These two concepts are closely related if not one and the same thing.
Christ used the two of them in one discourse (Mt. 5:33-37). He used them to mean one and the same thing. Christ took his audience back to the Old Testament where the tradition permitted taking oaths and keeping them.
An oath is a solemn statement or claim used to validate a promise. It was done in the presence of God and others who are to serve as witnesses.
Oaths were accompanied by protective cures to make sure the oaths were kept. An oath was an assurance of sincerity and commitment.
Oaths were taken for various reasons but usually the name of God was invoked to prove its sincerity.
Oath was a legal act. In Matthew 26: 63-64, the High Priest representing the Sanhedrin charges Christ under oath to give his statement. Christ prohibited swearing or oath taking all together. One reason is that Christians have to speak the truth all the times. They should not be guided by oath but by God who is their father. Secondarily, a vow is binding on Christian whether it is accomplished by an oath or not. The character of a Christian is to always speak the truth.
Christ argues that the question of the formula of swearing or oath taking is irrelevant as the oath itself. The issue of formula came in because the Pharisees made a distinction between swearing by God and other things.
They used this as an excuse not to keep oaths and gave less weight to such oaths.
The lesson in this discourse is about truth. Truth is the way of life of a Christian. Any society that forsakes truth will fail. A society will flourish when people say what they mean and mean what they say.
Honest men need not be compelled before telling the truth. It is clear that Christ is not forbidding taking oath when required by external lawful constituted authority.
Self-Assessment Exercise 10
Why did Christ forbid oath taking?
4.0 CONCLUSION
The goal of this unit was to lead you to the knowledge and responsibility in the kingdom. We need to know the kingdom in order to know how to live in it. God, in his goodness has made known to us what we need to know about the kingdom. The purpose of the kingdom is to provide salvation for man. The kingdom in a place to live continuously knowing that we are not yet in the final state of it and that presently evil co-exist with righteousness. God in his goodness and love has not hidden to us our responsibility towards him and others. Worshipping and obeying God is important but our attitudes towards others are equally important in his sight. We must do the two at the same time with equal zeal and commitment.
5.0 SUMMARY
Our discussion centres on the fact that it is difficult to fully understand the nature, working and life of the kingdom. The God of the kingdom is a mystery and so his kingdom. Christ used the following parables to explain the nature, working and life of the kingdom. We can divide the parables into two categories.
Those dealing with life and nature of the kingdom:
1. Tares or weeds- soil and righteous co-exist.
2. The Hidden Treasures and Fine pearls. The kingdom is a precious thing and a place of enjoyment.
Those dealing with how the kingdom works:
1. The parable of the Sower – The kingdom is working in every land and its message will reach everywhere.
2. Mustard Seed – The kingdom had a small beginning but will grow to encompass the world.
3. The Yeast – the kingdom will permeate and finally transform the whole world.
The ethical teaching of Christ compliments the life and nature of the kingdom showing us how to live in the kingdom.
6.0 Tutor-Marked Assignment
1) What do you understand by the mystery of the kingdom of God?
2) Jesus Christ told many Parables to explain the kingdom of God.
Discuss the parable of the Tares and Weeds and the Yeast.
3) Discuss any two ethical issues we treated in the unit.
7.0 References/Further Readings
Guthriel, Donald. (1981). New Testament Theology. Leicester: Inter Varsity Press.
Ladd, George Eldon. (1974). A Theology of the New Testament. Grand Rapid: W. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
Ridderbos, Herman. (1975). The Coming of the Kingdom. Philadelphia:
The Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Company.
Scott, John (1978). The Message of the Sermon on the Mount.
Leicester: Inter Varsity Press.
MODULE 3: THE THEOLOGY OF GOD, CHRIST, HOLY