Swearing.
From the doings of the scribes and Pharisees the Lord passes to their teaching; and he commences with their refinement in respect to oaths. There is no reference here to judicial swearing, or deposing upon oath before a magistrate in the interests of public justice. The whole argument goes to show that the swearing here referred to is the voluntary and gratuitous.
I. SWEARING ORIGINATES IN FALSEHOOD.
1. Simple assertion, is the sufficient bond of a true man.
2. More than affirmation is from an evil source.
II. IT TENDS TO EQUIVOCATION.
1. The Pharisees invented evasive distinctions.
2. These distinctions were false in fact.
3. They are demoralizing.
III. IT INJURES REVERENCE.
1. It is a breach of the commandments.
2. It is a violation of the gospel law.
IV. IT DECEIVES AND ENSNARES.
1. The guides are blind.
2. But God is not deceived.
Monstrous trifling.
Our Lord proceeds to pronounce upon the hypocrite the woe of his other evils. Note—
I. THE LAW HAS ITS "WEIGHTIER MATTERS."
1. These are its moral precepts.
(a) Justice in principle.
(b) Justice in practice.
(a) Faith in the sense of creed, or truth in belief. A true creed is of great importance.
(b) Faith in the sense of sincerity, in opposition to the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. Those called hypocrites are otherwise described as unbelievers (cf. Matthew 24:51; Luke 12:46; 1 Timothy 4:2, 1 Timothy 4:3).
(c) Faith in the sense of fidelity or faithfulness, viz. to God first, then also to man (cf. Micah 6:8; Luke 11:42).
2. Its ceremonies are for the sake of its morals.
II. THE HYPOCRITE INVERTS GOD'S ORDER.
1. He is punctilious to trifles.
2. He misses important things.