God himself is an oath-making God. He makes oaths, he makes vows,

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 he makes covenants with Noah and with Abraham and with David. God swears to preserve and bless Israel.

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 He promises, he makes an oath to send a Redeemer to raise the Davidic Messiah from the dead.

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 Why does God do all that?

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 Well, in the New Testament book of Hebrews, chapter 6, we read this. It says,

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 When God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of

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 his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, that is,

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 his word and his oath, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might

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 have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast

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 anchor of the soul. So God makes these oaths then, not for God's sake, but for ours. He makes these

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 binding promises for our sake, so that we and our doubts and our fears can have deep assurance

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 that God will do what he says we will do, what he says he will do. So in reading the Old Testament,

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 it seems that oaths weren't necessarily regarded as a bad thing, but they could be misused.

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 We see that as well. When we come to the Old Testament prophets, we see that by the time of

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 the prophets, they were addressing several problems related to oaths and vows that had cropped up in

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 the people of Israel. On the one hand, the prophets attacked the practice of taking oaths in the names

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 of other gods, right? Which, of course, was a stark violation of the first commandment. Remember the

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 first commandment, you shall know other gods before me. So, of course, the prophets were going to rail

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 against the practice of swearing promises by these other false gods. But the prophets also

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 address the problem of oath-breaking and of swearing falsely, that is, making an oath that you really have

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 no intention of keeping or making statements under an oath that are outright lies. So we see that there

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 were some problems that started to creep up in this practice of oath-making. And that leads to our second

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 point. Not just the nature of oaths, but the problem with oaths. Given that Old Testament background, which

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 seems to present oaths in a neutral, maybe even a positive light, it's a bit shocking when Jesus says

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 in verse 34, but I say to you, do not take an oath at all. Now, some Christians have interpreted this verse

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 as a blanket prohibition against every and all kinds of oaths whatsoever. If you look at church history,

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 the Anabaptists in the 16th century, Quakers in the 17th century, were especially known for not taking

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 oaths of any sort. And in the early church as well, many Christians avoided oaths on the basis of Jesus'

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 teaching here. But I think the rest of these verses show us that Jesus' primary concern

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 may not have been to create a new rule against oaths in general, but to address a specific problem

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 with how oaths were being used and abused in his day. Notice how Jesus goes on to say,

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 do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth,

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 for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it's the city of the great king. And don't take an oath

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 by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Interesting, one commentator says,

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 you know, in the ancient world they did have hair dye, you know, so you could sort of make your hair

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 white or black. But we all know Jesus' point, right? You're not actually changing the nature

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 of your hair. Now, what does Jesus mean by all that? Why does he mention all these different things

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 that people might swear by? Well, there's a passage a little later in Matthew's gospel that

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 sheds some light on this. In Matthew chapter 23, Jesus in that chapter is speaking out against the

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 Pharisees, and he's condemning their hypocrisy and their self-righteousness. And in the middle of that

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 chapter, one of the things that Jesus critiques is how the Pharisees had created an elaborate scheme

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 of rules for oath-taking. And this elaborate scheme that they had developed had the effect

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 of creating different levels for how binding an oath would be. Here's what Jesus says in Matthew 23,

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 16 through 22,

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 Woe to you blind gods who say, if anyone swears by the temple, it's nothing. But if anyone swears by the

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 gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath. You blind fools, for which is greater, the gold?

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 Or the temple that has made the gold sacred? And you say, if anyone swears by the altar,

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 it's nothing. But if anyone swears by the gift that's on the altar, he is bound by his oath.

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 You blind men, for which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes it sacred?

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 So everyone who swears by the altar swears by it and everything on it. And whoever swears by the temple

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 swears by it and by him who dwells in it. And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by

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 him who sits on it. So apparently in Jesus' day, if you were to say, swear an oath by the temple,

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 that wasn't as binding as if you swore an oath by the gold in the temple.

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 And if you swore an oath on the basis of the altar, well, that wasn't as binding if you swore

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 by the gift on the altar. So you see, the Pharisees had created a system whereby oaths would be less

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 binding in some instances and more binding in others. They had found a way, like we've seen week

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 after week after week, to minimize the impact, the full weight of God's law about keeping your word.

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 And apparently this practice had become very widespread. There were lots of rash oaths being

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 made because there was this system of gradation. So here was the problem with oaths. The situation

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 in Jesus' day seems to be that oaths were not being used to reinforce the truth, but to shade the truth.

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 Oaths were being made that allowed you to get out of your obligation, not to hold you to it.

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 The very thing that was meant to underscore truthfulness was being used to undermine it.

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 And if you think about it, that very practice of swearing oaths in such a widespread, casual way,

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 what it did was it created two levels of truthfulness.

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 There was one level of truthfulness when people were under an oath, and they have to be truthful.

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 But then there was the rest of the time, there was that other level of truthfulness,

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 sort of patched around by some of these faulty oaths, when people can say whatever they find convenient.

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 But you know, this practice of oaths did something even more dangerous.

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 Not just did it create sort of two levels of truthfulness,

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 it also seemed to communicate that there were some things, there were some words, there were some promises

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 that God was watching over, some things to which we were accountable to God,

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 and then some things where we weren't.

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 If I swear this kind of oath, then I'm really under obligation to God,

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 but if I swear this kind of oath, or if I'm not swearing an oath at all, God's not really involved.

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 But listen again to what Jesus says in our text in Matthew 5.

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 If you swear by heaven, or by earth, or by Jerusalem, or your own head,

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 do you really think you've avoided God?

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 Who made heaven and earth?

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 Who decided that Jerusalem would be His dwelling place?

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 Who created the hairs on your head?

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 God.

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 God is the creator and sustainer of all things.

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 All of our lives, all of our words are lived before Him.

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 Everything we do and say is done in the presence of God.

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 Coram Deo, as the Latin phrase puts it.

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 God hears every word we speak.

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 And the problem with oaths is that it wants to relegate God to a corner.

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 It wants to push God out of our everyday interactions,

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 push Him out of our everyday words, out of our everyday promises,

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 out of our everyday commitments,

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 push God out of our emails, out of our dinnertime conversation,

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 out of our social media posts.

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 Push Him out of those things.

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 But friends, our words in every instance, in every way,

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 are done in the presence of God.

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 And that's why Jesus says in His context,

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 don't take an oath at all.

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 If there's any practice that makes God small,

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 pushes Him to the corner of our lives,

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 gives us the illusion that we can live life

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 without reference to Him,

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 we should abandon it altogether.

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 And that brings us to our third point.

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 What is Jesus' response to oaths?

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 Well, we see it in verse 37.

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 Let what you say be simply yes or no.

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 Anything more than this comes from evil.

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 What Jesus invites us into is the simplicity of living our whole lives before God

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 and letting our words always reflect that reality.

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 If every word we say is spoken in the presence of God,

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 then we can simply let our yes be yes and our no be no.

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 integrity of speech and truthfulness in every situation.

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 What we say, we mean.

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 What we promise, we intend to fulfill.

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 Does this mean Christians should never take a formal oath in court

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 or before taking a public office?

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 Well, some Christians, as I mentioned, have taken that approach.

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 And I think we should respect their conscience in doing so.

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 By the way, I found this out this week,

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 that there's actually, you have a legal right

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 to affirm the truthfulness of your statement

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 and not just to sort of swear an oath by God.

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 And did you know there was actually a U.S. president who did that?

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 Isn't that interesting?

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 We're not sure whether he did it out of deep religious conviction

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 or out of guilt over some of his past mistakes.

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 If you know who that was, you can talk to me afterwards.

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 You'll get a prize.

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 There's a little trivia for you.

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 So some Christians have said,

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 hey, we shouldn't be taking oaths at all.

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 It's just participating in a system

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 that creates two levels of truthfulness

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 and diminishes our words.

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 And I think there's actually some integrity there.

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 On the other hand, you know,

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 most of the Reformers, for example,

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 thought that it was okay for Christians to take oaths

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 under certain circumstances,

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 if they were in a solemn occasion,

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 if occasion called for it,

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 so long as they weren't undermining

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 the very point that Jesus was making in verse 37.

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 Let your yes be yes and your no be no.

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 So frivolous oaths,

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 oaths that were meaningless,

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 this should all be done away with.

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 But a lot of the Reformers felt like

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 oaths still had a place

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 on the basis of that Old Testament picture

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 that we talked about.

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 But I think we all agree

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 that the goal here is to live

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 all of our life before God

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 and to let our speech

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 always be with integrity.

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 So in that case,

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 taking an oath in court

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 or when taking a public office

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 perhaps could be okay.

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 I think that's between your conscience

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 and the Lord.

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 But you know, the principle here

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 doesn't just stop at oaths, right?

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 These formal oaths that still sort of exist

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 in our culture.

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 It's not just about explicit vowels or oaths.

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 This principle goes into every area of our lives.

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 And I think that's really Jesus' point.

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 Let all of your words be spoken

00:19:57.860 --> 00:19:59.820
 with the same level of integrity.

00:20:02.040 --> 00:20:02.940
 So practically,

00:20:03.100 --> 00:20:04.720
 what might this look like for us today?

00:20:05.920 --> 00:20:06.960
 What does truthfulness

00:20:06.960 --> 00:20:08.780
 and integrity of speech look like?

00:20:09.520 --> 00:20:11.220
 Where is it a challenge for us?

00:20:11.220 --> 00:20:15.339
 What areas are we tempted

00:20:15.339 --> 00:20:17.559
 to fall into thinking

00:20:17.559 --> 00:20:19.039
 that there might be two levels

00:20:19.039 --> 00:20:20.640
 of truthfulness that are appropriate?

00:20:22.519 --> 00:20:23.940
 I think social media creates

00:20:23.940 --> 00:20:25.680
 a great temptation in this regard,

00:20:25.740 --> 00:20:26.180
 doesn't it?

00:20:27.319 --> 00:20:29.640
 Are the things that we say online

00:20:29.640 --> 00:20:30.880
 spoken with integrity?

00:20:32.220 --> 00:20:33.720
 Do we say them or write them

00:20:33.720 --> 00:20:35.019
 or post them with the same care

00:20:35.019 --> 00:20:36.279
 and regard for truthfulness

00:20:36.279 --> 00:20:38.000
 that we ought to have

00:20:38.000 --> 00:20:39.759
 as if speaking in the presence of God?

00:20:39.759 --> 00:20:42.359
 And this doesn't just apply

00:20:42.359 --> 00:20:44.720
 to negative speech or criticism, right?

00:20:45.420 --> 00:20:46.839
 How quick we are

00:20:46.839 --> 00:20:49.740
 to flatter and to exaggerate too.

00:20:51.359 --> 00:20:53.279
 This is the most amazing,

00:20:54.019 --> 00:20:56.359
 incredible, beautiful,

00:20:56.640 --> 00:20:57.920
 life-changing,

00:20:58.339 --> 00:20:59.599
 earth-shattering,

00:21:00.099 --> 00:21:01.359
 paradigm-shifting,

00:21:01.759 --> 00:21:03.000
 worldview-shaping

00:21:03.000 --> 00:21:05.519
 ice cream I've ever tried.

00:21:05.519 --> 00:21:06.519
 Really?

00:21:08.980 --> 00:21:09.839
 I mean, did the ice cream

00:21:09.839 --> 00:21:11.240
 actually change your life?

00:21:13.440 --> 00:21:14.900
 But we flatter each other too,

00:21:14.980 --> 00:21:15.339
 don't we?

00:21:15.839 --> 00:21:17.039
 You look so beautiful.

00:21:17.319 --> 00:21:18.400
 You're my best friend.

00:21:18.579 --> 00:21:20.400
 I could never live a day without you.

00:21:21.599 --> 00:21:22.440
 You're the smartest.

00:21:22.639 --> 00:21:23.539
 This is the smartest,

00:21:23.839 --> 00:21:24.259
 wisest,

00:21:24.599 --> 00:21:26.259
 greatest post I've ever read.

00:21:27.900 --> 00:21:28.279
 Really?

00:21:29.019 --> 00:21:30.019
 I mean, would your life

00:21:30.019 --> 00:21:31.039
 actually expire

00:21:31.039 --> 00:21:31.819
 if you did not know

00:21:31.819 --> 00:21:32.440
 that other person?

00:21:33.320 --> 00:21:34.240
 Is it the wisest,

00:21:34.360 --> 00:21:35.799
 most grandiloquent thing

00:21:35.799 --> 00:21:37.019
 you've ever read in your life?

00:21:39.519 --> 00:21:40.640
 Okay, but I think we also

00:21:40.640 --> 00:21:41.779
 need to be discerning as well

00:21:41.779 --> 00:21:42.480
 about the media.

00:21:42.640 --> 00:21:43.279
 We don't just create,

00:21:43.360 --> 00:21:44.580
 but we consume, right?

00:21:45.220 --> 00:21:46.279
 In adult Sunday school

00:21:46.279 --> 00:21:46.960
 a couple weeks ago,

00:21:47.019 --> 00:21:49.039
 Tyler gave an excellent lesson

00:21:49.039 --> 00:21:49.640
 about this.

00:21:49.960 --> 00:21:51.000
 It was earth-shattering.

00:21:51.340 --> 00:21:52.200
 It was paradigm-shifting.

00:21:52.360 --> 00:21:52.559
 No kidding.

00:21:53.400 --> 00:21:54.720
 He gave a really good lesson

00:21:54.720 --> 00:21:55.160
 about this.

00:21:55.220 --> 00:21:55.820
 If you missed it,

00:21:55.860 --> 00:21:56.620
 listen to the podcast.

00:21:56.720 --> 00:21:57.259
 We posted it.

00:21:57.799 --> 00:21:59.600
 You know, the rise of infotainment

00:21:59.599 --> 00:22:01.539
 is a big area culturally

00:22:01.539 --> 00:22:02.859
 where we don't live

00:22:02.859 --> 00:22:04.519
 as if our yes means yes

00:22:04.519 --> 00:22:05.679
 and our no means no.

00:22:07.019 --> 00:22:08.119
 We listen to shows

00:22:08.119 --> 00:22:09.039
 that present themselves

00:22:09.039 --> 00:22:09.899
 as news shows,

00:22:10.039 --> 00:22:11.699
 but these shows bend the truth,

00:22:11.799 --> 00:22:12.799
 they skew the facts,

00:22:12.879 --> 00:22:14.199
 they repeat the same hearsay

00:22:14.199 --> 00:22:15.139
 over and over,

00:22:15.679 --> 00:22:16.599
 and then when challenged

00:22:16.599 --> 00:22:17.159
 about the truth

00:22:17.159 --> 00:22:17.819
 of their statements,

00:22:18.299 --> 00:22:19.219
 the show hosts just say,

00:22:19.299 --> 00:22:20.019
 hey, everyone knows

00:22:20.019 --> 00:22:21.139
 this is just entertainment.

00:22:22.299 --> 00:22:23.259
 Is that how you've

00:22:23.259 --> 00:22:24.000
 presented yourself?

00:22:24.000 --> 00:22:27.279
 And as we kind of

00:22:27.279 --> 00:22:28.279
 consume that stuff

00:22:28.279 --> 00:22:29.619
 and give our implicit yes

00:22:29.619 --> 00:22:30.579
 to that kind of entertainment,

00:22:30.680 --> 00:22:31.480
 it seeps into all

00:22:31.480 --> 00:22:32.420
 of our culture, right?

00:22:32.960 --> 00:22:34.099
 Where we just sit loose

00:22:34.099 --> 00:22:34.779
 to the truth

00:22:34.779 --> 00:22:36.079
 so much of the time

00:22:36.079 --> 00:22:37.640
 and then blame others

00:22:37.640 --> 00:22:38.740
 when we get the facts wrong.

00:22:42.799 --> 00:22:43.420
 But you know,

00:22:43.460 --> 00:22:44.900
 it's easy to point the finger

00:22:44.900 --> 00:22:46.500
 at those out there,

00:22:46.700 --> 00:22:47.099
 isn't it?

00:22:47.880 --> 00:22:48.859
 Are we willing

00:22:48.859 --> 00:22:51.519
 to ask the Holy Spirit

00:22:51.519 --> 00:22:53.920
 to search our own hearts?

00:22:54.000 --> 00:22:56.299
 Are we willing

00:22:56.299 --> 00:22:57.119
 to pray

00:22:57.119 --> 00:22:58.819
 the closing verses

00:22:58.819 --> 00:23:00.880
 of Psalm 139?

00:23:01.880 --> 00:23:02.859
 Search me, O God,

00:23:03.200 --> 00:23:04.160
 and know my heart.

00:23:04.880 --> 00:23:06.339
 Try me and know my thoughts.

00:23:07.000 --> 00:23:07.880
 And see if there be

00:23:07.880 --> 00:23:08.960
 any grievous way in me.

00:23:09.619 --> 00:23:10.220
 And lead me

00:23:10.220 --> 00:23:11.099
 in the way everlasting.

00:23:11.980 --> 00:23:12.380
 Interesting.

00:23:12.480 --> 00:23:12.839
 Do you know how

00:23:12.839 --> 00:23:14.000
 Psalm 139 starts?

00:23:14.799 --> 00:23:15.680
 It starts with this

00:23:15.680 --> 00:23:16.779
 beautiful declaration,

00:23:17.599 --> 00:23:20.539
 almost an awe-filled

00:23:20.539 --> 00:23:23.019
 declaration of God's

00:23:23.019 --> 00:23:23.980
 omnipresence.

00:23:24.700 --> 00:23:25.940
 Our whole life

00:23:25.940 --> 00:23:26.960
 is lived before Him.

00:23:27.680 --> 00:23:29.480
 And then the psalmist says,

00:23:30.180 --> 00:23:31.140
 Search me, O God.

00:23:31.599 --> 00:23:32.240
 Search me.

00:23:34.799 --> 00:23:35.920
 I think if we prayed

00:23:35.920 --> 00:23:37.220
 this prayer in earnest,

00:23:38.220 --> 00:23:40.039
 we would find many areas

00:23:40.039 --> 00:23:41.880
 where our yes

00:23:41.880 --> 00:23:42.859
 does not mean yes,

00:23:43.740 --> 00:23:44.359
 where our no

00:23:44.359 --> 00:23:45.220
 does not mean no.

00:23:47.000 --> 00:23:47.940
 But why?

00:23:48.460 --> 00:23:49.700
 Why is it so hard

00:23:49.700 --> 00:23:51.259
 to tell the truth?

00:23:53.100 --> 00:23:54.000
 Why do we find

00:23:54.000 --> 00:23:55.140
 ourselves saying yes

00:23:55.140 --> 00:23:56.500
 when we should have

00:23:56.500 --> 00:23:57.019
 said no?

00:23:57.779 --> 00:23:58.820
 Or saying no

00:23:58.820 --> 00:24:00.000
 when we should have

00:24:00.000 --> 00:24:00.559
 said yes?

00:24:02.019 --> 00:24:02.840
 Why do we find it

00:24:02.840 --> 00:24:04.180
 so hard to speak truthfully?

00:24:04.180 --> 00:24:07.640
 I think underneath

00:24:07.640 --> 00:24:08.420
 a lot of it

00:24:08.420 --> 00:24:09.759
 is fear.

00:24:11.519 --> 00:24:12.340
 Fear that we won't

00:24:12.340 --> 00:24:12.799
 be accepted

00:24:12.799 --> 00:24:13.640
 by another person.

00:24:14.600 --> 00:24:15.279
 Fear that we won't

00:24:15.279 --> 00:24:16.360
 advance in our careers.

00:24:16.580 --> 00:24:17.180
 Fear that we might

00:24:17.180 --> 00:24:18.480
 hurt another person's

00:24:18.480 --> 00:24:18.920
 feelings.

00:24:19.560 --> 00:24:20.000
 Fear that we might

00:24:20.000 --> 00:24:20.539
 be rejected.

00:24:21.660 --> 00:24:22.660
 Fear that others

00:24:22.660 --> 00:24:23.840
 won't see us

00:24:23.840 --> 00:24:24.560
 as an intelligent

00:24:24.560 --> 00:24:25.220
 or good

00:24:25.220 --> 00:24:26.200
 or loving person.

00:24:26.200 --> 00:24:28.200
 And in those moments

00:24:28.200 --> 00:24:29.000
 we're tempted

00:24:29.000 --> 00:24:30.600
 to bend the truth.

00:24:33.900 --> 00:24:34.519
 But you know,

00:24:34.580 --> 00:24:35.180
 if we were to take

00:24:35.180 --> 00:24:35.860
 those moments

00:24:35.860 --> 00:24:37.559
 and pray,

00:24:39.160 --> 00:24:40.500
 I think in those moments

00:24:40.500 --> 00:24:41.640
 when we are tempted

00:24:41.640 --> 00:24:42.340
 to bend the truth,

00:24:42.400 --> 00:24:43.580
 if we pray for the Holy Spirit

00:24:43.580 --> 00:24:44.380
 to show us

00:24:44.380 --> 00:24:45.059
 what's underneath,

00:24:46.480 --> 00:24:48.620
 I think we'll often see

00:24:48.620 --> 00:24:50.640
 the idols of our hearts

00:24:50.640 --> 00:24:51.100
 revealed.

00:24:53.440 --> 00:24:54.759
 We try to live our lives

00:24:54.759 --> 00:24:55.720
 in the presence of God.

00:24:56.200 --> 00:24:57.920
 But there are deeper idols

00:24:57.920 --> 00:24:59.140
 that we still cling to.

00:25:00.059 --> 00:25:01.059
 And those things,

00:25:01.140 --> 00:25:02.580
 those things that we prize

00:25:02.580 --> 00:25:04.799
 end up shaping our words.

00:25:05.980 --> 00:25:06.920
 That's one of the reasons

00:25:06.920 --> 00:25:07.900
 why Jesus can say,

00:25:09.400 --> 00:25:10.240
 let your yes be yes,

00:25:10.400 --> 00:25:11.220
 let your no be no.

00:25:11.720 --> 00:25:13.319
 Anything outside of that

00:25:13.319 --> 00:25:14.420
 comes from evil.

00:25:15.819 --> 00:25:17.160
 And you could even translate that

00:25:17.160 --> 00:25:18.500
 comes from the evil one.

00:25:19.400 --> 00:25:20.080
 You see?

00:25:20.220 --> 00:25:21.120
 Because we're clinging

00:25:21.120 --> 00:25:22.120
 to false gods,

00:25:22.900 --> 00:25:24.460
 giving the evil one

00:25:24.460 --> 00:25:25.059
 a foothold

00:25:25.059 --> 00:25:26.180
 to be shaping our lives.

00:25:26.200 --> 00:25:30.880
 You know,

00:25:30.920 --> 00:25:31.400
 think about it.

00:25:31.420 --> 00:25:31.799
 We think,

00:25:32.460 --> 00:25:33.900
 I don't want to lose friends.

00:25:35.180 --> 00:25:36.140
 So I bend the truth

00:25:36.140 --> 00:25:36.880
 when they ask me

00:25:36.880 --> 00:25:37.700
 what I think about this

00:25:37.700 --> 00:25:38.240
 or that, right?

00:25:38.799 --> 00:25:39.340
 We think,

00:25:39.420 --> 00:25:39.440
 well,

00:25:39.440 --> 00:25:40.259
 I don't want to get behind

00:25:40.259 --> 00:25:41.000
 in my career,

00:25:41.920 --> 00:25:43.440
 so maybe we're not

00:25:43.440 --> 00:25:44.240
 completely honest

00:25:44.240 --> 00:25:45.080
 when we fill out

00:25:45.080 --> 00:25:45.960
 our quarterly report.

00:25:47.019 --> 00:25:48.059
 I don't want to disappoint

00:25:48.059 --> 00:25:48.600
 my kids.

00:25:48.660 --> 00:25:49.620
 They're so important to me.

00:25:49.619 --> 00:25:51.599
 so we tell them

00:25:51.599 --> 00:25:52.139
 a half-truth

00:25:52.139 --> 00:25:53.319
 about why we were late

00:25:53.319 --> 00:25:54.219
 to their recital.

00:25:58.479 --> 00:25:59.299
 Now, of course,

00:25:59.559 --> 00:26:01.179
 there are genuine

00:26:01.179 --> 00:26:03.319
 moral dilemmas

00:26:03.319 --> 00:26:05.259
 that Christians have faced

00:26:05.259 --> 00:26:05.939
 in the past

00:26:05.939 --> 00:26:08.500
 when it comes to truth speaking.

00:26:09.219 --> 00:26:10.399
 One thinks of Christians

00:26:10.399 --> 00:26:11.879
 who hid Jews

00:26:11.879 --> 00:26:12.539
 from the Nazis

00:26:12.539 --> 00:26:13.479
 in World War II

00:26:13.480 --> 00:26:14.599
 or Christians

00:26:14.599 --> 00:26:16.120
 who helped to free slaves

00:26:16.120 --> 00:26:17.680
 in the Americas.

00:26:19.200 --> 00:26:20.299
 Was it wrong

00:26:20.299 --> 00:26:20.860
 for Christians

00:26:20.860 --> 00:26:21.740
 to prioritize

00:26:21.740 --> 00:26:22.680
 the saving

00:26:22.680 --> 00:26:23.620
 of innocent lives

00:26:23.620 --> 00:26:25.319
 over telling

00:26:25.319 --> 00:26:26.579
 the complete truth

00:26:26.579 --> 00:26:27.620
 to the persecutors

00:26:27.620 --> 00:26:28.720
 of African Americans

00:26:28.720 --> 00:26:29.839
 or European Jews?

00:26:29.839 --> 00:26:32.359
 Which moral priority

00:26:32.359 --> 00:26:33.059
 should prevail

00:26:33.059 --> 00:26:34.220
 in that situation?

00:26:34.859 --> 00:26:35.759
 Telling the truth

00:26:35.759 --> 00:26:36.799
 or literally

00:26:36.799 --> 00:26:37.779
 saving a life?

00:26:40.559 --> 00:26:41.799
 Now, most would say

00:26:41.799 --> 00:26:43.099
 and most Christian ethicists

00:26:43.099 --> 00:26:43.539
 would say

00:26:43.539 --> 00:26:44.720
 that saving a life

00:26:44.720 --> 00:26:46.199
 takes priority

00:26:46.199 --> 00:26:47.119
 in that situation

00:26:47.119 --> 00:26:48.220
 when there is a conflict

00:26:48.220 --> 00:26:49.119
 of those values.

00:26:51.439 --> 00:26:52.039
 Menno Simmons,

00:26:52.480 --> 00:26:53.639
 one of the founding pastors

00:26:53.639 --> 00:26:54.639
 of the Anabaptists,

00:26:54.980 --> 00:26:56.299
 who held truth speaking

00:26:56.299 --> 00:26:57.619
 in such a high regard

00:26:57.619 --> 00:26:58.720
 that along with

00:26:58.720 --> 00:26:59.539
 other Anabaptists,

00:26:59.839 --> 00:27:00.519
 they would never

00:27:00.519 --> 00:27:01.179
 take an oath

00:27:01.179 --> 00:27:02.759
 and they ended up

00:27:02.759 --> 00:27:04.240
 being very ostracized

00:27:04.240 --> 00:27:05.159
 socially for that.

00:27:06.199 --> 00:27:06.879
 Found himself

00:27:06.879 --> 00:27:07.859
 in a situation

00:27:07.859 --> 00:27:08.500
 a lot like

00:27:08.500 --> 00:27:09.539
 the ones we just described.

00:27:10.879 --> 00:27:11.500
 Now, some have thought

00:27:11.500 --> 00:27:12.819
 this story might be apocryphal

00:27:12.819 --> 00:27:13.659
 but it's pretty widespread

00:27:13.659 --> 00:27:15.500
 amongst Anabaptist

00:27:15.500 --> 00:27:16.639
 historians and culture

00:27:16.639 --> 00:27:17.399
 and it goes like this.

00:27:18.539 --> 00:27:19.199
 It was illegal

00:27:19.199 --> 00:27:20.399
 to be an Anabaptist

00:27:20.399 --> 00:27:20.980
 in the Netherlands

00:27:20.980 --> 00:27:22.959
 and the authorities

00:27:22.959 --> 00:27:23.899
 had put a price

00:27:23.899 --> 00:27:25.279
 on Menno's head.

00:27:26.959 --> 00:27:27.759
 Menno was an itinerant

00:27:27.759 --> 00:27:29.139
 pastor and networker

00:27:29.140 --> 00:27:30.020
 among hidden groups

00:27:30.020 --> 00:27:31.020
 and he was very influential

00:27:31.020 --> 00:27:32.460
 so he was a prime target.

00:27:33.580 --> 00:27:34.040
 And one day

00:27:34.040 --> 00:27:34.860
 Menno was traveling

00:27:34.860 --> 00:27:35.680
 from one church

00:27:35.680 --> 00:27:36.140
 to another

00:27:36.140 --> 00:27:37.240
 riding on a stagecoach

00:27:37.240 --> 00:27:38.680
 and instead of getting

00:27:38.680 --> 00:27:39.580
 into the coach

00:27:39.580 --> 00:27:40.700
 he decided to ride

00:27:40.700 --> 00:27:41.400
 up front

00:27:41.400 --> 00:27:42.420
 up high

00:27:42.420 --> 00:27:43.200
 with the driver.

00:27:44.660 --> 00:27:44.940
 Suddenly,

00:27:45.080 --> 00:27:45.480
 the policeman

00:27:45.480 --> 00:27:46.900
 dashed up on her horses.

00:27:47.340 --> 00:27:47.860
 They were hunting

00:27:47.860 --> 00:27:48.360
 for Menno

00:27:48.360 --> 00:27:49.580
 and one of the policemen

00:27:49.580 --> 00:27:49.940
 shouted,

00:27:49.940 --> 00:27:51.100
 is Menno Simons

00:27:51.100 --> 00:27:51.840
 in that coach?

00:27:53.279 --> 00:27:54.340
 So Menno leaned down

00:27:54.340 --> 00:27:55.279
 and asked,

00:27:55.920 --> 00:27:56.740
 is Menno in there?

00:27:57.820 --> 00:27:58.779
 Someone from the inside

00:27:58.779 --> 00:27:59.180
 replied,

00:27:59.480 --> 00:27:59.720
 nope,

00:27:59.759 --> 00:28:00.559
 he's not in here.

00:28:01.580 --> 00:28:02.900
 So Menno told the policemen,

00:28:03.160 --> 00:28:04.680
 they say Menno's

00:28:04.680 --> 00:28:05.400
 not in the coach.

00:28:06.480 --> 00:28:07.759
 So foiled and frustrated,

00:28:08.100 --> 00:28:09.039
 the horseman rode away.

00:28:09.660 --> 00:28:10.340
 What a great story

00:28:10.340 --> 00:28:10.740
 that is.

00:28:12.019 --> 00:28:12.500
 In fact,

00:28:12.539 --> 00:28:13.000
 I've been told

00:28:13.000 --> 00:28:13.720
 that in the Dutch

00:28:13.720 --> 00:28:15.059
 a white lie

00:28:15.059 --> 00:28:15.759
 is actually called

00:28:15.759 --> 00:28:16.559
 a Mennonite lie

00:28:16.559 --> 00:28:17.639
 because of that story.

00:28:19.839 --> 00:28:20.359
 But you know,

00:28:20.379 --> 00:28:21.099
 if we're honest,

00:28:21.980 --> 00:28:22.899
 those situations

00:28:22.899 --> 00:28:24.099
 are not

00:28:24.099 --> 00:28:24.980
 what we face

00:28:24.980 --> 00:28:25.940
 day in

00:28:25.940 --> 00:28:26.679
 and day out.

00:28:28.379 --> 00:28:29.379
 What we're confronted

00:28:29.379 --> 00:28:29.740
 with

00:28:29.740 --> 00:28:31.099
 day in and day out,

00:28:31.200 --> 00:28:31.859
 most of us,

00:28:32.000 --> 00:28:33.559
 are not unjust authorities

00:28:33.559 --> 00:28:36.059
 but the idols

00:28:36.059 --> 00:28:36.940
 of our own hearts.

00:28:38.980 --> 00:28:39.759
 How do we live

00:28:39.759 --> 00:28:40.759
 a life of integrity

00:28:40.759 --> 00:28:41.779
 in our speech

00:28:41.779 --> 00:28:43.220
 or truthfulness

00:28:43.220 --> 00:28:44.220
 with our words

00:28:44.220 --> 00:28:45.500
 when our hearts

00:28:45.500 --> 00:28:46.059
 are so conflicted

00:28:46.559 --> 00:28:46.799
 did?

00:28:48.379 --> 00:28:49.879
 What will dethrone

00:28:49.879 --> 00:28:50.440
 the idols

00:28:50.440 --> 00:28:51.339
 of our hearts

00:28:51.339 --> 00:28:52.779
 and calm

00:28:52.779 --> 00:28:53.799
 the many fears

00:28:53.799 --> 00:28:55.059
 that make us

00:28:55.059 --> 00:28:55.679
 so prone

00:28:55.679 --> 00:28:56.740
 to bend the truth?

00:28:59.440 --> 00:29:00.059
 Well, friends,

00:29:00.119 --> 00:29:00.799
 the answer

00:29:00.799 --> 00:29:02.139
 to our

00:29:02.139 --> 00:29:03.319
 yes and no

00:29:03.319 --> 00:29:05.079
 is found

00:29:05.079 --> 00:29:06.220
 in a greater yes

00:29:06.220 --> 00:29:07.279
 and a greater no.

00:29:08.740 --> 00:29:09.960
 There is a yes

00:29:09.960 --> 00:29:10.919
 and a no

00:29:10.919 --> 00:29:12.220
 that was spoken

00:29:12.220 --> 00:29:13.679
 to you

00:29:13.679 --> 00:29:15.619
 and over you

00:29:15.619 --> 00:29:17.639
 that if you hear it

00:29:17.639 --> 00:29:19.699
 and internalize it,

00:29:20.239 --> 00:29:20.919
 it will calm

00:29:20.919 --> 00:29:21.559
 your fears

00:29:21.559 --> 00:29:23.259
 and it will topple

00:29:23.259 --> 00:29:23.799
 your idols

00:29:23.799 --> 00:29:25.459
 and it will empower

00:29:25.459 --> 00:29:26.039
 you to live

00:29:26.039 --> 00:29:26.679
 in truthfulness

00:29:26.679 --> 00:29:28.219
 and in transparency

00:29:28.219 --> 00:29:29.779
 and in integrity.

00:29:29.779 --> 00:29:32.799
 but where do we find

00:29:32.799 --> 00:29:33.639
 this yes

00:29:33.639 --> 00:29:34.779
 and this no?

00:29:37.339 --> 00:29:38.039
 In his book

00:29:38.039 --> 00:29:39.139
 The Cost of Discipleship,

00:29:39.200 --> 00:29:39.899
 Dietrich Bonhoeffer

00:29:39.899 --> 00:29:40.619
 puts it this way

00:29:40.619 --> 00:29:41.240
 on this passage.

00:29:41.359 --> 00:29:41.799
 He says,

00:29:42.599 --> 00:29:44.240
 only the cross

00:29:44.240 --> 00:29:46.359
 as God's truth

00:29:46.359 --> 00:29:47.660
 about us

00:29:47.660 --> 00:29:50.180
 makes us truthful.

00:29:51.599 --> 00:29:52.980
 Only the cross

00:29:52.980 --> 00:29:54.339
 as God's truth

00:29:54.339 --> 00:29:55.559
 about us

00:29:55.559 --> 00:29:57.859
 makes us truthful.

00:29:57.859 --> 00:29:59.959
 because you see

00:29:59.959 --> 00:30:00.699
 at the cross

00:30:00.699 --> 00:30:01.859
 God says

00:30:01.859 --> 00:30:02.539
 both

00:30:02.539 --> 00:30:03.259
 yes

00:30:03.259 --> 00:30:04.459
 and no

00:30:04.459 --> 00:30:05.879
 and he means it.

00:30:07.119 --> 00:30:07.740
 At the cross

00:30:07.740 --> 00:30:08.319
 God says

00:30:08.319 --> 00:30:09.359
 no

00:30:09.359 --> 00:30:10.619
 to our sin.

00:30:11.579 --> 00:30:12.519
 The truth

00:30:12.519 --> 00:30:13.740
 of our sinfulness

00:30:13.740 --> 00:30:14.599
 is revealed

00:30:14.599 --> 00:30:15.559
 at the cross

00:30:15.559 --> 00:30:16.939
 because Christ

00:30:16.939 --> 00:30:18.319
 had to die

00:30:18.319 --> 00:30:19.259
 for our sins.

00:30:20.539 --> 00:30:21.859
 But at the cross

00:30:21.859 --> 00:30:22.919
 God also says

00:30:22.919 --> 00:30:24.579
 yes to us

00:30:24.579 --> 00:30:25.959
 even though

00:30:25.959 --> 00:30:26.659
 we are sinners.

00:30:26.660 --> 00:30:26.840
 sinners.

00:30:27.960 --> 00:30:28.980
 The truth

00:30:28.980 --> 00:30:29.840
 of forgiveness

00:30:29.840 --> 00:30:30.519
 is revealed

00:30:30.519 --> 00:30:31.200
 at the cross

00:30:31.200 --> 00:30:32.779
 for Christ

00:30:32.779 --> 00:30:34.300
 willingly dies

00:30:34.300 --> 00:30:34.700
 for us

00:30:34.700 --> 00:30:35.200
 in love.

00:30:36.880 --> 00:30:38.240
 And this no

00:30:38.240 --> 00:30:39.759
 and this yes

00:30:39.759 --> 00:30:41.860
 is spoken

00:30:41.860 --> 00:30:42.700
 by the triune

00:30:42.700 --> 00:30:43.100
 God

00:30:43.100 --> 00:30:44.820
 over you.

00:30:45.940 --> 00:30:46.620
 This

00:30:46.620 --> 00:30:47.440
 is the total

00:30:47.440 --> 00:30:48.500
 truth about you.

00:30:49.500 --> 00:30:50.660
 You are a sinner

00:30:50.660 --> 00:30:52.120
 more sinful

00:30:52.120 --> 00:30:53.060
 than you can imagine

00:30:53.059 --> 00:30:54.940
 and you are

00:30:54.940 --> 00:30:55.799
 completely

00:30:55.799 --> 00:30:57.099
 and utterly

00:30:57.099 --> 00:30:58.319
 loved

00:30:58.319 --> 00:31:00.480
 more loved

00:31:00.480 --> 00:31:01.059
 than you

00:31:01.059 --> 00:31:02.279
 can fathom.

00:31:03.960 --> 00:31:04.940
 And that

00:31:04.940 --> 00:31:05.559
 truth

00:31:05.559 --> 00:31:07.240
 revealed in full

00:31:07.240 --> 00:31:08.659
 only at the cross

00:31:08.659 --> 00:31:10.980
 will make us

00:31:10.980 --> 00:31:11.359
 truthful.

00:31:12.500 --> 00:31:13.139
 Why?

00:31:13.139 --> 00:31:13.240
 Why?

00:31:15.119 --> 00:31:16.539
 Because perfect love

00:31:16.539 --> 00:31:17.940
 drives out fear.

00:31:17.940 --> 00:31:20.500
 You see friends

00:31:20.500 --> 00:31:21.420
 there is no mistake

00:31:21.420 --> 00:31:22.759
 there is no fault

00:31:22.759 --> 00:31:24.080
 there is no shortcoming

00:31:24.080 --> 00:31:25.340
 there is no failure

00:31:25.340 --> 00:31:26.320
 that you need

00:31:26.320 --> 00:31:26.840
 to hide.

00:31:28.000 --> 00:31:28.980
 God has seen

00:31:28.980 --> 00:31:29.759
 all that

00:31:29.759 --> 00:31:30.720
 and more.

00:31:31.380 --> 00:31:31.980
 He has already

00:31:31.980 --> 00:31:32.779
 revealed it

00:31:32.779 --> 00:31:33.500
 at the cross

00:31:33.500 --> 00:31:34.860
 and it is forgiven.

00:31:36.440 --> 00:31:37.620
 And at the same time

00:31:37.620 --> 00:31:38.360
 there is no love

00:31:38.360 --> 00:31:39.340
 there is no acceptance

00:31:39.340 --> 00:31:40.200
 there is no fellowship

00:31:40.200 --> 00:31:40.740
 that you need

00:31:40.740 --> 00:31:41.680
 to fear losing.

00:31:43.120 --> 00:31:43.860
 Because God

00:31:43.860 --> 00:31:44.759
 has reconciled

00:31:44.759 --> 00:31:45.580
 you to himself.

00:31:45.579 --> 00:31:47.119
 you have his

00:31:47.119 --> 00:31:48.339
 eternal fellowship

00:31:48.339 --> 00:31:50.199
 his unbroken love.

00:31:51.699 --> 00:31:53.039
 All his promises

00:31:53.039 --> 00:31:53.579
 to you

00:31:53.579 --> 00:31:54.740
 are yes

00:31:54.740 --> 00:31:55.779
 in Christ Jesus.

00:31:56.699 --> 00:31:57.379
 A yes

00:31:57.379 --> 00:31:58.339
 that will resound

00:31:58.339 --> 00:31:59.079
 for eternity

00:31:59.079 --> 00:32:01.000
 and a yes

00:32:01.000 --> 00:32:01.779
 that he continues

00:32:01.779 --> 00:32:02.279
 to speak

00:32:02.279 --> 00:32:03.240
 even now

00:32:03.240 --> 00:32:04.659
 in every

00:32:04.659 --> 00:32:05.699
 page

00:32:05.699 --> 00:32:06.579
 of his written

00:32:06.579 --> 00:32:07.319
 word

00:32:07.319 --> 00:32:08.500
 bearing witness

00:32:08.500 --> 00:32:09.699
 to his incarnate

00:32:09.699 --> 00:32:10.000
 word

00:32:10.000 --> 00:32:10.599
 Jesus

00:32:10.599 --> 00:32:13.299
 in whose

00:32:13.299 --> 00:32:14.019
 flesh

00:32:14.019 --> 00:32:14.460
 was the

00:32:14.460 --> 00:32:15.139
 unveiling

00:32:15.140 --> 00:32:16.040
 of grace

00:32:16.040 --> 00:32:17.120
 and truth.

00:32:19.820 --> 00:32:20.620
 You see

00:32:20.620 --> 00:32:21.380
 brothers and sisters

00:32:21.380 --> 00:32:22.120
 because Jesus

00:32:22.120 --> 00:32:22.900
 lived a life

00:32:22.900 --> 00:32:23.700
 of utter

00:32:23.700 --> 00:32:24.360
 truthfulness

00:32:24.360 --> 00:32:25.660
 even unto

00:32:25.660 --> 00:32:26.120
 death

00:32:26.120 --> 00:32:26.660
 for you

00:32:26.660 --> 00:32:28.280
 you need

00:32:28.280 --> 00:32:28.940
 never fear

00:32:28.940 --> 00:32:29.640
 speaking the

00:32:29.640 --> 00:32:29.960
 truth.

00:32:31.220 --> 00:32:32.220
 You can let

00:32:32.220 --> 00:32:32.800
 your yes

00:32:32.800 --> 00:32:33.900
 simply be yes

00:32:33.900 --> 00:32:35.020
 and your no

00:32:35.020 --> 00:32:35.920
 simply be no.

00:32:36.580 --> 00:32:37.300
 You don't need

00:32:37.300 --> 00:32:38.259
 to add anything

00:32:38.259 --> 00:32:38.800
 to it.

00:32:39.759 --> 00:32:40.420
 If you are

00:32:40.420 --> 00:32:41.000
 in Christ

00:32:41.000 --> 00:32:41.940
 you live

00:32:41.940 --> 00:32:42.600
 your whole

00:32:42.600 --> 00:32:43.040
 life

00:32:43.040 --> 00:32:44.020
 before a God

00:32:44.019 --> 00:32:45.139
 who loved

00:32:45.139 --> 00:32:45.420
 you

00:32:45.420 --> 00:32:46.740
 and gave

00:32:46.740 --> 00:32:47.000
 himself

00:32:47.000 --> 00:32:47.579
 for you.

00:32:50.259 --> 00:32:51.160
 Only the

00:32:51.160 --> 00:32:51.559
 cross

00:32:51.559 --> 00:32:53.019
 as God's

00:32:53.019 --> 00:32:53.379
 truth

00:32:53.379 --> 00:32:54.519
 about us

00:32:54.519 --> 00:32:56.119
 makes us

00:32:56.119 --> 00:32:56.960
 truthful.

00:32:58.200 --> 00:32:59.000
 Do you

00:32:59.000 --> 00:32:59.319
 know that

00:32:59.319 --> 00:32:59.619
 truth?

00:33:01.220 --> 00:33:02.240
 It's here

00:33:02.240 --> 00:33:03.319
 for the

00:33:03.319 --> 00:33:03.680
 taking.

00:33:06.039 --> 00:33:06.920
 The resurrected

00:33:06.920 --> 00:33:07.579
 Jesus says

00:33:07.579 --> 00:33:08.379
 to everyone

00:33:08.379 --> 00:33:11.299
 everyone who

00:33:11.299 --> 00:33:12.019
 comes to me

00:33:12.019 --> 00:33:12.940
 I will never

00:33:12.940 --> 00:33:13.480
 cast him

00:33:13.480 --> 00:33:13.720
 out.

00:33:15.139 --> 00:33:15.839
 Let your

00:33:15.839 --> 00:33:17.019
 life rest

00:33:17.019 --> 00:33:17.639
 in him

00:33:17.639 --> 00:33:19.139
 in his

00:33:19.139 --> 00:33:19.420
 no

00:33:19.420 --> 00:33:20.839
 and in his

00:33:20.839 --> 00:33:21.240
 yes

00:33:21.240 --> 00:33:22.859
 and then

00:33:22.859 --> 00:33:23.299
 you'll be

00:33:23.299 --> 00:33:24.379
 able to

00:33:24.379 --> 00:33:24.720
 let what

00:33:24.720 --> 00:33:25.359
 you say

00:33:25.359 --> 00:33:27.039
 be simply

00:33:27.039 --> 00:33:27.400
 yes

00:33:27.400 --> 00:33:28.740
 and simply

00:33:28.740 --> 00:33:29.000
 no.

00:33:30.220 --> 00:33:30.799
 Let's

00:33:30.799 --> 00:33:31.000
 pray.

00:33:31.000 --> 00:33:31.079
 Amen.

00:33:36.220 --> 00:33:36.940
 Father we

00:33:36.940 --> 00:33:37.379
 ask

00:33:37.380 --> 00:33:39.860
 that by

00:33:39.860 --> 00:33:40.220
 your Holy

00:33:40.220 --> 00:33:40.660
 Spirit

00:33:40.660 --> 00:33:42.380
 you would

00:33:42.380 --> 00:33:42.800
 grant to

00:33:42.800 --> 00:33:43.160
 us

00:33:43.160 --> 00:33:44.720
 the one

00:33:44.720 --> 00:33:45.140
 thing

00:33:45.140 --> 00:33:46.080
 that is

00:33:46.080 --> 00:33:46.620
 most

00:33:46.620 --> 00:33:47.240
 needful

00:33:47.240 --> 00:33:47.800
 for us

00:33:47.800 --> 00:33:51.160
 and that

00:33:51.160 --> 00:33:51.460
 is to

00:33:51.460 --> 00:33:52.100
 see again

00:33:52.100 --> 00:33:53.360
 and to

00:33:53.360 --> 00:33:53.760
 receive

00:33:53.760 --> 00:33:54.140
 again

00:33:54.140 --> 00:33:56.440
 the grace

00:33:56.440 --> 00:33:56.720
 of our

00:33:56.720 --> 00:33:57.120
 Lord Jesus

00:33:57.120 --> 00:33:57.700
 Christ.

00:34:01.760 --> 00:34:02.600
 To flee

00:34:02.600 --> 00:34:02.960
 to him

00:34:02.960 --> 00:34:04.320
 and to

00:34:04.320 --> 00:34:04.640
 know that

00:34:04.640 --> 00:34:05.020
 in him

00:34:05.020 --> 00:34:05.800
 we have

00:34:05.800 --> 00:34:06.620
 what the

00:34:06.619 --> 00:34:06.979
 author of

00:34:06.979 --> 00:34:07.579
 Hebrews spoke

00:34:07.579 --> 00:34:07.899
 about.

00:34:09.099 --> 00:34:09.779
 That very

00:34:09.779 --> 00:34:10.339
 thing that

00:34:10.339 --> 00:34:11.619
 you confirmed

00:34:11.619 --> 00:34:12.099
 in two

00:34:12.099 --> 00:34:12.679
 ways by

00:34:12.679 --> 00:34:13.279
 your word

00:34:13.279 --> 00:34:13.579
 and by

00:34:13.579 --> 00:34:14.199
 your oath

00:34:14.199 --> 00:34:15.799
 that we

00:34:15.799 --> 00:34:16.179
 have in

00:34:16.179 --> 00:34:16.719
 Christ a

00:34:16.719 --> 00:34:17.279
 sure and

00:34:17.279 --> 00:34:17.819
 steadfast

00:34:17.819 --> 00:34:18.480
 anchor for

00:34:18.480 --> 00:34:19.019
 our souls.

00:34:21.099 --> 00:34:21.799
 Spirit would

00:34:21.799 --> 00:34:22.380
 you anchor

00:34:22.380 --> 00:34:23.480
 us in the

00:34:23.480 --> 00:34:24.079
 sun again

00:34:24.079 --> 00:34:25.759
 as we go

00:34:25.759 --> 00:34:26.239
 forth this

00:34:26.239 --> 00:34:28.279
 week to

00:34:28.279 --> 00:34:28.659
 be those

00:34:28.659 --> 00:34:28.960
 who live

00:34:28.960 --> 00:34:31.099
 lives always

00:34:31.099 --> 00:34:31.519
 aware of

00:34:31.519 --> 00:34:32.119
 your presence

00:34:32.119 --> 00:34:33.440
 and in the

00:34:33.440 --> 00:34:35.739
 freedom of

00:34:35.739 --> 00:34:36.299
 truthfulness.

00:34:37.639 --> 00:34:37.979
 We pray

00:34:37.979 --> 00:34:38.319
 this in

00:34:38.319 --> 00:34:38.859
 Christ's mighty

00:34:38.859 --> 00:34:39.419
 name Father

00:34:39.419 --> 00:34:39.819
 Amen.