Homily on Matthew 5:27-37

 


Matthew 5:27-37

“You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to go into hell. "It was also said, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.' But I say to you that anyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. "Again, you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, 'You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.' But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let your word be 'Yes, Yes' or 'No, No' anything more than this comes from the evil one."

Dear Folks,

This Gospel passage packs a powerful punch and must be unpacked to get at the heart of what Jesus was speaking about. Jesus's words about oaths and truthfulness cut to the core of our honesty and integrity, challenging us to examine how we communicate and how we live in relationship to other.

"And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let your word be 'Yes, Yes' or 'No, No' anything more than this comes from the evil one."

These words might seem simple, even quaint, to our modern ears. But in Jesus's time, oaths were a common practice, a way to add weight to one's words, to convince others of their sincerity. People swore by heaven, by earth, by Jerusalem, even by their own heads. They believed that by invoking these sacred things, they were adding a divine guarantee to their promises.

But Jesus reveals the inherent flaw in this practice. He points out the fundamental truth: we are not in control. We cannot even change the color of a single hair on our heads. How, then, can we presume to invoke the authority of heaven or earth to guarantee our words?

Jesus is not just concerned with the act of swearing. He is concerned with the underlying lack of integrity that it often masks. When we rely on oaths to convince others of our truthfulness, we are essentially admitting that our words alone are not enough. We are suggesting that we need something external, something greater, to validate our promises.

This reveals a fundamental distrust—a distrust in ourselves, a distrust in others, and ultimately, a distrust in God. We are trying to control the situation, to manipulate others into believing us, rather than relying on the simple power of truth.

Jesus calls us to a higher standard. He calls us to a life of radical honesty, where our words are so reliable that no oath is necessary. "Let your word be 'Yes, Yes' or 'No, No.'" This is a call to simplicity, to clarity, to integrity. It's a call to let our words reflect the truth that resides within us.

Why is this so important? Because our words have power. They shape our relationships, they build trust, or they destroy it. When we speak truthfully, we create a foundation of trust and respect. When we resort to deception or manipulation, we erode that foundation, damaging our relationships and our own integrity.

Jesus reminds us that God is the ultimate source of truth. He is the one who sees all, who knows all. We don't need to invoke His name to validate our words. We simply need to speak the truth, knowing that He is always listening.

This Gospel passage challenges us to examine our own communication.

  • Are our words reliable?
  • Do we rely on manipulation or deception to get our way?
  • Do we speak with integrity, even when it's difficult?
  • Do we trust in God's truth, or do we try to control the situation ourselves?

Let us strive to live lives of radical honesty, where our words are as reliable as our actions. Let us remember that true integrity comes from within, from a heart that is aligned with God's truth. May we, through God's grace, become people whose words are always "Yes, Yes" or "No, No," reflecting the truth that resides within us. Amen.

O Lord, you have taught us that without love whatever we do is worth nothing; Send your Holy Spirit and pour into our hearts your greatest gift, which is love, the true bond of peace and of all virtue, without which whoever lives is accounted dead before you.  Grant this for the sake of your only Son Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Love,

+Br'er Abbot