Let Your Yes be Yes and Your No be No
Mattot/ Massei
Torah Portion Numbers 30:1-32:42/Numbers 33:1-36:13
Halph Torah Portion Jeremiah 2:4-37
New Testament Luke 13:1-9
We are living in a time where a man’s word is meaningless and empty. You may say I honor my word, but the statistics prove otherwise. We are people who lie, cheat, and steal to get what they want. If this was a society of people honored their vows then why do we have multiple-page contracts?
Why are the courts filled with case after case of people breaking their vows? Why do we have divorce courts? Can you imagine a special division just to handle divorces? 100 years ago, this was never thought of. We do not have divorces that are on the grounds of adultery, no we have no fault for divorces. What happened when two men made a vow; they shook hands and the deal was done. When a man and woman stood before the congregation, they exchanged vows and it was until death do us part. Now that is a thing of the past.
In this Torah Portion, it starts with Vows for Men and Women. For men it is straightforward, you make a vow you keep it and you are 100% liable for it. For women, it varies with which station of life she is in. If she is unmarried and in her father’s house and her father when hears the vow and says nothing then she is liable for the vow. In the hearing of the vow and speaking out against it then she is released from the vow. This is true if she is in her husband’s house the same rules apply. In
Mat 5:33-37 MKJV
(33) Again, you have heard that it has been said to the ancients, “You shall not swear falsely, but you shall perform your oaths to the Lord.”
(34) But I say to you, Do not swear at all! Not by Heaven, because it is God’s throne;
(35) not by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet; not by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King;
(36) nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black.
(37) But let your word be, Yes, yes; No, no. For whatever is more than these comes from evil.
Act 4:32-37 – 5:1-11 MKJV
(32) And the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul. And not one said that any of the things which he possessed was his own. But they had all things common.
(33) And the apostles gave witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus with great power. And great grace was on them all.
(34) For neither was anyone needy among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the prices of the things that were sold,
(35) and they laid them down at the apostles’ feet. And distribution was made to every man according as he had need.
(36) And Joses, who was surnamed Barnabas by the apostles (which is, being translated, The son of consolation), a Levite, a Cypriot by race,
(37) a field being his, selling it, he bore the proceeds and placed them at the apostles’ feet.
(1) And a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession.
(2) And he kept back part of the price, his wife also knowing, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
(3) But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart for you to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
(4) While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own authority? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God.
(5) And hearing these words, Ananias fell down and expired. And great fear came on all those who heard these things.
(6) And the younger ones arose, wound him up, and carrying him out, they buried him.
(7) And it was about the space of three hours afterward, when his wife (not knowing what was done) came in.
(8) And Peter answered her, Tell me whether you sold the land for so much? And she said, Yes, for so much.
(9) Then Peter said to her, How is it that you have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door and they will carry you out.
(10) Then at once she fell down at his feet and expired. And the younger ones found her dead, and, carrying her out, buried her beside her husband.
(11) And great fear came on all the church and on as many as heard these things.
2Ti 3:1-9 MKJV
(1) Know this also, that in the last days grievous times will be at hand.
(2) For men will be self-lovers, money-lovers, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
(3) without natural affection, unyielding, false accusers, without self-control, savage, despisers of good,
(4) traitors, reckless, puffed up, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
(5) having a form of godliness, but denying the power of it; even turn away from these.
(6) For of these are those who creep into houses and lead captive silly women loaded with sins, led away with different kinds of lusts,
(7) ever learning and never able to come to the full knowledge of the truth.
(8) But as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so these also resist the truth, men of corrupt mind, reprobate concerning the faith.
(9) But they shall proceed no further. For their foolishness shall be plain to all, as theirs also became.
What is the result of breaking your vows? You may say that you did not mean it when you said it. But that is not how God looks at it. You’re breaking your vows has a far-reaching impact on your family, friends, and your community. When you make a business deal and break the deal many things come into play legally, and financially and it affects your personal life. There is more to it than that. Your relationship with God is severed and you cast a bad light on your testimony. Until you make right the vow and restore what you said you would do then it will impact all that you say and do from that point on. You may say how so? No one will be able to trust you, your word will come to ruin.
In the worst-case scenario, you could wind up in jail! Having worked in two Prisons I come to realize that the Jails were full of those who not only rejected their word as their bond they rejected God.
This Torah Portion covered many things. Oaths, War with the children of Median, Division of the land. What to do if the father only had daughters as heirs. This is leading to the final days of the life of Moses. A man who was completely sold out to God. A man who saw God face to face as a man talks to a man. What an honor it was to have served God in the way Moses served God.
We should all strive to serve God with heart soul and mind. To begin with when we make a vow, Oath, mean what you say and say what you mean. Jesus never minced words with people He told them exactly what they needed to do to have eternal life. We need to live each day with the intention to serve Him, to love Him with our whole heart, and not waver in any aspect of what we say or do We must be a light to a lost and dying world. Show them the way, the truth, and the life. And that life is only found in Jesus, Yeshua, the Messiah.
In all of this, Mat 5:37 MKJV, but let your word be, Yes, yes; No, no. For whatever is more than these comes from evil.
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