He Expands on the 3rd Commandment

["Click here for Matthew's account"]

"Thou shall not take the Lord's name in vain." Forbidden here are perjury, or the violation of an oath or vow and all rash and unnecessary swearing. Christ says we should not "swear at all. the taking of an oath lightly or irreverently is a sign of a graceless heart. Also to be avoided here are "promissory" oaths, written or oral, should not be necessary. A persons word should be enough. Forbidden also is the "swearing" by anything or by any creature. "I swear by all that's good. for all that is good is of God." Therefore, in all our communications, let us be content with either yes or no. "Verily, verily", was Christs way of saying yes, yes. A simple "yes" or "no" is all that is necessary. If one should doubt your veracity, swearing will do little to change his mind.

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