Words That BindSample

Day 1: There Are No Empty Promises

The Bible is filled with warnings about the power and danger that are held in our words, and this danger becomes even more pronounced when we start trying to use them to bind ourselves to certain actions or outcomes — in other words, when we start making promises.

Jesus was very emphatic when He talked about these things. In fact, He used the most emphatic “no” in the Greek language to tell us categorically, “thou shalt not forswear” (Matthew 5:33 KJV).

That word “forswear” in the Greek is epiorkeo (ἐπιορκέω), and it's a compound of two words: the word epi (ἐπί) and the word orkos (ὅρκος). Epi is an intensifier, and the word orkos generally refers to an oath, but if you go deeper, it also includes the idea of a fence or a limitation, an oath that fences you in, limits you, and locks you into a certain position.

Friend, this tells us how serious an oath really is. It isn’t just words — once you make it, you're bound to it. You've got to do what you said because you swore you would, and if you're not careful with such words, you’ll get yourself into trouble.

Jesus adds to this that when you make an oath, you will perform it unto the Lord! That word “perform” in the Greek carries the idea of giving back, meaning that once you’ve made a promise, you are bound before the Lord to pay it back. It places boundaries and limitations on your life that you are now committed to following whether you meant it or not.

Friend, that's why Jesus warns us, “It’s better for you to avoid the danger and simply not swear at all.”

I encourage you to think about that warning today and to really consider its meaning. Slow down before you speak. Think about the power of your oath and what that oath is going to require you to do.

Don’t get yourself bound up in words that you can’t pay back just because you moved too quickly. Instead, get a grip on your mouth and think about what you promise before you promise it, because even rash words are not empty, and you're going to be obligated to keep them.

For Your Consideration

• Does understanding the power of promises change the way you look at this issue? Are there ways you may have been unknowingly overstepping this boundary before now?
• As you reflect on today’s readings, invite the Holy Spirit to give you fresh eyes to see the power and importance of your words — even the careless ones.