sermon on the mount: life on earth as it is in heaven
July 13-14: Becoming Believeable
Preacher: The Rev. Alex Shuttleworth
The collect for the day
Let your merciful ears, O Lord, be open to the prayers of your humble servants; and, that we may receive what we ask, teach us by your Holy Spirit to ask only those things that are pleasing to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the same Spirit lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.
The first lesson: Leviticus 19: 12
12 You shall not swear by my name falsely, and so profane the name of your God: I am the Lord.
The second lesson: james 5: 12
12 But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.
The psalm: 76: 11-12
11 Make a vow unto the Lord your God and keep it, all you who are round about him;
bring gifts unto him who is worthy to be feared.
12 He restrains the spirit of princes,
and is feared among the kings of the earth.
The gospel: matthew 5: 33-37
Oaths
33 “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ 34 But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.
