The Weight of Our Word Matthew 5:33-37 NIV - “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. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one. Point 1: Our Words Don’t Need Extra Matthew 5:34-36 NIV - 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. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. Deuteronomy 6:4-5 NIV - Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. Point 2: Keep it Real - Simple Words, Big Impact Matthew 5:37 NIV - “Let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” Point 3: Integrity Mirrors God’s Character Numbers 23:19 NIV - “God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?” Proverbs 6:16-19 NIV - There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community. John 8:44 NIV - You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. Proverbs 11:3 NIV - The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity. Practical Applications: Living the Truth 1. Pause Before You Promise 2. Examine Your Words 3. Simplify Your Speech 4. Model Integrity 5. Hold Each Other Accountable 6. Be Consistent