A Half-Truth = A Whole Lie

“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 5:34 (NIV)

Do you remember as a child, crossing your fingers behind your back so that you could lie and it was okay? The real problem is that when we do that, we’re not only dishonest, we are also deceptive. 

In today’s verse, Jesus confronts the prevailing attitude of dishonesty. Swearing in various ways was how the religious leaders, called Pharisees, avoided keeping their word. Instead of saying, “So help me God”, they would say something like, “So help me heaven,” or “So help me the earth,” or “So help me Jerusalem.” 

It was deception–intentionally selecting words so that they sounded honest, even if they weren’t. 

But, Jesus said that Heaven is God’s throne, earth His footstool, and Jerusalem His city. In other words, anything you swear by in the universe is something God made, God created, and belongs to God. So an appeal to those things is in effect an appeal to God. In other words, your words matter to God. 

You might say, “I don’t lie.” But none of us are immune to Jesus’ instruction. The single most prevalent lie that we tell almost every day is what is called “a little white lie.” It is a lie that seems small and unimportant. 

Perhaps you tell this lie so as not to hurt somebody’s feelings or to avoid embarrassment. But it is still a deception. And Jesus says, be careful not to deceive others with your words. 

The Apostle Paul says you are to speak the truth in love (See Ephesians 4:15). God will help you to avoid deception. He will also give you the power to speak the truth in a loving way. 

Jesus wants you to live in the light because the truth has no shades. In God’s eyes, a half-truth equals a whole lie. You can speak honestly. And God will help you stand strong and confident without pretending or avoiding the truth.

Prayer: Dear Father, Thank You that you never lie. Help me be a person of truth, even if I am embarrassed or afraid. I want to honor You with every word I speak, for I know You will hold me accountable for every one of them. Thank You for giving me the power to speak the truth in love. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.