Honesty Pete Kersker - Aug 09, 2025 Jesus taught his disciples (students) to listen to, learn, and live by the Law and the Prophets. Jesus modeled this by learning, living, and teaching the Scriptures. He interpreted them accurately and explained them well. Jesus' disciples (students) learned, and still learn today, to love the LORD God with everything and to love our neighbor as ourselves. "You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor" (Exodus 20:16 NIV). One of the Ten Commandments tells us not to "bear false witness" or "give false testimony" as it is translated above. This command starts with a legal mindset: testifying in court. It's where we get the statement, "I swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me, God." This statement is intended to bring the truth to the light so justice will be served when someone has broken God's Law. "Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.' But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King" (Matthew 5:33-35 NIV). Jesus challenges us to think about the statements we make outside of the courtroom. Are those statements reliable and true? Are we people of our word when we agree to buy a car, land, or a house? Or do we need to make a special oath that is written down, signed, and witnessed by a notary public? Do we choose words that purposefully mislead, so we can back out of a deal and then say, "I didn't pinkie swear." And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black (Matthew 5:36 NIV). Swearing by heaven, earth, or on our life does not make our oath more reliable if we are unreliable in everything else we say. The "I choose you" after thirty six year of marriage is just as important as "I do" on the wedding day. We need to be people of our word: trustworthy in everything we say. This is one of the ways in which we are different from the rest of the world as the people of God. All you need to say is simply 'Yes' or 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one" (Matthew 5:37 NIV). Are you a person of your word? Can people trust you?