- Your word substantiates your character
- Your character is a reflection of God
- Everything you could swear by has a connection to God
Why do you think a person’s word is so important?
READ: Deuteronomy 23:21-23
It appears that making a promise is extremely important to God. Why do you think God holds promises with such a high accountability? Verse 21 indicates that an unfulfilled vow makes the speaker guilty of sin. Can you think of any destructive ways people today break their vows and promises? What do you think motivates a person to make a rash vow or an undeliverable promise?
READ: Ecclesiastes 5:1-7
What pattern do you see in the Bible’s instruction on making vows? What was the protest the worshipper was making to the temple messenger in verse 6? Have you ever foolishly promised something you couldn’t deliver?
READ: Matthew 23:16-22
The Teachers of the Law and the Pharisees have proved themselves foolish according the passage in Ecclesiastes by making vows, but they thought they found a loophole. Can you identify the loophole the devised regarding (1) swearing by the temple – vs 16; (2) swearing by the altar – vs 18? The real danger that Jesus is pointing out is that any/all swearing and vows has a connection to God, vs 20-21. How are then they in violation to the law found in Leviticus 19:12?
- How is “trust” related to this issues of taking vows?
- How does taking the spirit of the law seriously reveal our sinfulness?
- Can you keep your vows?